HE HAS MADE BOTH ONE!

THE GREAT SECRET HID IN GOD 

                                                                    Part 2

 

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes [formerly] were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.                                                                                                                                                                                    EPHESIANS 2:13-14

 

  God’s Word is truth. Truth is absolute and unchanging. Truth doesn’t deteriorate or corrupt. Truth lives and abides forever. When God’s Word declares that he “hath made both one”, then both are one ! This isn’t just interesting information asking for an affirmative vote. This is truth that lives and endures. Truth is to be believed. Believing determines the decisions of your heart and the direction of your life. When believing is rooted in truth it produces true results.

 

  This truth that “both” are now “one” is great and encompassing, and yet so contrary to deep-seated traditions that it is hardly acknowledged and basically ignored. Nevertheless, unbelief does not alter truth. Truth stands. If he has made both one, no unbelief can change this truth. Both have been made one, and therefore now, both are one !

 

  The apostle Paul made this tremendous truth known and taught it boldly as recorded in the book of Acts. This teaching was opposed with hostility by the tradition-holding legalists. They refused to believe and change their ways.

 

But when the Jews [Judeans] saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming [speaking slanderously].                                         ACTS 13:45

 

  The great truth that “both are now one” was one of “the things which were spoken by Paul” that these Judeans opposed and spoke against. It cut to the core of their systemized traditions and they would not change. And it came to pass in Iconium that they [Paul and Barnabas] went both together into the synagogue of the Jews [Judeans], and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews [Judeans] and also of the Greeks believed.

 

But the unbelieving Jews [Judeans] stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected [embittered] against the brethren.                                                                                                                          ACTS 14:1-2

 

  Paul spoke the truth in love. Nevertheless, the unbelieving Judeans resisted and opposed the truth with hostility to the end that they stirred up others against the truth he spoke.  Just as the tradition-holders in Acts refused to believe and change, so it is still today.

 

  What is the marvelous truth that is so fought against and continues to be essentially unknown? Who are the two that have been made one? God’s Word identifies the two in verse eleven of Ephesians chapter two:

 

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles [the nations] in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.                                                EPHESIANS 2:11

 

  The two “made one” are:     1) Those called the Uncircumcision.

                                                2) Those called the Circumcision.

 

  What is the significance of circumcision? It was the token of the covenant God made with Abraham and his seed. That seed was later called Israel. Israel was the covenant nation. All other nations did not have the covenant promises, and were called the “Uncircumcision”. This is My covenant, which ye [Abraham] shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee: Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

 

And ye [Abraham] shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt Me and you.                                                                                                                                      GENESIS 17:10-11

 

  The covenant God made with Abraham and his seed (later called Israel) resulted after “Abraham believed God”. God honored and rewarded Abraham’s believing. God looked on his heart, not some contrived outward show. God honors and rewards believing, not right behavior. Men adulterate this truth and teach the opposite: that right behavior pleases God. Traditions and systems of men using the name of God are built upon commandments of men using God’s name. These practices caused the Israel of the Bible (the “Circumcision”) to have a hostile opposition, or enmity, toward all the other nations (the “Uncircumcision”). The enmity that was caused by men’s hostility was “abolished” and “slain” by Jesus Christ.

 

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain [Circumcision and Uncircumcision] one new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both [Circumcision and Uncircumcision] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off [Uncircumcision], and to them that were nigh [Circumcision].

 

For through him we both [Circumcision and Uncircumcision] have access by one spirit unto the Father.                                                                                                                                                                                      EPHESIANS 2:15-18

 

  By the work of Jesus Christ the two are made one, and both are now one new man. He abolished and slew the enmity caused by men’s hostility. He made peace. He reconciled us both unto God. We both have access to the Father by means of His gift of holy spirit. God is no respecter of persons. We are all one, one new man, in Christ Jesus!