Breaking Barriers: The Gospel’s Path to Unity and Renewal

In today’s culture, unity seems like an elusive goal and almost foolish desire. Is it really possible for people—with all their varying desires, convictions, and views—to be united in the Lord? As the saying goes, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” The world has felt the sting of division since Genesis 3, when sin came into the world. In Ephesians 2:11, Paul reminded the Christians in Ephesus that at one time they were Gentiles, called “the uncircumcision.” They were separated from Christ. They were alienated, strangers to the covenants of promise.

This was significant. The Jews despised the Gentiles; they were enemies. Jews were the covenant people of God. Being separated from God is enough, but the Gentiles were also separated from God’s people. They were alienated from one another. The wall of hostility was both culturally and literally in the temple building itself. One study Bible notes: “There was an inscription on the wall of the outer courtyard of the Jerusalem temple warning Gentiles that they would only have themselves to blame for their death if they passed beyond it into the inner courts.”6 The divide was deep and serious, which makes Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 all the more astonishing.

The Gentiles Paul was writing to were far off. We too were far off—we read about it in the beginning of the chapter in Ephesians 2. We were far away from God. If you and I place our faith in the Lord, we will be saved (Ephesians 2:8-10).

As for walls of hostility, right now, you can likely think of several walls built in this century that divided and still divide nations. And there are also invisible walls—those caused by racism, racial bias, partiality, pride, arrogance, envy, and hate. These walls keep us from one another. Sometimes these walls can make it easy for us to despair. There have been many days when I have wondered if some Christians have ever read the verses about reconciliation in Ephesians 2.

Paul reminds us that we who were once far off have now been brought near by the blood of Christ. If we understand the gospel to be true—that we were indeed once far off—then we should be eager to draw near to one another.

In Ephesians 2:14, we see that the dividing wall of hostility has been abolished. We are a new people brought together by the blood of Christ. Through him we all have access to the Father. Christ has created one new man: the Christian man. Some have even called us one new race of people.

To the first-century church, this would be preposterous and miraculous. Those who were once so opposed to one another now share in the same inheritance. They are family. They may have wondered, How could that be? The Bible says we are no longer strangers but fellow citizens. And we aren’t only fellow citizens, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

The gospel is the race-transcending good news for all nations. It creates a new man. It’s the message of Ephesians 2 and what Dr. John Perkins has based his entire ministry on. We are already created uniquely by God as image bearers, and through Christ, God abolishes the hostility. What an awesome God!

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6 ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 2265.