40 Names of Jesus in 40 days of Lent — Day 25

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.

Ephesians 2:14 ESVUK

If your theology produces proud theological always-rightism and not humble teachability, it’s bad theology.

@PaulTripp on Twitter, 24 March 2022.

That may seem an odd quote to start a post on Jesus, our peace, but it falls right into what Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians. That section is about the Christians at that time who consisted of two groups, Jewish Christians and Gentile non-Jewish Christians. Jews and Gentiles traditionally did not get on, Jews referring to Gentile cattle, and Gentiles thinking the Jews and their monotheistic religion was more than a little odd. Paul said that because of the sacrificial death of Jesus that Gentiles can now share in the promises of God to the Jews. We are not talking about peace with God here, but peace with one another.

Peace with and from God is important. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” But the New Testament talks about the peace that surpasses all understanding, (Philippians 4:7). People who are expected to be enemies living in peace together is the way of the Church of Christ Jesus. Or at least it should be. Some people find that so incredible that they say such an idea must be wrong. I feel sorrowful that there are people who expect others to reflect their agenda of hate. It is obvious on social media, but it reflects how people are in the world.

There should be no place for always-rightism in Christ’s Church.

In Christ even enemies can be reconciled. This gives us hope when we pray for peace.