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#43.
"The New Man and Peace" (Eph. 2: 15, 16).
pp. 49 - 52
The middle wall (mesotoichon) being abolished, the enmity being slain, the decrees
removed from the midst (mesős), handmade distinctions gone and the flesh as a factor
eliminated, there can be only one conclusion at which we can arrive, This conclusion is
arrived at in the words "dead to trespasses and sins", "buried with Him in the baptism",
"putting off the body of the flesh", and "the creation of the one new man". With that
creation peace dawned, "in order that the two (`the both', 14-16) He might create in
Himself unto one new man, making peace". The creation here, like the reconciliation of
verse 16, is limited to the one body, but it is a blessed foreshadowing of that new creation
which in a fuller measure is yet to be.
"THE TWO."--Here are the elements out of which the new creation is fashioned.
The context leaves us in no doubt as to who are intended, the Gentile in his darkness and
distance, and the Jew in his pride and privilege. The uncircumcision and the
circumcision, the sheep and the dogs. The flesh is so entirely removed from this sphere,
that God's own institutions which were connected therewith are destroyed.
"CREATION."--Creation indicates something new. II Cor. 5: and Rev. 21: bear
their testimony to the passing away of the old, and the making of all things new. It is
utterly inconsistent with the meaning of the word "create" to bring over anything "old"
unchanged. If anything is repeated it will be adjusted to its new setting (see Gen. 1:).
There are not a few who through failure to discern things that differ and things that excel
desire a list of commands and prohibitions, as though they were still under law.
Everything pertaining to the flesh must stay behind as we rise together with Christ into
the new creation. This settles the question of baptism and the Lord's supper, the decrees
of Acts 15:, the order and gifts of I Corinthians, and the many other questions which
half-grasped truth begets. The church of the one body is a new creation, and is "in
Himself". He is our peace, and "in Him" are all our blessings.
"ONE NEW MAN."--The new man is created during this present dispensation, the
chaste virgin was in process during the last (II Cor. 11: 2), and the bride appears in the
next. How can there be any consistency in the language of Scripture if the one new man
is the BRIDE? What one might call the balance of truth is becoming increasingly
impressed upon us. The privilege of belonging to the church of the one body carries with
it the responsibility to fellow-members and to the living Head; to belong to a new
creation places one outside of much that pertains to this life. To be created a new man
involves a corresponding repudiation of the old man. This we may see in chapter 4:,
where the balance of truth is emphasized by the balance of literary structure.
In Volume II & III, page 92, appears the structure of Ephesians as a whole and
chapter 2: 1-18 is seen to be balanced by chapter 4: 17 - 6: 9. There in both sections
we have the two walks contrasted, in both good works find their place, and in both we
have the doctrine and practice, position and responsibility connected with the new man