A New Humanity

Introduction

Text

English Standard Version Chapter 2

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Context

Nations have not existed

Once upon a time, nations did not exist

Mankind was unified…against God

After the flood God commanded humans to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth

Instead man decided to stay put and unify together so that they might build a tower to heaven and overthrow God

God came down to their puny little tower and introduced foreign languages which caused the people to scatter

Division between God’s chosen people and the other nations

Review - gentiles were separated from Christ, alienated from the covenant promises and without God

Main Point

The message of this text is that in Christ Jews and Gentiles become a new humanity

Structure

The message of this text is that in Christ Jews and Gentiles become a new humanity

This can be seen with the following structure

1. Christ broke down the dividing wall - vs 14-15a

2. Christ created a new man - vs 15b

3. Christ killed the hostility - vs 16

1. Christ broke down the dividing wall - vs 14

1. Christ broke down the dividing wall - vs 14-15a

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Dividing wall in the Temple which separated the gentiles from the Jews.

Temple surrounded by courts

Innermost was for t he priests

Next was court of the jews - only jewish males

Next was the court of the women - only jewish females

19 steps lower than all of these courts and behind a dividing wall there was the court of the gentiles - trespassing into the other courts was a capitol offense

Remember that us who were far off have been brought near in the blood of Jesus

15a by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,

Abolished every barrier between man and God and Jew and gentile in His death - Ceremonial law was done away with in Christ

2. Christ created a new man - vs 15

15b that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace

Gk. word for new - kainos - something brand new in quality that is unlike anything that existed before

difference between a new car that rolled off the assembly line and a car that was completely made from scratch

“12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Jesus begins a new creation

Old creation ended on a Saturday in the Garden of Eden

Old creation was marred by sin and death

Christ defeated death on a Sunday

Mary thought that He was the Gardener

Christ is beginning a new creation

Uniting jews and gentiles is the first fruit

Costco sample

In the end Christ will finish His work by making a New Heavens and New Earth

3. Christ killed the hostility - vs 16

16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Reconciled together to God

At His death the curtain in the temple that divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two - removed the barrier between man and God

As both are brought to God to be reconciled to Him they are reconciled to each other

once hostile to God and to each other. Now God’s children and have become brothers and sisters in His family

Conclusion

In Christ we can be made new

peace with God

peace with each other