In Christ One New Man from the Two

“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, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:14-16 NKJV)

How can we love one another? More specifically, how can we accept others whose teachings and doctrines are found in error? For example, how can evangelical Christians accept Catholic Christians? Or how can the Jews accept the Gentiles? The answer is found in Jesus Christ.

He is the Holy One and yet accepted the sinners through His death on the cross. He is a Jew and yet accepted all kinds of people, the Greeks, the Romans, the Samaritans, and the nations. There is no partiality, nor favoritism in Him. He is just and righteous in all and every aspect of His judgment. In Him, there are the unsearchable riches of wisdom and knowledge.

When Christ was challenged by the accusers who brought an adulterous woman to sentence stoning her according to the Law of Moses, He shattered down completely both the judges and the defendant. Jesus says, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7) By His word, Jesus let loose the force of hatred and condemnation which were working mightily in humanity. Christ is the Judge of all. No one can throw a stone to another.

The enemy of humans is not humans, but the devil. The way to obey the new commandment of God, love one another, starts right here the realization of the true enemy, the devil. Paul says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

How did Jesus become our peace? He abolished the enmity in His flesh on the cross, paying the full ransom price for the fallen race and at the same time created a new man from the two, thus making peace. The hostility between the two has ended in Christ through the death on the cross. The ultimate accuser of humanity has been destroyed to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Since we are saved by the price of Christ, we cannot boast of us but of the Lord. Since we are saved by faith in Christ, we continue to be saved by faith only. Therefore, we are not standing on the judgment seat upon others, but on the brother’s seat one another. There is One Judge who is Christ. He only can judge in justice and righteousness everything in heavens and on earth.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV)

That’s how we can love one another just as Christ loved us. We did not love God first. Remember, when we were still sinners Christ died for us. God loved us first. When He loved us first and then we responded to His marvelous love. This we shall do continually, keeping on responding to His unfathomable love pouring out for us. How can we judge our brothers who have been purchased by the blood of Christ? No one but God can. That’s the truth and reality.