He Has Made Us Both One

“For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and 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 bringing the hostility to an end.” Verses 14-16.

Notice that it was in His flesh that He abolished the law which came with commandments and ordinances. The whole secret lies in these words: “in His flesh.” He bore this flesh as a human being, and by the Spirit we are baptized and consecrated into the flesh that He had, for we are baptized by one Spirit to be one body with Him. In this body a process of death takes place—first in Him, then in us. The self-will, and thus the body of sin, is broken down in the flesh. For both Jew and Gentile, sin is broken down in the body of Christ. All enmity is dealt a death blow by the destruction of the body of sin. In the blood of Christ all evil is atoned for. The dividing wall of hostility is broken down.

When our self-will, sin in the flesh, is overcome and slain by the will of God, then we are in intimate harmony with the law. Transgressions disappear quite naturally, because the power in which we transgressed is now gone. The law that came with commandments and ordinances is also taken away, and we are a law unto ourselves. “Likewise, my brethren, you have died to the law through the body of Christ....” Romans 7:4. “And you ... he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death....” Colossians 1:21-22.

God’s work is carried out in the body. Therefore, God’s work must be carried out in us while we are still in flesh and blood. It is not beyond death and the grave that we are to overcome, but now, in the flesh. God established a covenant with Abraham in his flesh. That was a covenant of faith. Now God has established a new covenant with us in the body of Christ by His blood. This mystery concerning the dividing wall, which was broken down in the flesh of Christ, was made known to Paul by revelation; and he himself says that this is a great insight into the mysteries of Christ. (Ephesians 3:3-4.)