The More We Get Together

In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul focuses on God's plan to unite heaven and earth by bringing peace not only between sinners and Jesus (vertically), but also among sinful people (horizontally). Salvation is not merely an individual transaction with God, but part of a larger building project creating a gospel community. Sin creates separation, but God's response through Christ is to tear down dividing walls of hostility and build believers together into a holy temple.

Key Points:

- Sin's nature is to drive division among humans, as seen in the separation between Jews and Gentiles

- God's original plan through Abraham was always to bless all nations, not create exclusive access to Him

- The law became a stumbling block in part because Israel used it for national pride rather than as a beacon to draw nations to God

- Christ's death on the cross killed hostility and broke down the dividing wall between peoples

- Believers are being built together as living stones into a spiritual temple with Christ as the cornerstone

Application: All Christians, despite denominational or cultural differences, are part of one body in Christ, and are called to be peacemakers who prioritize unity over division. As members of this new gospel community, built up in Christ, we should focus on what unites all believers (faith in Jesus Christ) as more important than what divides or separates. God's ultimate vision is Revelation 7:9; that members of every nation, tribe, people, and language all worship together before His throne.