Ephesians 2:16

“and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby”

“Reconcile”: To reconcile fully. “Them both”: “Might reconcile back to God, back to Him where both belonged” (Lenski p. 443). Seeing that God created mankind in the first place, it is only logical that man's most pressing need is reconciliation to His Creator. “It is of interest that in Scripture God is not reconciled to man, but man to God (Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 7:11; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:20)” (Boles p. 235). “In one body”: Which is the church (Colossians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:15; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 5:23). “He was able to reconcile them in the one body because of the cross” (Caldwell p. 99). “Unto God through the cross”: Without the death of Christ, none could be reconciled. “It is the cross which makes it possible for God to accept sinful men as righteous; it is the cross which makes it possible for sinful men to approach God which confidence and trust” (Erdman p. 60). The benefits of the cross are only realized to those who are members of the "one body", the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). The church is the body of the saved (Ephesians 5:23). The church is purchased with the blood of Christ Acts 20:28). Baptism, stands between one and being. member of the one body (1 Corinthians 12:13). Therefore, no one can be saved, without being. member of the one body. “Having slain the enmity thereby”: “Thereby bringing the hostility to an end” (RSV).

The enmity or hostility slain includes the cross says to Jew and Gentile, “Both of you are sinners, both of you are in trouble, so abandon your arrogant attitudes towards each other”. The cross enabled us to find. place of refuge from the wrath of God, which our sins deserved (Romans 5:9). The cross also brought many of us back to our senses, that is, we don't have any right to be mad at God (Colossians 1:20). It takes. hard heart to remain hostile towards God in face of the cross.