The Power of the Cross … to Reconcile Us to Each Other (Part 4 of 6)

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made us (Jew and Gentile) both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility 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, and might reconcile us (Jew and Gentile) both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (Ephesians 2:14-16).

The cross has reconciled us to God and has reconciled us to each other.  The cross of Jesus has brought us together into one body.  Paul explains it further in the rest of Ephesians chapter 2.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).  God’s Spirit, a sign of us being God’s temple, God’s dwelling place, abides in all of us who believe.  We have an inseparable connection with God and fellowship with each other.

“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).  Here, we see the two reconciliations together.  You are in the Light and you walk in the Light because of your place in God’s family.  And as His child, you have fellowship with each other and the blood of Christ has cleansed you, reconciling you with God the Father.

All of us are equals at the foot of the cross.  There is no superiority.  There is no partiality.  There is no one-upmanship.  We all stand equally guilty and in need of God’s grace.  And grace is exactly what God has given to us.  Peter announced to the Council at Jerusalem, “But we believe that we (Jews) are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they (Gentiles) also are” (Acts 15:11).

“For you are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For ALL of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are ALL one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).

“You are all one in Christ Jesus.”  These are not just beautiful words.  They are a powerful promise, brought to fruition by the power of the cross!