He is our Peace
Eph. 2:14 – 18
Introduction
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ brought us near to God as we have seen few weeks back. Now, we
will look of what other important things He did to us. He gave us peace and at the same time He
became our peace.
The word peace is mentioned 429 times in the Bible and can be found in 400 verses. Peace seems to
be a very common word nowadays. When I was young especially during the Vietnam War, the sign
of peace was the most popular sign. It is printed on shirts, school bags, scarves, and people would
put the sign of peace on their necklaces, and on their earrings as well paint it on their faces. People
wants peace that’s why the term “make love not war” became widespread. Let’s take a look on how
it was used in the Bible especially in the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians.
I. Peace defined.
A. The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and well-being
of the total person. This peace was considered God-given, obtained by following the
Law (Ps. 119:165). Peace sometimes had a physical meaning, suggesting security
(Ps. 4:8), contentment (Isa. 26:3), prosperity (Ps. 122:6-7) and the absence of war
(1 Sam. 7:14). The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, was a wish for peace.
B. In the New Testament, peace often refers to the inner tranquillity and poise of the
Christian whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally
expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming Messiah (Isa. 9:6-7). The
peace that Jesus Christ spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet in the
mind and soul, brought about by a reconciliation with God. Such peace was
proclaimed by the host of angels at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14), and by Christ Himself
in His sermon on the mount (Matt 5:9) and during His ministry. He also taught about
this kind of peace at the Lord’s Supper, shortly before His death (John 14:27).
The apostle Paul later wrote that such peace and spiritual blessedness was a direct
result of faith in Christ (Rom 5:1). (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary).
Illustration: True Peace
Two painters were asked to paint a picture illustrating peace. The first painted a beautiful evening
scene in the foreground of which was a lake, its surface absolutely calm and unruffled. Trees
surrounded it, meadows stretched away to the distant cattle gently browsing; a little cottage, the
setting sun—all spoke of perfect rest. The second painter drew a wild, stormy scene. Heavy black
clouds hung overhead; in the center of the picture an immense waterfall poured forth huge volumes
of water covered with foam. One could almost hear its unceasing roar, yet perhaps the first thing to
strike the eye was a small bird, perched in a cleft of a huge rock, absolutely sheltered from all
danger, pouring forth its sweet notes of joy. It is the second painter who could describe the peace
that passeth all understanding which is the Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God in the heart of the
redeemed. One can only have peace with himself if he has peace with God.
II. Christ Jesus is our peace in the sense that:
A. He is the great peace maker between God and man.
1. Because of sin there was an enmity between God and man. (Gen. 3, Rom. 512)
2. The penalty of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).
3. The forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22).
4. Jesus Christ paid the full penalty for sin when He died and shed His blood on the
cross (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 5:9-10).
5. Isaiah 53 describes how Jesus bore man’s sin. Man receives complete and
eternal forgiveness for sin by exercising personal faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23;
Eph. 5:5-6; Ezek. 18:4).
6. By His death on the cross we have peace with God.
B. He is the establisher of peace between man and man
1. There was an enmity also between Jews and the Gentiles.
2. This difference was because they have different beliefs, dress, diet and laws.
3. I would say that both parties detest each other. So big is the difference that Jews
calls Gentiles as dogs and swine probably due to the fact that Gentiles eats foods
considered by the Jews to be unclean.
4. The Gentiles hits back by criticising the Jew’s circumcision and considering them
one of the worst people.
5. Because of these differences, there exist a “wall of partition” between them.
6. In reality this wall was caused by the Law. The Law (ceremonial law) made a
definite distinction between Jews and the Gentiles. Ephesians 2:11-12. The
divine ordinances given by God to Israel stood as a wall between the Jews and
the other nations.
7. Christ broke down this wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles and
established peace between them.
8. He did this by His death on the cross
9. He made the Law of Moses with its ordinances inoperative by fulfilling it.
10. I would like to remind you here that the moral Law which was specifically called
the Ten Commandments was no part of the “wall of partition” between Jews
and Gentiles. Christ’s death on the cross did not make the Ten Commandments
inoperative.
Illustration: The Wall
Some interpretations have been given about this “dividing wall,” which is mentioned only in the New
Testament. Some says it refers to the wall in the Jerusalem temple that separated the Court of the
Gentiles from the Court of the Jews. But this opinion is unacceptable because Paul makes no
reference to the temple in Jerusalem and because this wall was still standing when Paul wrote this
epistle. Some says it tells about the curtain in the Jerusalem temple between the holy place and the
holy of holies. But that was a curtain, not a wall. Others have suggested it meant the “fence” around
the Law mentioned by some Rabbis. But that referred more to the protection of the Law than to the
hostility mentioned in this context. We can honestly say that the dividing wall describes not a
physical wall, but the spiritual enmity between Jews and Gentiles, which separated them. Since
Christ destroyed this enmity. Jewish and Gentile believers should have no hostility.
III. Results of His peace making
A. He was able to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.
The word “new” means fresh in character or quality rather than new in the sense of
recent in time. This “new man” (Eph. 2:15), or “new humanity,” is also called “one
body” (v. 16), the church. In the church, Gentiles do not become Jews, nor do Jews
become Gentiles. Instead believing Jews and Gentiles become Christians, a whole
new single entity.
B. Christ was able to destroy the enmity and reconcile both Jewish and Gentile
believers to Himself in…same body (Eph. 3:6). This reconciliation (removal of
enmity) was accomplished through the cross. In Eph. 2:14 the reconciliation is
between Jewish and Gentile believers, and in verse 16 the reconciliation is between
people and God.
C. Gentiles can now have access to the Father with the Jews (Eph. 2:17-18)
1. Because Jesus, came and “preached peace” to those “afar off” (Gentiles) and
those “nigh” or near (Jews)
2. Because “through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father”
a. The access to the Father is “through Him” (Jesus) – Rom. 8:34
b. The access to the Father is “by one Spirit” (Holy Spirit) – Rom. 8:26-27
IV. Conclusion:
Safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.” Peace that
Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there
with you always. Do you have peace with God? Do you live in peace? Why don’t you
come to Christ and experience real peace beyond understanding? He is waiting for you
