Access to the Father

Good morning, welcome to NHCC, please open your Bible to Ephesians 2.

One big question answered in our text today- How has all of this been made possible?

Read Ephesians 2:17-18- “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.”

Pray.

Three anchors.

1. Peace has been preached to Jew and gentile alike in the ministry of Jesus.

Here is the language that is used in the text- “He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

We find in such a phrase some interesting and necessary words.

Far off and near.

First, we find the audiences to whom Jesus preached the theological concept of peace with God and peace with men.

You who were far off- Summer School

Same word used to describe the prodigal son returning home.

Summer School.

This language has already been used in v. 11-12- Far off, separated, distant, alienated, etc. All words used to describe the life apart from Jesus for the gentiles.

The gospel of peace was necessary for and was preached to those who were not privy to God’s covenant blessings.

Those who were near.

If the gentiles were far off and alienated from the covenants, then who was it that found themselves to be near? The Jews.

The Jews had received the covenant promises, they were God’s people.

The concept of right relationship with the all powerful and sovereign God is not entirely foreign to the Jews, even if they failed to live in right relationship with God.

Peace and peace.

Notice that peace was preached, meaning that it was necessary to be preached, for both near and far.

This is hugely important.

We don’t tend to deal in Jew and Gentile anymore, but we absolutely do in near and far.

Far- Those who have never given much thought to Jesus.

Near- Those who have given great thought to Jesus.

He came and preached.

The Church carries on the ministry of Jesus.

Klyne Snodgrass- “The Christian church exists only because of Christ and his purposes. Christianity is a religion centered on a person. The church gathers around the character of Christ, not the characteristics of the people. Apart from the significance of his death and resurrection, the church has no reason to exist.”

Fascinating how distracted we can become in our individual lives and in the communal life of the church.

Klyne Snodgrass- “The church’s agenda is not a collection of meaningful ideas and projects. The church’s agenda is Christ, in whom all subjects are placed in order.”

2. The peace given by Jesus provides a never-ending access to God.

Access is an interesting concept.

Two ways that this concept could be understood, both of which are profoundly earth-shattering for those who had never experienced them before.

First, access suggests introduction.

It’s not enough to merely have access to the presence of the Father, is it? Something more is required.

Have you ever considered everything to which you have access that perhaps you’ve never been introduced to?

AAA- Roadside assistance.

It was never going to be enough for Jesus to simply make a way to the Father; He must also usher us into the presence of the Father, introducing us to Him.

Charles Hodge- “Access is not mere liberty of approach; it is introduction. Christ did not die simply to open the way of access to God, but actually to introduce us into his presence and favor.”

This is the very idea of evangelism, is it not?

Children’s Ministry vs. Youth Ministry.

Second, access suggests obtainability.

In the OT, the presence of God was said to manifestly dwell in the Temple.

Or consider the Holy Spirit, being given at various times to various people.

So many passages that remind us of our access to God, to being in the presence of the Father.

Matthew 28:20- “...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

James 4:8- “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Hebrews 4:16- “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Thomas Watson- “Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.”

Likely need to be reminded often of the obtainability of access to the Father.

3. Our salvation, or peace with God, is through the Son, in the Spirit, to the Father.

Have you ever considered the inner workings of your salvation?

Why are you saved? What has happened in order that you might be saved?

When we receive a gift, we find it important to consider the generosity and sacrifice of the one who gave the gift.

Bob Russell Ministries.

What has been accomplished on our behalf? And how do we respond to it?

We have been given access to the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

Not only is God made available to us, but we are brought into His presence.

How are we brought into the presence of God? Through Jesus. His death and resurrection for our forgiveness is what allows peace to be made between God and man.

It is only by the death and resurrection of the Son of God that access to the Father, or peace with the Father, is made possible.

Lines of traffic that are blocked off.

But how does the death and resurrection of Jesus make any difference in our lives today?

This comes down to the work of the Holy Spirit. Access to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.

En- means in or by. Access to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit takes what Jesus has done and makes it possible for us to understand.

1 Corinthians 2:11-13- “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

John Owen- “That Jesus Christ was crucified, is a proposition that any natural man may understand and assent to, and be said to receive: and all the doctrines of the gospel may be taught in propositions and discourses, the sense and meaning of which a natural man may understand; but it is denied that he can receive the things themselves. For there is a wide difference between the mind’s receiving doctrines notionally, and receiving the things taught in them really.”

Once we understand, the Spirit opens our eyes in order that we might respond to the gospel with faith in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:3- “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”

So much that happens in our life and faith that is the result of the Spirit of God. Do we recognize it as such?

We are brought into the presence of God through the sacrifice of Jesus by the power of God’s Spirit.

How do we respond any time we are brought into the presence of another? Speak and listen.

John Bunyan- “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to his Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God.”

Have you ever considered what a privilege it is to read the Word of God, to understand it with spiritual sight, and to respond in prayer, through Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, for the will of the Father?

What is happening in you when you read God’s Word and respond in prayer is something that is done nowhere else outside of the Church.