Unity in Christ: Breaking Down Barriers Through Peace

In this session, we delve into Ephesians 2:14-18, exploring the profound mystery of how God, through Christ, became our peace and united Jew and Gentile into one body. The passage reveals that Jesus Himself is our peace, having broken down the dividing wall of hostility through His flesh. This was achieved by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, creating one new person in place of two, and reconciling both to God through the cross. The blood of Christ is central to this reconciliation, bringing those who were far off near and making them full participants in the covenant.

The abolition of the law is not about discarding moral principles but about removing the law as a means of achieving righteousness. Through Christ's death, the law's demands were satisfied, and believers are released from its claims. This release allows us to serve in the new way of the Spirit, bearing fruit for God. The law's abolition puts Jew and Gentile on equal footing before God, eliminating any basis for hostility. Both are reconciled to God through the same means—the cross—and thus are reconciled to each other.

This unity in Christ transcends ethnic and cultural barriers, establishing a profound oneness in the body of Christ. The cross is the great equalizer, where all believers, regardless of background, find their righteousness and peace. This understanding challenges us to live without enmity or hostility towards any ethnicity within the body of Christ, recognizing that we are all equally dependent on the cross and the righteousness of Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Christ as Our Peace: Jesus Himself is our peace, having broken down the dividing wall of hostility through His flesh. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of reconciliation and unity among believers, transcending ethnic and cultural barriers. [00:18]
• 2. Abolition of the Law: The law of commandments was abolished through Christ's death, not to promote lawlessness but to establish a new way of righteousness through faith. This abolition removes the law as a means of achieving righteousness, putting all believers on equal footing before God. [06:46]
• 3. Reconciliation Through the Cross: The cross is central to our reconciliation with God and each other. Through Christ's sacrifice, both Jew and Gentile are reconciled to God in one body, eliminating any basis for hostility and establishing unity in the body of Christ. [11:16]
• 4. New Way of the Spirit: Believers are called to serve in the new way of the Spirit, bearing fruit for God. This new way is characterized by a life of faith and dependence on the Spirit, rather than adherence to the written code of the law. [07:47]
• 5. Unity in Diversity: The oneness established in Christ challenges us to live without enmity or hostility towards any ethnicity within the body of Christ. Recognizing our shared dependence on the cross and the righteousness of Christ fosters genuine unity and peace among believers. [12:56]
  ** [12:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:18] - Christ as Our Peace
• [00:33] - Breaking Down the Dividing Wall
• [01:07] - The Cost of Reconciliation
• [01:45] - Brought Near by the Blood
• [02:19] - Abolishing the Law
• [03:18] - Creating One New Person
• [03:56] - Removing Hostility
• [05:07] - Reconciliation Through the Cross
• [06:46] - Understanding the Abolition of the Law
• [07:47] - New Way of the Spirit
• [08:49] - Dying to the Law
• [09:50] - Christ as the End of the Law
• [10:17] - Equal Footing Before God
• [12:09] - Unity in Diversity

1. According to Ephesians 2:14-18, how does Christ serve as our peace, and what does it mean that He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility? [00:18]
2. What does the sermon say about the role of the law in the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile? How was the law abolished according to the passage? [02:41]
3. In Romans 7:4-6, what does it mean to have "died to the law through the body of Christ," and how does this relate to serving in the new way of the Spirit? [07:20]
4. How does Galatians 2:19-20 describe the believer's relationship to the law and to Christ? What does it mean to be "crucified with Christ"? [08:49]

1. How does the abolition of the law as a means of achieving righteousness put Jew and Gentile on equal footing before God? What implications does this have for the unity of the church? [10:17]
2. The sermon mentions that the cross is the great equalizer. In what ways does the cross eliminate hostility and establish unity among believers? [11:16]
3. What does it mean to serve in the "new way of the Spirit" as opposed to the "old way of the written code"? How does this new way impact a believer's daily life? [07:47]
4. How does recognizing our shared dependence on the cross and the righteousness of Christ challenge us to live without enmity or hostility towards others within the body of Christ? [12:41]

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God or others. How can the understanding that Christ is our peace help you bridge that gap? [01:45]
2. In what ways can you actively work to break down "dividing walls" in your own community or church? What practical steps can you take to promote unity? [02:19]
3. How can you shift your focus from trying to achieve righteousness through your own efforts to relying on the righteousness of Christ? What changes might this require in your daily spiritual practices? [09:50]
4. Consider the cultural or ethnic barriers that exist within your church or community. How can you contribute to fostering a spirit of unity and reconciliation? [12:09]
5. Identify one area in your life where you are still living under the "old way of the written code." How can you begin to serve in the new way of the Spirit in that area? [07:47]
6. Think of a relationship in your life that is marked by hostility or division. How can the message of reconciliation through the cross guide you in seeking peace and restoration in that relationship? [11:42]
7. How can you remind yourself daily of your shared dependence on the cross with other believers, and how might this perspective change your interactions with them? [11:54]