The Walls Torn Down
- “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14)
- “By abolishing in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.” (Ephesians 2:15)
- “If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.” (Galatians 2:18)
Introduction
Every feud builds walls—fortresses of suspicion, towers of pride, and gates of exclusion. But the cross of Christ shattered the most ancient wall of all: the separation between God and humanity, and between Jew and Gentile. Paul boldly declares that Christ Himself is our peace. To rebuild what He has torn down is not only folly; it is rebellion against God’s grace.
Historical Anchor
In the Jewish temple stood the wall of partition, a literal stone barrier separating Jews from Gentiles. Inscriptions warned Gentiles that crossing beyond their court meant certain death. It was a physical reminder that “you do not belong here.” Christ’s death on the cross tore down that invisible yet deadly wall. The early church wrestled with this reality—should Gentile believers be circumcised, or obey Mosaic law, to be “included”? Paul thundered against such rebuilding of barriers. To add law to grace was to deny the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.
Two Famous Quotes
- Martin Luther King Jr. : “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
- Corrie ten Boom : “You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies.”
Conclusion
The cross was not merely an event of death—it was an act of demolition. Hostility was broken, enmity destroyed, and exclusion overturned. The gospel does not offer us bricks to build new towers of division; it offers a cornerstone—Christ Himself—upon which all nations can stand together.
Present Challenge
Yet how easily we rebuild! We construct new walls: denominational pride, cultural arrogance, racial prejudice, doctrinal elitism. Whenever we raise barriers where Christ has made peace, we stand as rebels against His finished work. The challenge today is simple yet radical: stop rebuilding what Christ destroyed. Our task is to live as witnesses of the new humanity, the reconciled family of God, and resist every temptation to turn grace into exclusion.
Leave a comment