jews and the gents

Ephesians 2:14-18
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations.  His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

the dividing wall of hostility is what causes hate.  the jews and the gentiles were indeed different.  they believed differently, they prayed differently, they were led to the cross...differently.  but led to the cross!

the dividing wall of hostility stems from pride.

pride within me can cause me to think greater of myself, when i am really nothing.

this Scripture is pointing out the dividing wall of hostility between the jews and gents...

but there are various walls in our lives.

we can have a dividing wall of hate toward ourselves.  a dividing wall of the past that haunts our mind.  a dividing wall of disbelief, a wall of predjudism, a wall of an eating disorder, a wall of heroin and walls of pornography. 

All the dividing walls in our lives have one purpose- to separate us from Jesus.

what will crash this wall down?

there is only one hope.  For He Himself is our peace.  He- Himself- IS OUR PEACE. 

He has broken the dividing wall down by breaking down in His flesh the laws and rules and commands that once held us hostage.

our pride is taken care of on the cross!  our addiction to sex and drugs, is nailed to the cross!

He has taken the jews and the gentiles, the sinners and the saints, the past and the future and brought them all together TO CREATE PEACE.

peace in our minds and peace in our hearts.  peace for everyone that chooses to go to THE CROSS.

it is by GRACE that we are saved, not by works. 

GRACE = FAVOR

God has poured out His grace and favor on you... will you accept it?  will you allow Him to break your dividing walls down?