Eph. 2:17-18 - He Preached Peace and Access

17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

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Peace - Both Far and Near

Vs. 17 - This is a quote from Isaiah;  See: Isa 57:19; Matt 2:33-46; Eph 2:12-13. 

“Near” = Jews. The Jews had the advantage over the Gentiles. Unfortunately they did not grasp that 'near' position. God chose the descendants of Abraham to be the vehicle that brought the savior, Jesus Christ, into the world. But they almost squandered that advantage by dismissing the Lord and not following his commands. Although they were 'closer' to God, there was no discernible difference between Jews and Gentiles. Now they would raise their hand and object to that statement - they have the Passover, and Pentecost, and the temple, and the Laws handed down in the desert during the exile. Some believed that doing the rituals (sacrifices) and celebrating the holy days made them good enough. To bring that to ‘today’ - if you celebrate Christmas, does that make your life acceptable to the Lord? How about showing up at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter? These do not evidence a heart given to Jesus. 

“Far” = Gentiles. The Gentiles were enemies - they were the "heathens" - i.e., anyone who was not Jewish. That meant every nation, every people surrounding Judah/Israel were heathens. It also meant the heathens did not worship the Lord, the God of Israel. Note: Christ preached peace with God to both.

Vs. 18 - “for through Him “ - This all happens through Christ alone. We have no power to make this happen.

 “access in one Spirit” - We have access to the Father through Jesus Christ in one Spirit — “we” is both Jew and Gentile. (See: Eph 4:4 John 14:26, 15:26; Rom 5:5; 1 Cor 12:13 ) There is only one Holy Spirit, given to us as a pledge, a guarantee of our hope in glory. In one Spirit we can worship God, because of Christ!

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Eph. 2:14-16 - He is our Peace

14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

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Jews and Gentiles Reconciled

Vs. 14 - “ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, ” - 

“He... is our peace” - There are several ramifications of being in God's peace because of what Christ has done for us: 

(1) All of the universe was put on peaceful basis with God;
(2) We have been put at peace with God, being no longer enemies (Col 1:19-22);
(3) Jesus and Gentiles have been brought to a peaceful co-existence in Christ. There is no other way to God (Acts 4:!2; John 14:6; Col 3:10-11).

“Made both groups into one” - (Eph 2:11-13; Col 2:13) Paul begins to deal with what is obviously a major problem at Ephesus. In fact, Eph 2:11-3:21 deals with the problem, namely: That Jewish Christians in Ephesus were separating themselves from their Gentile brethren. Paul writes that no matter whether we be Jews or Gentiles we all have the same position in Christ. The unity of the believers! With this concept in mind (i.e., unity of believers in Christ) the next verses - through 3:21 - are clarified.

“Broke down the barrier” - Note there were two walls: (1) Between man and God; (2) between Jew and Gentile. Jews hated the Gentiles, and I’m pretty sure the Gentiles return the feelings (probably because of the Jews’ attitude, and more likely goaded on by Satan’s hatred of Jesus). The Jews are a proud people, and it chafed to be conquered and abused by the likes of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. 

Vs. 15 - “ by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, ” - 

 “By abolishing... the enmity” - This phrase explains how Christ removed the barrier. “Enmity” means the reason for opposition, or hatred. Christ’s physical sacrifice was the completion, fulfillment of the Law. The hatred between the Jew and Gentile was not caused by the Law, but it was part of the friction.

An imagined dialogue:
Jews, “We have the only way to God.”
Gentiles: “So?”
Jews: “If you want to get to God, you’ve got to go through us!”
Gentiles: “Surely, there must be another.”
Jews: “No way, we’ve got it. If you want to get to God, you’ve got to go through us!”
Gentiles: “Hey! Don’t get snotty!”
Jews: “Snotty! Listen, we’ve got...”
Gentiles: “You can take your law...”

And so, in the normal course of events, the Jews mocked and ridiculed the Gentiles because of their “despicable condition”. The Gentiles got mad at the Jews for being so haughty, so mad that many would in no way want to seek God.

There is a parallel here: Christians must not treat with disdain those who don't know Christ, nor pity them. (People do not want to be pitied, especially if they think everything is okay with themselves. They also don't want to be pitied if they know they are in bad straights.) That is why “Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” (See note 1) is such a powerful statement. It helps to move people from fear and anger to being welcomed and loved.

“Which is the Law... ordinances” - Again, the Law was not the problem, but it appears to be so. The Law does not cause people to sin, but points out our sin. (See: Rom 3:21-22, 7:7) Christ did away with that method of knowing God (John 14:6). He did away with the Law (Acts 4:12).

