OUR FATHER WHO RECONCILED GENTILES TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS

The apostle Paul, in the book of  Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 - 13, puts our status in perspective for us by describing how far we, as gentiles, were from God. Without any affiliation with the nation of Israel and the historic covenants that they had with the creator, we were aliens and strangers with no possible connection with the God of creation. From this otherwise intractable position, the Lord Jesus, by His blood,  brought us close 

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

From verses 14 - 18, Paul then expounds on the unification that happened in our dispensation where in Christ, the Jews and the Greeks became a single body.  The enmity that existed between Jews and Gentiles because of the law that contained ordinances to keep them apart, was disolved and in the new dispensation, one new man was created which resulted in the peace of unity.

Any people who remained Jewish and any who remained gentiles continued in their enmity but if any Jews believed in Jesus and if Gentiles believed in Jesus, these became one people in Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

The wonder of the body of Jesus broken on the cross brought about the restoration and healing of a body that was split between those who were near and those who were far away and this unity was achieved because both solitudes now have access by the one Holy Spirit to the Father through Jesus.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in wh om you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The one new man, according to the template laid down over generations by God  through His prophets and apostles, takes shape as one holy temple under the Lord Jesus who is the chief cornerstone.

Amen. 

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