Ephesians 2:14-18: Christ is Our Peace

Introduction: The Walls We Build

Human history is marked by division. Whether it’s nations at war, racial and ethnic hostilities, or denominational conflicts, people have an uncanny ability to build walls. Some of these walls are made of brick and mortar; others are ideological, cultural, or theological. In Ephesians 2:14-18, Paul proclaims that Jesus has come to tear down these walls. The gospel is not just about personal salvation—it is about reconciliation, a radical peace that transforms our relationships with God and one another.

The divisions Paul addresses in Ephesians were not abstract. The hostility between Jews and Gentiles was deeply ingrained, reinforced by generations of religious, social, and cultural barriers. Jews saw themselves as God's chosen people, bound by the Law given through Moses. Gentiles were outsiders, without the covenants, promises, or practices of Israel. But Paul declares that Christ has abolished these divisions, creating one new humanity in himself. This passage is not just theological—it is intensely practical. It speaks to the heart of the church’s mission and calls us to embody Christ’s peace in a divided world.

The Breaking Down of the Dividing Wall (Ephesians 2:14)

Paul begins this section with a powerful statement: “For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” (Ephesians 2:14, NRSV). The “dividing wall” Paul refers to is both literal and symbolic. In the temple in Jerusalem, a physical barrier separated Jews from Gentiles. Archaeologists have uncovered inscriptions warning Gentiles that crossing this barrier would result in death. This wall represented not just exclusion but hostility—a deep-seated division between those who were “inside” and those who were “outside.”

But Paul’s words go beyond the temple structure. The wall also represents the Law of Moses, which set Israel apart from the nations through dietary restrictions, Sabbath laws, and circumcision. While the Law was given as a means of holiness, over time, it became a source of pride and exclusion. Instead of pointing people to God’s grace, it reinforced division.

Paul declares that Christ has broken down this wall. Through his death, Jesus fulfills the Law (Matthew 5:17) and removes the barriers that separate people from God and from one another. His sacrifice is not just about individual forgiveness—it is about cosmic reconciliation. As John Calvin writes in The Institutes of the Christian Religion, “The Son of God became the Son of Man, so that men might become sons of God” (II.12.2). Christ’s peace is not merely an absence of conflict but the creation of a new family, united by grace.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 26) affirms that all believers are united in Christ, regardless of nationality, race, or background. The church is not a collection of individuals but a communion of saints, bound together by the peace of Christ. This echoes Paul’s declaration in Ephesians 2:14—our unity is found not in human effort, but in the work of Jesus.

Likewise, the Belhar Confession emphasizes that unity is both a gift and an obligation of the church. It proclaims that “this unity must become visible so that the world may believe” (Article 2). The reconciliation achieved through Christ is not an abstract idea but a tangible reality meant to be lived out in the church and in the world. When we confess that Christ is our peace, we are committing ourselves to the hard work of embodying that peace in our relationships, our communities, and our nations.

This peace is not passive. It is not simply the absence of hostility but the presence of justice, righteousness, and love. Christ’s peace confronts the powers of division, whether they manifest as racial prejudice, economic inequality, or religious hostility. The church is called to be a witness to this peace—not by papering over differences, but by demonstrating the radical, reconciling love of God in Christ.

Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:14-18 challenge us to examine whether our churches truly reflect this unity. Do we build walls where Christ has torn them down? Do we live as people reconciled by grace, or do we allow old divisions to linger? The gospel calls us not just to believe in peace but to practice it, to step into the new humanity that Christ has created. Through him, we are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19). This is the promise and the challenge of the gospel: Christ is our peace, and we are called to live in that peace, for the glory of God and the healing of the world.

Abolishing the Law’s Divisive Power (Ephesians 2:15-16)

Paul continues, “He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.” (Ephesians 2:15-16, NRSV).

This is a stunning claim. Paul is not saying that the moral law is abolished—God’s holiness still matters. What he is saying is that the ceremonial and legal distinctions that separated Jews and Gentiles have been fulfilled in Christ. The boundary markers of the old covenant have given way to the new covenant, where righteousness comes through faith (Romans 3:28).

The phrase “one new humanity” is key. Christ does not simply make Gentiles into Jews or Jews into Gentiles—he creates something entirely new. The gospel does not assimilate people into one cultural identity; it creates a new people, defined not by ethnicity but by faith. The church is not an extension of Israel, nor is it a Gentile movement—it is something altogether different, a redeemed community united by Christ’s blood.

This radical unity is a core theme of the Belhar Confession, a statement of faith familiar to many in the PCUSA. Written in the context of apartheid South Africa, the confession declares: “We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another.” The gospel calls the church to reject division and embrace the unity that Christ has won.

Isaiah prophesied this reconciliation centuries earlier. In Isaiah 57:19, God declares, “Peace, peace, to the far and near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.” Paul picks up on this theme in Ephesians, showing that Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring the nations together. The peace Christ brings is not temporary—it is eternal, grounded in his death and resurrection.

Preaching Peace to the Far and Near (Ephesians 2:17-18)

Paul concludes, “So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:17-18, NRSV).

This verse echoes Isaiah 57 and underscores Christ’s mission: to bring peace to both Jews (“those who were near”) and Gentiles (“those who were far off”). The message of peace is not limited to one group—it is for all who will receive it.

Paul’s emphasis on access to the Father is significant. In the Old Testament, access to God was restricted. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then, only once a year. But Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), has torn the veil (Matthew 27:51), granting all believers direct access to God. This is a radical shift. No longer do we come to God through temple sacrifices or priestly mediation—we come through Jesus.

The Heidelberg Catechism (Q&A 49) emphasizes that because Christ is our mediator, we have full access to God. This is the heart of the gospel: Christ has not only reconciled us to God but has also brought us into his presence as beloved children.

Living in the Peace of Christ

The peace that Paul describes is not theoretical—it has real implications for how we live. If Christ has broken down the walls of hostility, how can we justify building them back up? If Christ has made one new humanity, how can we cling to divisions of race, class, or denomination?

Church history is littered with examples of division—some necessary, many not. We have split over doctrine, worship styles, and leadership structures. But Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 challenge us: Are we living as a reconciled people? Are we bearing witness to the peace of Christ, or are we erecting new walls where he has torn them down?

As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody his peace. This means pursuing reconciliation, embracing unity, and proclaiming the gospel to those who are still “far off.” It means recognizing that our primary identity is not in our nationality, politics, or denomination, but in Christ.

Conclusion: Christ, Our Peace

Ephesians 2:14-18 is one of the most profound declarations of the gospel’s reconciling power. Christ has broken down the walls of hostility, abolished the divisions of the Law, and created one new people. Through his death, he has preached peace to those near and far, granting us access to the Father by the Spirit.

This passage calls us to live differently—to reject division, to embrace unity, and to proclaim Christ’s peace in a fractured world. May we, as the church, be a living witness to the truth that in Christ, the walls are gone, and peace has come.