One new man — one Body — one peace through the cross.
Good morning. Today’s Bible verses are Ephesians 2:14-16: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 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, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”
Truth to Consider
Ephesians 2:14–16 reveals one of the most breathtaking truths of Paul’s revelation: through the cross, God created something entirely new — one new man, a new humanity, a new creation that is neither Israel nor Gentile, but the Body of Christ.
This new man is not an improved Israel.
It is not Gentiles elevated.
It is not a merger of two groups.
It is a new humanity, created by God Himself through the finished work of Christ.
1. He Himself is our peace
Paul is not speaking of inner calm. He is speaking of relational peace — peace between Jew and Gentile, two groups historically divided by God through the Law.
There has always been animosity between Jew and Gentile.
But through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, God established a unity that never existed before. He created one new man, one Body, one people — entered into by faith in the gospel of grace.
2. The Law created the separation
The Law was given to Moses for the Nation of Israel. It marked Israel as holy, set apart, God’s covenant people, called to be a kingdom of priests. The Law was the God‑ordained wall that separated Jew from Gentile.
This wall was not cultural.
It was not political.
It was divine.
Only God could remove it.
3. The cross removed the wall and created unity
Paul says Christ “abolished in His flesh the enmity.”
What enmity?
The Law of commandments contained in ordinances.
The Law that once separated Jew and Gentile has been rendered inoperative in this dispensation. The cross did what no human effort could do — it created unity where there had only been division.
4. Thus making peace — the peace of the new man
In this dispensation, peace is not found in Law‑keeping, covenant identity, or national distinction. Peace is found in Christ, who reconciled both Jew and Gentile “in one Body through the cross.”
This is the heart of the mystery.
This is the essence of grace.
This is the new humanity God is forming today.
Salvation in this dispensation is by faith in the gospel of grace — the message Paul received from the risen Christ. And all who believe are placed into this one new man, complete in Him, reconciled to God, and reconciled to one another.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Eph 2:14–16.
Meditation:
Father, thank You for creating one new man in Christ. Help me rest in the truth that I belong to a new humanity — not defined by Law, nationality, or performance, but by the peace Christ made through the cross.
Reflection Question:
How does knowing you are part of the one new man — neither Jew nor Gentile, but complete in Christ — shape the way you see yourself and other believers?