Ephesians 2:11-12 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 

Racism has always been a part of the fallen world. 

There was arrogance and name-calling from a class of people who felt superior to a “heathen” class of people. There were the outsiders and the in-crowd. Hostility, anger, abuse, privilege, shunned could all be wrapped up in the verses above.  

Brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 

Ephesians 2:13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 

The death of Christ on the cross released a supernatural power to overcome division. On the cross, the enemy thought he had destroyed Jesus. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice (not destruction) on the cross, a mighty power over sin, separation, and death was birthed. It all points to the cross and the blood of Jesus. 

Christ’s perfect sacrifice and resurrection opened a world of hope to many who would die in their sins. It is the supernatural power of Christ’s blood that dripped off the cross and is still dripping on those lost, separated, abused, shunned to bring them to hope through Christ. The supernatural work of Christ’s blood goes out to the world of the lost and calls them to draw near to Christ and other Christians.

Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross

Ephesians 2:14-16 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Christ broke down the wall of hostility between us. Jesus ended the regulations the Jews were required to keep in the Old Testament. Rules like circumcision, animal sacrifice, sabbath, and dietary restrictions. Now there is no more separation between the Jews and Gentiles. Jesus died for all on the cross, and through His death, He can put to death our hostility toward each other through the power of Christ’s blood.  

All of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:17-18 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now, all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Let us call upon the power of Christ’s blood over our personal lives and conversations about other races and other beliefs that are causing pain and division. Let us share a message of hope and breaking down walls of separation as we share the news of Christ to a lost world.  

Let your lightnside shine hope and peace to people outside your own circles.