What does redemption mean to us as believers? This seems like a simple question. After all, the word “redemption” is a common theme in Scripture, particularly in the epistles. However, the answer has a lot of angles to it. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:11-22 gave us a great perspective from which to address this question. He said Yeshua has broken down the middle wall of separation between Israel and other nations and has created one new man out of the two groups.
Over the next few weeks, we will dig into God’s Word to understand what Paul told his audience in this Bible passage. Afterward, we’ll draw out lessons from his implication to refocus our lives of faith and commitment to the Great Commission in Israel.
One New Man in Yeshua
Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace. (Ephesians 2:15)
Before we examine the text above, I would like to remind you of some important rules of Bible study that we’ve discussed in our previous blogs. The first of these rules is that we cannot impose our opinion on God’s Word. Instead, we are to investigate the original intention of the author with the help of the Holy Spirit. One way to do this is to read preceding and proceeding verses.
Secondly, we must never allow the views of others to color our minds when we read God’s Word. In my opinion, this is where many Jewish people go wrong when interpreting the Messianic prophecies. Rather than studying the Scripture diligently themselves, they adopt the views of prominent rabbis. If we are not careful, we can commit the same error as believers.
As we begin this interesting study, it would help us to empty our minds of all preconceptions and study the Word with open hearts. With these two rules in mind, let’s examine the context of Paul’s instruction.
Earlier in verse 12, Paul said that his audience was one-time aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise. The Greek word rendered as “commonwealth” here literally means citizenship or community. So, Paul is telling us that non-Israelis have no right of citizenship in the congregation of God’s people.
Although Paul said this to the non-Jewish believers at Ephesus, we can safely think the same of everyone not from Israel, as God only covenanted with Abraham and his seed (Genesis 9:9). We discussed this extensively in the article, To the Jew First. The Jewish people, by virtue of God’s covenant with Abraham, are recipients of God’s promises, while those from other nations are strangers to this promise of salvation.
But our loving God, who has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, sent His Son Yeshua to break down this wall of separation (Ezekiel 18:23, Ephesians 2:14-15). He (Yeshua) made peace between both parties through His redemptive sacrifice for our sins on the cross. The enmity is abolished, and the door of salvation is wide open for everyone to come in. Christ in the Passover (His death and resurrection) achieved this exploit for us. What a beautiful story to tell!
The Middle Wall of Partition is Broken!
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace. (Ephesians 2:14-15)
From our study of verses 12 and 13, it is clear that Paul’s usage of the word “man” does not refer to a man as an adult male. He’s obviously referring to a nation or, better put, a people. So, we can safely read verse 14 as, “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new nation from the two, thus making peace.”
Basic math tells us that one plus one equals two. But this is not the case with our God. He brought Israel and other nations together and formed just one nation – one people – one family.
The wall of separation was the law (Ephesians 2:15). A religious Jewish person prides himself in the commandments contained in the Torah. He sees himself as God’s favorite and the only possessor of the knowledge of salvation. He sees Gentiles as outcasts and aliens to this divine institution.
I am thankful to God that Yeshua ended this alienation and married the two groups together. In redemption, we have a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17). Anyone, regardless of their origin, can now believe in Yeshua and be saved!
Final Thoughts
God’s covenant was with Jewish people through Abraham. But graciously, Yeshua has brought in people from other nations to be co-partakers. He broke the middle wall of separation and formed one family. Both Jewish believers and non-Jewish believers have the same Father and have equal rights in the family of God. We all have the same Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15). So, as we go about living the Christian life and fulfilling the Great Commission in Israel, we should avoid discriminating against anyone.
Without living this way, we have very slim chances of seeing peace in the Middle East.