Just when you thought you understood the New Testament, you read the book of Ephesians and in chapter two you come to verse 14;
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,”
He then begins to explain why.
“…so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.”
Then you begin to think, “who are the two, and where is the peace?”
So, you back up to verse 10 and you read;
“For we are His workmanship,”
Doesn’t that mean that all Christians are His workmanship?
That is true, but it is not what it says. The word for workmanship (poema) also means masterpiece, and is found only in one other place to describe creation before sin spoiled it.
It was also finished. A masterpiece in our world is a finished work and is recognized after the artist dies. The same applies to the One New Man. The Master completed His masterpiece on the cross.
It is not a work in progress like you and I are. His masterpiece was made for good works.
We—Jew and Gentile together—are His masterpiece.
Hoping to understand better, you continue reading, and discover that the grace of God not only saves and sanctifies us, but it also empowers us to overcome hostility and strife. It also makes peace possible. V.15,17
When you turn to chapter 3 you learn that what is new to you was news to Paul in his day. The union of Jewish and Gentile Believers is a declaration to the forces of darkness, because it is God’s eternal purpose. (3:10,11)
“According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
There is no other place in the Bible that this phrase appears.
“the eternal purpose.”
Think about this.
“The” is singular.
Eternal means it existed before we did, and it will always exist.
Purpose is singular.
This is what God seeks to accomplish through those He created. The One New Man was His eternal purpose, but not created until Jesus was crucified. In the years that followed, the Lord revealed to His apostles and disciples His reason for doing so.
The One New Man–or more inclusively–the one new humanity, was created on the cross but was activated in the streets of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Soon, it began to spread into the Roman Empire.
During that time, there was great strife within the Jewish community, while the Gentile Roman Empire intensified their hatred of Israel forcing them into exile. More than a million Jews were slaughtered.
Enmity reached its peak between the two people groups, yet there was peace among those who put their faith in the Jewish Messiah. Their brotherly love was on display and Gentiles wanted in.
At the time Paul was on a visit to Ephesus, Luke wrote,
“…all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 19:10
Talk about a successful campaign! That happened in only 21 years.
The ancient enmity had finally ended! Or did it?
When a person is born again, he comes a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17).
God promised that He would make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, who were the Jewish people. In it He promised to forgive their sins, give them a new heart, new mind and a right spirit. He would write the law on their hearts and minds so they could do it. (Jer. 31, Ezekiel 36)
All believers have these qualities at their disposal because Jesus purchased it with His blood. It becomes our responsibility to “do it.”
But there is one distinction that God made in Ezekiel 11:19.
“And I will give them one heart,”
When two people have the same heart, they have the same intentions. In the case of Believers, it is to please our Father and accomplish His will.
The One New Man is the fruit of obedience to the will of God.
It’s no wonder that Paul ended chapter three with this often-quoted declaration;
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” ( 3:14,20)
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There is more to the Story though, because the One New Man has been missing for centuries. The results have not been good, but we are seeing signs of its return. Stay tuned for more.