A couple nights ago our Threshingfloor community we had some great conversation over dinner about the intertwined topics of politics, abortion, and how conflicted American culture is. After dinner we spent a half an hour reading and discussing Ephesians 2:13-19, which was surprisingly applicable to our dinner conversation. Paul writes;
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”.
Ephesians 2:13-19
In a country divided on topics like politics and abortion (and many others), the unity and peace Paul says that Christ brings is incredibly welcome.
We’re not the only people who are divided. It’s almost impossible to overstate how radical the Apostle’s words would be to the Jewish followers of Jesus. Jewish faith had been, for literal millenia, grounded in a mindset that said union with non-Jews was essentially the same thing as rejection of God. Yet In these verses Paul is explicit; Jews and Gentiles are now one in Christ. Hostilities have ceased. Jesus has brought peace, to the point that what were two people are now one. No more conflict or division.
He himself is our peace
The application of these verses is clear, but by no means easy. There ought to be no divisions or disunity among God’s people. Christ himself is our peace and we are made one through his death on the cross.
Here’s the key point though: that peace stops at the edges of the Christian community. It extends beyond the boundaries of Christ’s body. Just as Jesus’ presence when he was on earth transformed and impacted those around him, so the presence of Jesus’ peace extends beyond the church and into the surrounding world.
Paul expands on this thought a few chapters later in Ephesians, making the radical statement that when we get in conflict we aren’t battling against other humans. Instead our war is against spiritual forces.
The real battle
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
In Christ, we’re at peace with the rest of humanity. When it comes to things like politics, abortion, or even petty workplace grievances, the one who has Jesus as their peace must settle into this amazing reality: Other people can be in conflict with you, but you can’t be in conflict with them. Jesus is your peace. If you are in Jesus, any and all hostility has been put to death and replaced with gracious peace.
That means when someone vehemently attacks your political views, you can’t fight with them. You can disagree and lovingly communicate your opinion, but you can’t fight. You’re at peace.
When someone protests for pro-choice laws and you’re there to counter-protest for the pro-life cause, you can’t for a moment think that you’re opposing those other protesters. Jesus broke down the walls of hostility between Jew and gentile, and between Christian and non.
When someone yells and curses you out for your company’s mistake on their order, you’re not in conflict with them. You’re at peace because Jesus himself is your peace and he never leaves you.
The real battle is a spiritual one, fought in heavenly places and already won in Christ. That means our true fight is believing what God has said is true in Christ. As Jesus himself told the crowds in John 6:29, ““The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Rather than stepping out of Jesus and his peace, here’s what the Apostle says we should do when people come against us in conflict:
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Christian, you’re at peace with everyone. They may be fighting with you, but you’re not at war with them. Instead, you know intuitively that your war is fought in prayer and faith, going over their heads and into the fray of the spiritual realm armed and armored and ready to stand, ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:11-21), no longer strangers and aliens, but citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
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