LET THE WALL CRUMBLE

Man has a tendency to put up walls that divide. Sometimes, these walls are physical, like the Wall of Berlin, which separated East and West Germany for 28 years. When that wall was torn down, many people rejoiced in having the freedom to cross from east to west without being restricted. Great freedom and happiness usually happen when walls come tumbling down.

Sometimes, people will put up a wall between themselves and others who are not like them. For example, Peter put up a wall between himself and the Gentiles in Galatians 2, but Paul corrected him. Many times, great things can happen when we do not divide ourselves from those who are not like us and instead work together for a common good, especially when it comes to glorifying God.

The greatest wall that has ever crumbled was the one crushed by Jesus.

Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands --  12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 

Before the cross, the Jews and Gentiles were separated and had nothing to do with each other. Though Gentiles could become proselytes, there was a wall around the temple area that Gentiles could not go past. If they did, they would be put to death. When Jesus died on the cross, He brought forth a new covenant, which broke down the separation between Jews and Gentiles. Now, all people have the same access to God, as Paul states:

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Those who become Christians become part of the same body, which is the body of Christ (Col. 1:24). No matter what our gender or race may be, we are to be united for the cause of Christ. Though some want to rebuild walls to divide those different from them, we must not try to rebuild what Jesus took out of the way. Instead, let us continue to strive together for the unity of the faith based on God’s Word and His Word only. Let us take Paul’s words to heart:

Ephesians 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,  2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;  5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.