“… and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
(Ephesians 2:16)
Everything in creation is at odds with each other as a result of the Fall (Rom. 8:20-23). John Owen rightly said, “… a hostility and animosity was introduced between God and man [when Adam sinned]. This hostility extended itself to all other creatures… and by this original sin Adam and mankind through him were all cast into a state of bondage and slavery, which they groan under, and look for a deliverance from.”
And yet, in His great grace, God designed a beautiful reconciliation of all things. For He “purposed that… He would gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth,” (Eph. 1:9-10). In His divine counsel and purpose, God ordained a peacemaking and a reunion of all things by gathering up the scattered and divided parts of creation under one Head, exclusively Christ Jesus.
As enmity and disorder entered the whole of creation by the sin of the first Adam, reconciliation and order between God and man was made possible again through the work of the second Adam, that is to say Christ, as Jesus Christ alone is the Savior and Lord of the Gospel of Peace (2 Cor. 5:20-21).
To pave the way for God’s coming kingdom of peace, Christ made peace and preached peace. And He communicates this peace to all those who lay hold of the Kingdom of God by faith (Eph. 2:14-17). For “being justified by faith, we have peace with God,” (Rom. 5:1).
The fundamental work of Christ as High Priest of the new covenant was to make peace between God and sinners. And He accomplished this by covering poor sinners with His everlasting righteousness in order that He might bring them to glory.
Do you know the King of righteousness, this Prince of Peace? Do you experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding?
- Oh Lord, what a great benefit it is to enjoy this reconciliation and peace with You. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” I am thankful for the peace I have with You, but I am equally discomforted by my sin which ruins this experience of peace. Deliver my soul from all trouble and fear, help me live a holy life, and work in me a lasting peace.
- Lord, I often feel like I can’t attain the comfort of peace I desire because my sin gets the best of me. But I know that the promise of peace is given to me as a believer (Isa. 27:5). Help me to be patient while abiding in faith, which in due time will bring me into the peace of Christ which passes all understanding.
- It is one thing to have peace with You, Lord, which all believers have, but another to have its constant sense and comfort in my own soul. May I never lack this comfort and do all I can by the power of Your Spirit to cultivate peace.
- I know that some people have a hard time finding peace in their life, Lord. They look all over creation, only to discover the great hostility of the world peering back. Whatever trouble I might have as I live in the world, I know You promise that all things work together for my good, which is sufficient to constitute a state of peace in my soul.
Further References for Eph. 2:16
Col. 1:20-21; 2 Cor. 5:18; Eph. 2:14; Col. 2:14; Rom. 5:10; 1 Cor. 10:17
