The Middle Wall

Depending on your age, you might remember or have read about the Berlin Wall.

It was built in August of 1961 with the original being built out of barbed wire and concrete blocks. The wall was 96 miles in length and stood 11 to 15 feet high. It separated West Germany from East Germany.

The Bible had its own wall called the wall of partition.

This wall was built by God and it separated Israel from the rest of the nations.

Let’s say we have a geographical separation in this wall of partition with the West being Israel and the East being the other nations.

The West (Israel) had all kinds of benefits.

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 9: 4-5

The East (Gentiles) on the other hand had none.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Ephesians 2:11-12

In June of 1987 then-President Reagan gave a speech at the Brandenburg Gate and told the Soviet leader “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

The middle wall of partition was broken down for us by Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Ephesians 2:14

That wall had its ending with Christ’s death and shed blood.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

Out of that separation, He created one new man and abolished the law of commandments and ordinances.

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Ephesians 2:15-16

In this new man there comes a oneness. 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

This new man is called the Body of Christ and can only be found in Paul’s writings.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

There is no middle wall to sit on today in this dispensation, either you are in the Body of Christ or you are not.

If you aren’t sure it’s time to study Romans through Philemon, the only place you will find it.

To see Souls saved and Saints edified!

Believe the Gospel

What Gospel you might ask? That would be an intelligent question.

Most of Christendom thinks that there is only one gospel or the four which would be Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

 But when we search the Scriptures we see that there are numerous Gospels.

Gospel just means “Good News”. 

In Galatians 3 we find the gospel unto Abraham.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:8

We can find the gospel that was given to him back in Genesis.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 12: 1-3

That’s good news for Abram at the time and for the families of the earth.

Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom to Israel.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mark 1:14

I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:24

He also states that those at that time needed to believe that gospel.

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:15

So far we have looked at 2 different gospels. Which one should we believe?

Let’s add a third to the mix. Paul states in Romans that he has a gospel.

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 2:16

According to his gospel? Now we are really confused. Are they all the same?

Paul says his gospel is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the mystery.

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans 16:25

Let me give you an example to help clarify this confusion.

Let’s say you are in a class that is studying current events. You have to write a paper for the class, but you have been studying newspaper and magazine articles from the ’60s.

Do you have a chance of passing the course?

It’s the same thing in Scripture. Something has happened in the past and now there is a new revelation. There is something different in all three of these gospels. 

So is your understanding of the gospel for today current and up to date?

To see Souls saved and Saints edified!