But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father

Ephesians 2:13-18

Recently I was asked to consider the significance of Paul’s mention of the “blood of Christ” in the passage above. It is the blood of Christ that brings forgiveness and reconciliation of mankind to God.

The writer of Hebrews underscores the importance of Jesus’ blood.

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22

Hostility ended once and for all.

The people of the church of Ephesus were a kind of melting pot with Jewish believers as well as Greeks and other Gentiles and so both groups understood the meaning of the final line in the passage above. “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

The message of peace is not about some kind of superficial peace, but the ultimate peace we all need, “through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” There is no difference. We are all in need of a savior. By the way, did you notice the doctrine of the Trinity in this verse?