Ephesians 2:14-18

When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, three miracles took place. First of all, the veil of the temple was torn in two; and then there was an earthquake and the graves were open and the saints were raised. But another miracle took place that nobody saw occur: a wall was broken down in the temple. In the Jewish temple there was a literal wall, a barrier that stood marking the court of the Gentiles from the rest of the sanctuary. And the sign on that wall warned every Gentile if you cross this barrier, you will be killed. When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He tore down that wall. Ephesians chapter 2 beginning at verse 14, “For He [Jesus] is our peace, who has made both one [both Jew and Gentile one], and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; to create in Himself of two one new man and so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross” (vv. 14-16, paraphrase).

What’s he telling us here? He’s saying that when Jesus died, he died to bring about reconciliation. He’s talking about peace. In verse 14 of Ephesians 2 Christ is our peace. In verse 15 He made peace. In verse 17 He came and preached peace. What is peace? Peace is the proper relationship between your heart and God. Peace means that you are reconciled to God. There are no more barriers. There are no more battles. Peace also means the possession of adequate resources. You are now able to face life because you are right with God. And so Jesus Christ is our peace. Peace is not a piece of paper. Peace is a person, a person in heaven who died for us! He’s the One who made peace through His cross. The law that separated Jew and Gentile and sinners from God; that law has been taken care of on the cross, and now God is doing a wonderful thing. He’s making a new creation, a new man, everyone who trusts Christ as Savior.