This post is Day 16 in a series of studies about “The Spiritual Blessings” in Ephesians, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

The Spiritual Blessings – 16

In his body he has made his people one by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart. So he made peace. Even today there are still many disagreements, but praise God that there are many groups who are working across denominations to bring understanding and fellowship.

Ephesians 2:14-15

So he is our peace. In his body he has made Jewish and non-Jewish people one by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart. … So he made peace.

The Thought

Paul is still speaking to two cultures, Jews and Christians, but what He says here can be applied to any two Christian groups who have been disagreeing. There are many.

Sadly, wars have been fought in the past over protestant/catholic differences. And even today there are still within those groups many disagreements, but praise God that there are also many groups who are working across denominations to bring understanding and fellowship.

Also there are, on both sides of the catholic/protestant divide, internal groups who disagree with each other over doctrine, format, ritual, or what the Bible actually says.

We all still have a lot to learn and thankfully there are many people working for unity and bringing healing across the denominations.

I’m guessing that there will always be differences to be dealt with right up to the end of our earthly life. But If we could focus on the basic facts that we all agree on things would be peaceful and easier. The basic facts for me and those around me are as follows:

• The virgin birth
• Jesus’ miracles
• His death on the cross
• Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb
• His last words to His disciples (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Acts 1)
• Jesus’ ascension into Heaven (Acts 1)
• His promise to return and take His Bride home. (His Bride consists of those who have lived as fully committed believers.) (Revelation 19)

Action

Pray today for more understanding between the different groups of christians that you know. Dare to ask the Lord if you personally have any bias that prevents you from seeing clearly the truth in other denominations.

Remember that we are all products of our upbringing and childhood influences, and we can have ideas that are not from the Lord. Let’s thank Him for His patience with us.