by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. Ephesians 2:15 (NIV)
During the time of the law there were two groups of people – the Jew and the Gentile. The first group was near God the second was far away. The Jew was in covenant with God while the gentile was without God. The two groups despised and denounced each other so there was enmity between them.
But even among the Jews themselves there was still this division created by the law of works and self-efforts. Some Jews saw themselves as nearer to God than the rest because they thought they performed better.
But when Jesus came and went to the Cross He set aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. The Jew thought he was near God because of his performance and the gentile saw himself faraway from God. Jesus reconciled both groups through His death on the Cross. The death of Jesus in the flesh put an end to all the old human viewpoint of our position with God. The Jew is not near God because of his performance and the gentile is not far from God but all of us are one new humanity in Christ. We are not just near but actually in God Himself through Christ.
