The Creation of “One New Man”

Paul specifically mentions that the mystery was the bringing of Jew and Gentile in one body.   The hostility and division was the issue and context of that day.   The big picture of division starts with the scattering of man in the dispersion at Babel (Genesis 11) and the advancement of nations.  Then, God’s choice to create a nation through one man, Abraham, accomplished His purposes, including the division that exists in the world.   The flow of history reveals the creation of diverse worlds that compete with each other.  For example, the temple emphasized the conflict as no Gentiles were allowed at a certain point.  It marked the right of sonship that allowed one man to cross while forbidding another.  All those forbidden are on the outside, looking into a world that they were not privileged to partake.    The temple was the greatest symbol of separation between men.  The line of Isaac and Ismael represents one great division that runs through the story of redemption in the Bible.   For the Jewish people, they were told by God that they were called and preserved to be a light to the Gentiles and open the eyes of the blind (Isaiah 49:6).    Of course,  the origin of blessings come from the hand of God, not the nation he chose to represent Him.  God intended that they become the example of service/obedience so that others may come to know Him, also.  However, a class system developed between the identity of God’s people by birth versus God’s proselytized people.   The twist was taken from the promise of Abraham that gave blessings to all the nations through his lineage.   However, it was through the seed, not seeds, of Abraham that granted blessings to the nations.   Paul wrote,

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Ephesians 3:16)

He never intended that a nationalistic exclusive nation be the expression of this will.  It is a rejection of God’s will to suggest the view that during the church age there was equality between Jew and Gentile but that when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom, Israel and her distinction from the nations will once again be established.   This teaching is devastating to the work of Jesus, who came to accomplish God’s purpose to bring men together.  In the first place, the kingdom defined the people of God and are not defined by our English word, “church.”  Second, the Scriptures never promise that Jesus will ever set one foot upon this earth, again.   His coming in the flesh is fulfilled and his return that was promised to His apostles in John 14-16 has also been fulfilled.

Regarding the law given to the Jews, it brought nothing but a curse (Galatians 3:10-13).  The grammar construct of verses 13-14 is saying that Christ redeemed them from the curse of the law in order that “the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14).  Accordingly, the Spirit was promised to be poured out on all flesh in the last days of the Jewish era.    Consequently, both can receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.   It is the same promise of Acts 2:38 and Eph. 1:13 (cf. Acts 10:47).

We are specifically told that the mystery of the gospel is the Gentiles’ inclusion into the body of Christ.  This is described as the “one new man” from the standpoint of “bringing together both Jew and Gentile into one body.   Of course, each individual in Christ is to put off certain offenses and put on those characteristics that represent the mind of Christ.  This represents individual growth and transformation.  Chapters four through six describes that new life.   However, though obviously related to one another, we must not confuse this “new man” with the maturity of individual transformation from the old self.   One is viewed as the body of Christ as a whole, while the other is applied individually.  In other words, individuals make up this one new man that comprises both Jews and Gentiles.

Purpose of the Holy Spirit

The content of the letters and epistles proves that bringing Jews and Gentiles together in one body was the goal of their work.  1 Corinthians 13  speaks of the miraculous gifts continuing until the coming of that which is complete or perfect, while Ephesians 4 speaks of the gifts being granted until “we attain to the unity of the faith.”  Another phrase found in Ephesians 1:10 that addresses the purpose of God and the Holy Spirit is “to gather together in one all things.

The Holy Spirit was the instrument of bringing about the mystery of Jews and Gentiles brought into one body by the cross.  Without the mystery being revealed with the powerful witness of miraculous powers,  the divine purpose would not have been completed.   Once this is accomplished by the miraculous confirmation of that mystery, all heaven and earth marvel at the manifold wisdom of God.  The intent of this new body of called out souls from both Jews and Gentiles alike is to make known God’s wisdom.   Ephesians 3:10 reads,

“…so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Heaven is a spiritual dimension that is just as real as the physical.  In Matthew 8:11, Jesus speaks of many coming from the east and west and will “recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven”,  while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness.” This does not describe a physical occurrence, as the kingdom is not a physical kingdom.  This thought is taken up by the Hebrew writer who writes of great men and women who lived and died without receiving the promises and were watching this unfolding of God’s creation.   He writes in Hebrews 12 of the great cloud of witnesses,  suggesting that these witnesses provide some benefit to the believer on earth.   The writer explains in verse 1, “Seeing that we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses,  let us lay aside every weight… ”    These are part of the same individuals who marvel at God’s multi-faceted wisdom.   This letter glorifies God and His eternal purpose that is made known in those days through the Holy Spirit.  Paul wrote, “But, as it is written, 

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Cor. 1:9-10).