“That in Himself... thus establishing peace” - See Col 3:10-11; John 17:21. Now, there are no privileged, except those in Christ, and those people did nothing to earn that privilege. (The TV series, “Downton Abbey”, provides a clear delineation between the “titled” family and all others. A baby born in the to title has all the rights and privileges; the staff working for the titled family do not. Apparently you cannot even marry into a titled family and thereby gain the title.

Since there is no reason to boast, except in Christ, and since our access to God is in Christ (He is our life), both Jew and Gentile now have the same standing. I cannot brag about having a “better position”, etc. Christ is the establishing of peace - there is no distinction between us (See: Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 12:13).

Vs. 16 - “and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.“ - 

“And might reconcile them both...” - (a continuation from verse 15) - It is in Himself that both sides are brought together in peace.

“Reconcile” - to turn hatred to friendship; to bring two groups at loggerheads to a place of common agreement; to bring an end tomthe hostility between them. Christ turns the enmity between Jew and Gentile to friendship

“In one body to God” - I think there are couple of possible views here: (1) Both Jews and Gentiles have now been put on friendly terms with God in Christ’s body. (2) Now having no stance of their own, Jews and Gentiles have been put on friendly terms with each other in Christ’s sacrifice.

“Through the cross” - See: Col 1:20, 2:14. Any hatred between us and others must end at the cross. Admittedly, this message was in particular to the problem generated by Jewish and Gentile Christians. This deep-seated, long-standing hatred had to be overcome. But the message applies to you and me. Any enmity between you and me cannot, must not be nurtured, indeed should not exist! Is there any discord, no matter how small, between me and another? I must confess that sin, seek forgiveness, and make restitution. Any grudge, etc., means I am harboring, or pridefully demanding a right that does not exist. Is there a “special understanding”, a way to God? No! Paul says there is only “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

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Note 1: Law 1 of “Four Spiritual Laws”.

Eph. 2:11-13 - Once Upon a Time

11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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Vs. 11 - “ Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- ” - Paul continues on in his drive to instill in our minds our position in Christ. Verses 11-22 explain the household of God, the unity of the believers, whether Jew or Gentile. If we are in Christ; if He is our only means of salvation then there is no distinction between any of us.

“You Gentiles” - See: Eph 5:8; 1 Cor 12:2; 1 Pet 4:3. It is very difficult for us to realize just what a Gentile is, to a Jew. Everything that a Jew was to be (with respect to reverence to God) the Gentile was not. Gentiles were despised, etc., etc., etc. There are probably not enough words to describe just how low the Gentile was in the Jewish estimation.

“Uncircumcision... circumcision” - Again, to us for whom circumcision is merely a medical decision, this doesn’t seem like such a big deal. But it must have been - but we don’t see it from the viewpoint of the Jew. To be uncircumcised meant that one was a Gentile - therefore lower than dirt!

Part of these verses are aimed at getting the Christians together. If the Jewish Christians (“circumcised”) were deriding the non-Jewish Christians (“uncircumcision”) because of their low initial position as Gentiles, then these verses are to show that we all have the same salvation - Jesus Christ!

“By human hands” - How important was this circumcision question? Picture people asking “Are you circumcised?”, or nowadays, “Have you been baptized?” See? We look at the outside, God looks at the heart. (1 Sam 16:7)
Paul is saying that this physical ritual - circumcision - cannot be that important, because it was done to man, by man. (See: Rom 2:25-29) Our hearts’ condition and attitude is the important thing. Circumcision does not change the spiritual condition, it only shows that your parents were obedient to God’s commands. It is not a predictor of your behavior or spiritual condition.

Vs. 12 - “ remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” - 

 “remember that you were at that time”  - Before Christ’s work on the cross, when circumcision or uncircumcision might have made a difference. Before Christ’s sacrifice, and before they had believed in Him, they were cut off, “separated” from any relationship with Him.

“Excluded... strangers” - (See: Rom 9:4; Matt 21:33-46) The Jews were God’s chosen people, through whom the whole world was to be blest. There were covenants made between God and man, based on the promises made.

“Having no hope and without God” - What else could be expected? The Gentiles were completely forsaken, without hope not knowing God. Christ had not yet removed the barriers; and the Gentiles, not having any part in the promises, not understanding or having any part in the covenants had no direct access to God, therefore: no hope.

Vs. 13 - “ But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. “ - 

 “But now... “ - Then - you had no hope. Now - there is life.

“In Christ Jesus... by the blood of Christ” - We, who were not part of the covenant were “far off” (Isa 57:19). But in Christ, by the blood of Christ, we have been allowed to come to the presence of God. (Rom 3:25; Col 1:20; Heb 9:14, 22 ). We are no longer slaves, but are friends. (See: John 15:14-15)

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