John MacArthur, the pastor of Grace Community Church in the LA area once said, “It is part of sinful human nature to build barriers that shut out other people.” It would be an understatement for me to say that we live in a world that is divided. We are divided by race, intellect, wealth, and political affiliation. Not only in these things, but also, we are divided within our families, marriages outside and inside of the Church.

Since sin reared its ugly head in the Garden of Eden, people have found it impossible to live peacefully in this world. Think about it, sin caused Cain to murder his own brother Able. This was just a foreshadowing of what would take place down through the centuries.

Marriages, families, and yes even churches struggle to sustain harmony. Sin causes us to feel alienated and suspicious at times. This leads to disagreements, conflict and misunderstandings. But though these barriers seem to huge for us to overcome, the Bible gives us real hope and the only answer that will have lasting effects for eternity.

Christ Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He brings peace between us and God the Father. He shatters everything that separates us as humans. It is Him and Him alone. Let’s look at this Scripture passage and discover why this is true. 

So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time, you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:11-22)

The Apostle Paul explained three aspects of why it is only in Christ the Church can be one.

We were far away without Hope (V 11-12)

The Greeks called the people who lived outside their cities pagans and despised them. The Jews called anyone who was not of their race Gentiles and hated them with a passion. Neither of these groups had any use for each other. But, the Jews did have the edge spiritually because salvation was of and came though the Jews. God had revealed Himself through their prophets.

The Gentiles were not as blessed though. Paul says in these verses that they were godless, hopeless, friendless, and Christ-less. So many people in the world today are just like this. The question is do we care about them? Do we really have a concern for those people who are different from us? Christ brought unity to a divided people of that day and He is doing the same thing today.

We have been brought near and have full access to God (V 13-18)

Although there was an unseen wall of hatred between the Jew and Gentile, there was a real wall at the Jewish temple. This kept anyone but Jews from coming into the temple. Anyone not a Jew caught within the area could be killed. People who attempt to divide in today's world are no different. It took the blood of Christ to destroy this dividing wall.

Now all people can come to God through Christ. Yes, Jesus made it possible for all to come to God the Father, but He also made it possible for harmony to exist between all men. It is only Christ’s blood that can save us. He breaks down every political, social, and ethnic wall. He calls the troubled, hurting, discouraged and fearful to Himself. It is there He offers reconciliation, peace and full access to God the Father.

We are now all one complete household in Christ (V 19-22)

When we are in Christ we are growing into a building and a holy sanctuary for the Lord. Christ sustains us, directs us and causes our growth. It is the Lord bringing us together in Him. Paul compares this new relationship to a house or building. We are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, but it is Christ that is the Chief Cornerstone. In Christ we have a new hope, and new outlook, and a new relationship.