Breaking Barriers: How Jesus Makes Outsiders Insiders

At some point in life, we’ve all felt like outsiders. Maybe it was in high school, where cliques determined who sat where at lunch. Or maybe it was in the workplace, where certain groups held influence while others felt unseen. The feeling of being excluded, of standing on the outside looking in, is something we all can relate to.

In biblical times, the greatest divide was between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were the insiders—God’s chosen people with access to his promises, presence, and blessings. Gentiles, on the other hand, were the outsiders—far from God, without access to his covenant, and often despised by those on the inside.

But in Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul reveals a radical truth: through Jesus, the walls that once divided us have been torn down. No longer are some people insiders and others outsiders. Through Christ, all are invited in.

Paul paints a stark picture of what it meant to be a Gentile before Christ:

• They were excluded from citizenship in Israel. Gentiles weren’t part of God’s chosen people and had no place in the covenant promises.
• They were without Christ. The Jews had the hope of a coming Messiah, but Gentiles had no expectation of a Savior.
• They were without hope and without God. Life apart from God left them spiritually lost and without a future.

This separation wasn’t just spiritual—it was physical. In Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem, a literal dividing wall called the soreg separated Gentiles from Jews. A warning inscription was placed along the wall, stating that any Gentile who crossed it would be put to death.

The message was clear: Gentiles stay out.

But then, Paul introduces the greatest turning point in history:
“But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

Paul explains that Jesus’ death on the cross changed everything:

1. Jesus Made Peace Between Jews and Gentiles

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

The wall that separated Jews and Gentiles? Jesus tore it down. The hostility and division that kept them apart? Jesus removed it. Instead of two groups, he created one new humanity—a people united not by birth or law, but by faith in him.

2. Jesus Ended the Old System of Exclusion

“He did this by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations” (Ephesians 2:15).

The Jewish law, which once defined who was in and who was out, was fulfilled in Christ. No longer would birthright or religious performance determine belonging—only faith in Jesus.

3. Jesus Reconciled Both Groups to God

“His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity… and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross” (Ephesians 2:15-16).

Not only did Jesus bring peace between Jews and Gentiles, but he also made it possible for all people to be reconciled to God. No matter our background, ethnicity, or past mistakes, we are invited into God’s family through Jesus.

Because of Jesus, those who were once outsiders are now insiders. Paul describes our new identity in three powerful ways:

1. We Are Citizens of God’s Kingdom

“You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people” (Ephesians 2:19).

Through Christ, we are no longer outsiders—we belong to God’s eternal kingdom. This means we have the full rights, privileges, and security of being his people.

2. We Are Members of God’s Family

“You are members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19).

We don’t just belong to a kingdom; we belong to a family. We are sons and daughters of God, with brothers and sisters in Christ who share in this inheritance.

3. We Are God’s Dwelling Place

“In him the whole building is joined together… and in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22).

No longer is God’s presence confined to a temple. Instead, we are the temple—God’s Spirit lives in us, both individually and as the church.

It’s easy to read about Jews and Gentiles and think of it as ancient history. But we still build walls today. We divide people by race, class, politics, and social status. We create insider and outsider groups based on who we think belongs.

But Paul’s message is clear: Jesus came to break down walls, not build them.

Think about this:

• If Christ loved black and white, rich and poor enough to die for them, how can we love them any less?
• If Jesus tore down barriers between people, why do we keep building them back up?
• If we are saved by grace, how can we deny grace to others?

When we truly grasp how much grace has been extended to us, it changes how we treat others. We stop seeing people as insiders and outsiders and start seeing them as people Jesus died for.

Paul ends Ephesians 3 with a powerful prayer:

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:17-18).

When we understand the depth of God’s love, we can’t help but extend it to others. And when we do, we become the new humanity Jesus intended—one where grace, love, and unity define us, rather than division and exclusion.

As you go through this week, consider these challenges:

1. Examine Your Own Walls: Are there people you tend to exclude or judge? Ask God to help you see them through his eyes.
2. Embrace Your Identity in Christ: You are a citizen, a family member, and a dwelling place of God’s Spirit. Live with confidence in who he says you are.
3. Extend Grace to Others: Look for ways to build bridges instead of barriers. Choose love over division.

Jesus didn’t come to keep people out—He came to invite them in. Let’s be people who do the same.