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Gentile, are set aside, annulled and cancelled, the enmity gone, the middle wall broken
down.
Perhaps nothing crystallized the difference between the Jew and Gentile so much as
did the decree of circumcision. This is particularly dealt with both in Eph. 2: and
Col. 2:, and it is pointed out in Eph. 2: as being "made by hand", so linking it with
Col. 2: by the contrast in the words "made without hands" of verse 11. So essentially
does the member of the One Body find his all in Christ, that bondage of any kind except
the holy bond of peace and love (Eph. 4:, Col. 3:) must be intolerable. Therefore the
apostle proceeds to speak of the decrees and ordinances of the "vain deceitful
philosophy" which sought to hold them apart from Christ the Head (Col. 2: 18). He
concludes by referring again to the decrees, this time not the decrees of the law of God
which are binding until He repeals them, but the decrees of the world, such as:--
"Touch not, taste not, handle not, all which things are consumed in the using;
according to the commandments and doctrines of men" (Col. 2: 21, 22).
A decree of God is placed upon the same level as the decree of man, when once that
decree is undispensational. This is plain not only from the chapter before us, but from
Gal. 4: 8-11:--
"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are
no gods, but now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years, I am afraid for you."
These Galatians, as heathen, never rendered obedience to the observance of Israel's
days, months, seasons, and years, yet their turning back from the liberty of Christ to the
bondage of law was all one and the same in essence, as turning back to the weak and
beggarly elements of heathendom. The member of the One Body is free from ALL
decrees, whether ordained by Moses, by Elders in Jerusalem, or by his fellow man; One
is his Head, Christ, and for the glory of His name he submits to no other.
Those believers who seek to know Christ after the flesh, whose only title for Him is
the too familiar "Jesus", may of necessity find themselves still involved in that enmity
which is connected with the flesh. We know but ONE BAPTISM and ONE BODY, we
are bound to observe no day in particular (this does not give licence to outrage other
believers' feelings concerning Sunday), but gladly seek to walk worthy before the Lord
and our fellows. The atmosphere of reconciliation and new creation is too pure, too
heavenly, for anything pertaining to the flesh. Here grace reigns, enmity is abolished,
and Christ Himself is our Peace.