Fleeting Unity vs. Lasting Unity
In this fallen world, finding deep, lasting unity with other people is virtually impossible. Most examples of unity that we see are fragile, fleeting alliances of people uniting around shared interests or identities. As Christians, we know that true, lasting unity doesn’t come from liking the same football team, going to the same college, or living in the same city. It doesn’t come from having the same ethnic background or living in the same country. It doesn’t even come from being born into the same family. True unity can only come from the shared identity Christians have as forgiven children of God who are united in Christ.
In Ephesians 2:11-22, the Apostle Paul gives a masterful discourse on the source of true unity. He tells the Ephesian Christians that their current standing in Christ eradicates all other identities, unites them with Christ and all other believers, and puts them in equal standing with God’s chosen people. He shows that faith in Christ brings true unity that can cross the deepest chasms of racial and ethnic hostilities between Jews and Gentiles. This passage is a graphic reminder that Jesus is the only true foundation for lasting unity.
Separated From Christ
Paul starts the second chapter of Ephesians by asking his readers to remember the position they were in before they were saved. Specifically, he wants them to remember:
that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands
v. 11
Since they weren’t Jewish, the Ephesians were called the “uncircumcision” as a term of derision by some Jews. The Gentiles were looked down on as not being part of God’s chosen people who descended from Abraham (Gen 17:1-14). This was a form of racism or nationalism.
You can tell that Paul hates this division. He says they were being called these derisive terms by “what is called the circumcision.” You can almost hear his air quotes around the “circumcision.” He goes on to say that there is nothing spiritual about circumcision—it’s purely a fleshly act. He says “which is made in the flesh by hands.” While Paul hates the racial and ethnic pride expressed against the Ephesians, he does acknowledge that they were in a dire place at one point.
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,
v. 12a
Paul wants them to remember that before they were saved, they were spiritually separated from Christ. They didn’t know Jesus. They didn’t love him. Additionally, they were:
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,
v. 12b
They had no part with God’s chosen people—they were alienated from them. They were not partakers in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, or Davidic covenants. They had no part in the blessings God promised to Israel. Because of that, they were in dire straights:
having no hope and without God in the world.
v. 12c
Because they were not Jewish, they had no hope or knowledge of the true God. They were completely and utterly lost. That’s pretty depressing—why does Paul want them to remember this? So that they can compare and contrast that with their current status in Christ.
Reconciled Through Christ
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
v. 13
Jesus changes everything. Having faith in Jesus unites believers with him. Those who were far off from the promises of God have been brought near by Jesus’ blood. By referencing Jesus’ blood, Paul is referring to Jesus’ death on the cross. We can be saved, because Jesus was crushed by God for every sin we would ever commit and Jesus’ perfect righteousness was transferred to us. In salvation, Jesus brings us near to God. This extends to all people who have been called by God—Jews and Gentiles alike (John 10:14-16). Through the sacrificial death of Jesus, we now have peace with God.
For he himself is our peace,
v. 14a
We were enemies with God, but Jesus’ death satisfied the wrath of God for our sins (Rom 5:1). Not only are we at peace with God, but salvation brings peace with others. Jews and Gentiles are now united in Christ. So, what does all of this have to do with unity?
who has made us both one
v. 14b
Jewish and Gentile Christians are now united and on equal ground before God in Christ (Rom 2:25-29; 3:1-2; 3:9-12). Where differences in identity caused great divisions before, all believers are now united in a single shared identity in Christ. This unity can transcend a myriad of differences, because Jesus has:
broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
v. 14c
Since we are one in Christ, we should never have racial or ethnic hostility towards others. There is absolutely no room for racism or prejudice from Christians. Our identity in Christ should be our primary identity, not our ethnic, racial, or national identity (Gal 3:26-28). How did Jesus tear down the dividing wall of ethnic hostility between the Jews and the Gentiles?
by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,
v. 15
Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law, so the feasts, sacrifices, and laws of cleanliness and purification were abolished. (It’s important to note that God’s moral law remains. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them and become the righteousness of all who place their faith in him—see Matt 5:17-20.)
By his perfect sinless life, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the demands of the law that no other person could come close to fulfilling. Through his sacrificial death on the cross, he brings us peace:
that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
v. 16
Paul says we are now one people in Christ. Jesus “reconciles” us to God. The Greek word for “reconcile” speaks of going from hostility to friendship. We went from being God’s enemy to His children through the saving work of Jesus.
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
v. 17
The amazing news of the gospel is not just for the Jews (those who were near). It is for the Gentiles (those who were far off) as well. The gospel cuts across all ethnic lines. All people are sinners and all can be saved through faith in Christ (Rom 3:20-30).
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
verse 18
We have full and complete access to God through the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for “access” carries the connotation of being granted the right to boldly approach a king knowing we will be welcomed (Rom 5:2; Heb 4:16). We can all boldly approach God as our Father. Paul has called the Ephesians to remember they were once separated from Christ and now reconciled through Christ. He will now go deeper in explaining how Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.
United in Christ
By comparing and contrasting their former identities separated from Christ with their current identities united in Christ, Paul tells the Ephesians that they:
are no longer strangers and aliens, are fellow citizens with the saints
v. 19a
They’re no longer on the outside looking in. They aren’t foreigners in the kingdom of God. Jews and Gentiles are on equal ground as full citizens in God’s kingdom. Gentiles aren’t second class citizens who have different rights or privileges than the Jews. Paul goes on to say something amazing—Gentiles aren’t just citizens who have been graciously allowed to live on the outskirts of God’s kingdom. They’re:
members of the household of God,
v. 19b
When we’re saved, we become members of God’s family. We become his children (1 John 3:1) and other believers become our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can have unity with all other believers, because we are all part of the same spiritual family. Additionally, we can have unity with other believers, because we’re all part of the same spiritual “building.”
Paul ends this passage by sharing a metaphor of believers making up a spiritual temple that is a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit:
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
vv. 20-22
Paul uses the metaphor of a building—a temple—to describe the unity of all believers. Jesus is the cornerstone—the rock on which everything rests (1 Pet 2:4-10). Each and every believer, Jew or Gentile alike, is a brick or stone that God brings together to build a dwelling for the Holy Spirit.
True Unity
As Paul highlights in Ephesians 2:11-22, true unity is only found in the saving work of Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is the source of unity, because he humbles and unites us in our salvation. Christians have no room for any trace of pride that could cause divisions with other believers. We need to remember that we all were at one time separated from Christ, but we’ve now been reconciled to God. All believers have equal standing before God, because Christ’s righteousness has been given to us.
In salvation, God unites us with Christ, brings us near to him, gives us access to him, and makes us His children. He has integrated us into the spiritual temple that is the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. By focusing on our shared identity as forgiven children of God who are united in Christ, we can experience true, lasting unity with other believers.
