He is our Peace

^“For he is our peace, who hath made both one

and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”

(Ephesians 2:14)

Notice that true peace with God and with those who are the LORD’s is described as the very person of Christ. Literally, He (Himself) is our Peace. Know Christ, know peace. No Christ, no peace.

How then is Christ the Peace of those for whom He is their Redeemer and Savior? In Isaiah 9:5-6 He is called "the Prince of Peace" and as the Prince, He is Sovereign, to not only ordain peace according to His will but to earn and establish it as the God-Man by His work of righteousness on earth for those that the Father gave Him before the foundation of the world. This is the meaning of the angelic anthem at His birth, “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14) Peace on earth [Christ on earth, having taken on flesh] through God’s good will toward sinners of His choosing. Also, before Christ went to the cross, He declared to His disciples: "Peace I leave with you: My peace I give unto you." (John 14:27)

We see then that the LORD Jesus is not only the giver of peace but the peace itself. His very person as God in the flesh is the actual bond of unity between God and His chosen people and between each of the redeemed and justified ones with each other. Throughout Ephesians 2 there is a double meaning. First, there is a declaration of peace in Christ between God and the sinner but secondly between Jew and Gentile who were typically enemies but in Christ, by His shed blood, made ONE. In Colossians 2:13-14 the apostle Paul demonstrates the oneness in the body of Christ, all in Him being united to Him as their Representative Head and therefore the unity of the various members of the body in Him, the union of all with Christ as their Head.

The text says: “Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” The uniting of Jew and Gentile is described as the breaking down of "the middle wall of the partition" (or hedge). The words "between us" then refer to every barrier having been removed through the work of the LORD Jesus, whether between God and them but also between each other. Hedges were often used to mark off property boundaries. But in Christ, there are no separate boundaries. All for whom He paid the debt have but ONE united heritage. All have Him as their Inheritance for peace, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, glorification and everlasting salvation.

In Christ, all of His people have the same Spiritual standing: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) Regardless of race, gender or nationality, all of the elect are saved the same way, by Christ’s obedience unto death and therefore are “fellow citizens” and members of God’s household, Ephesians 2:19. Together in Jesus Christ: “in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the LORD.” (Ephesians 2:21)