One in Christ

Paul reminds Gentile believers that they were once called uncircumcised, separated from Christ, alienated from Israel's commonwealth, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus those once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

T¹¹herefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) — ¹²remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Paul says that Christ himself is peace, having made the two one by breaking down the dividing wall of hostility and abolishing the law of commandments in decrees as the boundary between them. In this way he creates one new humanity, reconciles both to God through the cross, proclaims peace to far and near alike, and gives both access to the Father in one Spirit.

¹⁴For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace ¹⁶and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.