“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 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” (Ephesians 2:14-15).
Racism, bigotry, and prejudice are a perpetual curse of humanity. Ever lurking in the human heart is the dark desire to believe oneself superior to his contemporaries, fully entitled to a “BIG I, little you” mindset.
Because of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Law of Moses, the Jews of the first century were certain of their moral and spiritual superiority. They were not dogs. They were not uncircumcised in body. They were God’s chosen people.
Because of the immense smugness and abject contempt shown by their Jewish contemporaries, the Gentiles rarely envied the Jews. So repulsive was the Jews’ pride and self-righteousness, many Gentiles were thankful they were not descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, in their own way and for all the wrong reasons, they were proud of their Gentile heritage.
In Christ, all ground for sinful prejudice and personal, racial, and religious pride is washed away. Superficial monikers such as Jew or Gentile pale in comparison to Christian—the new name and new man (i.e., race) created by Jesus Himself.
The new name given by the mouth of the Lord (as prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 62:2) identifies a new branch of humanity. Introduced by the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), the second category of humanity is made in the likeness of the second man (1 Corinthians 15:47). Therefore, there is henceforth neither Jew nor Gentile, just Christians and non-Christians.
The question of the hour is not: “Is Abraham your forefather?”; rather, it is: “Is Christ your Savior?”
