In part 2 of this two-part series we explore the implications of the "one new man" which God created in Christ of redeemed Jews and Gentiles. The hostility that Paul puts at the center of these verses refers both to the dividing wall and to the Law. The separation between Jew and Gentile was made dramatic by the literal temple wall that separated the Gentiles from worship and made legal by the Mosaic covenant. Verse 15 tells us that through His atoning death Christ annulled the commands and decrees of the Law. We argue from Deuteronomy 8:1 that all of the commandments of the old covenant were binding on those under that covenant, not just part of them.

Jesus annulled the old covenant and established the promised new covenant through His blood. The "one new man" that Jesus created is His church which consists of all redeemed Jews and Gentiles. To understand the issues we must have a Biblical definition of the church. Ecumenism cannot make "one new man," only the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion. Redefining the church through human wisdom and man-made processes will never make a new creature in Christ either individually or corporately.

When a person turns to Christ, he or she becomes new and is added to the church. There is no need to process the details of the past. We are forgiven and made new. The church is never a geo-political entity or a building. It is a redeemed people. We address Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8 which comment on this new covenant promise. The covenant that was annulled is the Mosaic covenant, not the unconditional covenant that God made with Abraham. True liberty is a work of the Spirit of God who indwells all who turn to Christ.

Sermon handout and slides available under the Downloads tab.