THE SEEMINGLY MYSTERIOUS CONTRADICTION OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
Paul writes to one of the most significant congregations in his ministry, and to some, seems to contradict Jesus and himself. We will explore and clarify this worldly misunderstanding. Paul writes to them :
Ephesians 2:14-15 NKJV 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,
Some assert that Paul is abolishing the law. This would be a clear contradiction of both Paul's previous writings and teachings and those of Jesus himself. See Matt. 5:17-19 and Romans 3:31 among many clear statements. Why would God cancel His moral laws to expand His church? Remember God is righteousness.
THE BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ARE VITAL
Recall that Paul had taught the Ephesians for two years in a rented auditorium where they both experienced how Paul lived and what he taught. See Acts 19:9-11. They knew Paul was a God fearing, law abiding teacher of the Bible. Therefore they would not have jumped to such unorthodox conclusions as people today who have inherited abolishing certain laws. What is the Apostle's topic?
Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Paul is recalling the process of saving these gentiles from lawlessness which is sin. He is explaining to gentiles the universal salvation work of Christ to save mankind from sins' penalty and therefore the need to repent.
1 John 3:4 TCNT 4 Every one who lives sinfully is living in violation of Law. Sin is violation of Law.
Sin is the breaking of God's Law and Paul further describes the salvation process regarding mankind including gentiles.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Paul is protecting the gentiles from the Judaizing party influence. They took an approach of trying to gain salvation by using over regulation-expressing that one could nearly save themselves by following many ordinances and rules like the Pharisees. God is not going to be so impressed with humans that we can save ourselves. Paul makes it clear that this is impossible. But is he saying in context that converts do NOT need to obey God and do righteous acts? No!
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Obviously God wants to help gentiles to escape the vice of sin and worldly corruption that was dominant in the world. Paul explains that Jesus came to help us learn to repent and do good works but no one can brag that he saved himself.
Ephesians 2:13 NKJV 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Paul is telling the gentiles that all the richness of the Bible Old Testament teachings about goodness and God are now near them. They are no longer far away the from the truth. They have been grafted into Israel. They are spiritual Israelites.
Romans 11:17 NKJV 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
Paul is elaborating as to how Christ is unifying the church by eliminating road blocks that separate Jews and Gentiles.
UNDERSTANDING THE WALL OF SEPARATION ORDINANCES
Paul is saying Jesus abolished specific laws and regulations that separated Jews and Gentiles. This includes the administration of laws. Jewish leaders relegated Gentiles with barricades to some very outer portions of the Temple courtyard. They were outlawed from eating and socializing with gentiles.
Acts 10:27-28 NKJV 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
It was illegal for a Jew to even go to dinner with a Gentile. Finally in Acts Ten the Apostles are beginning to realize that God has rejected such rules. God told the Israelites to stay away from pagan gentiles to protected them from paganism. The religious leaders of Paul's days took these principles and applied them to an extreme, unwisely. They banished social contact with all uncircumcised gentiles even if they were forsaking paganism. Paul elucidates the circumcision issue in a spiritual manner.
Romans 2:25-27 NKJV 25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
Paul explains that circumcision is a national symbol or I.D for Israelites but, was not as important as obeying God's moral laws. Gentiles, if repentant and now learning to be obedient, are spiritually circumcised. They are spiritual Israelites and now also the people of God.
Romans 3:27-31 NKJV 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. .... 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,...31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
One of the laws God was exempting gentiles from was clearly circumcision. It represented a huge wall of separation for gentile believers.
IN THIS VERY LETTER PAUL PUSHES THEM TO BE MORE OBEDIENT
Paul exhorts them to do the opposite of no law but to strive for greater obedience to God and his laws.
Ephesians 4:1 NKJV 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Ephesians 4:17-23 NKJV 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ….. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, ... as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Ephesians 5:6 NKJV 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Let no one deceive us with regard to God's Laws being done away. Obey deeply and spiritually!
