The Book of Ephesians Pt. 21 Peace With God, Access to the Father!

We are seeking to better understand the riches of spiritual blessings that God has given to all who are born again and are  "in Christ." God's grace is amazing, His love is overwhelming and His mercy higher than the heavens. Because all these things are true, we know for sure that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ for those who are saved (Romans 8:31-39). 

Christ is our peace with God.

Ephesians 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

Paul now turns to teach us more vital truth about Jesus Christ our Savior and the mighty work of salvation that He accomplished. Jesus did all of the required work in order to save all who hear the gospel and respond with repentant faith. 

However, it is not just the work that Jesus accomplished on our behalf, but it is His person. Jesus Himself is our peace and as long as the believer is in Christ, he (or she) has peace with God. This truth connects to the fact that we used to be the enemies of God and were actually soldiers in the Devil's army. We fought knowingly or unknowingly for the kingdom of darkness, against God.

Christ brought us out of darkness into His light.

Colossians 1:12-14  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

In this parallel text from Colossians, we see gratitude and thanksgiving to the Father for adopting us into the family of God. What I want you to notice is that our Father delivered us from the power of darkness and literally plucked us up in order to place us in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

Many people are snared by the Devil.

2 Timothy 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Paul warned Timothy to faithfully preach the Word of God so that those who have gone astray might be recovered from the snare of the Devil. The word "snare" means being tripped up by a hidden snare like hunters use. It is similar to trip wires connected to explosives used in war. It means something that brings swift, unexpected and deadly peril. 

Believers in Christ have peace in their hearts because they know the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus is the source of that peace.  The word "peace" refers to a tranquility in our soul because we are assured of salvation through Christ and because the fear of God's wrath has been removed. Peace brings harmony because the believer is no longer at war against God. 

Not only has Jesus brought us peace with God through His own Person, but Jesus broke down the walls that used to cut Gentiles off from all the hope, blessings and promises of God. This was hard for the Jews to accept when Paul lived, but their despised and detested enemies, the Gentiles, have also been granted eternal life. 

Race, nationality, ethnicity and all human credentials like education, wealth or social status  disappear when we are placed "in Christ." 

Christ abolished all enmity between God and man. 

Ephesians 2:15-16  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; 16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Paul teaches us more about what the cross death of Christ did for all of humanity. First, Jesus abolished all enmity between God and man. The idea is not just that Christ broke down enmity between Jews and Gentiles, but that He broke down all enmity between God and man. This is why the gospel of Christ is such good news. God will save anyone who repents of their sins and turns to Christ , calling upon the Lord to save them. 

"Enmity" means having active hostility against someone else. It means that man naturally has ill will, hatred and malevolent feelings toward God. Christ broke all this down. Now, many people who are not born again still have enmity and hatred toward God but He extends grace to all mankind until the age of the church is over. 

"Enmity" also refers to the wrath of holy God toward sinful man because we routinely violate His law. Jesus took that away when our sins were nailed to His cross! (Colossians 2:8-15). 

Christ reconciled us to God.

Ephesians 2:16-18  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

What was God's purpose in removing the enmity between God and man? He accomplished reconciliation. "Reconciliation" means that Christ has restored each believer into a right relationship with God. We who were once His enemies have been brought together in peace with God in Christ. When Jesus was slain, He killed the enmity.  When Jesus was slain, He blotted out our sins and transgressions. 

The gospel of Christ includes preaching peace between God and man through repentant faith in Jesus, the Son of God. God is glorified because He sends His saving gospel into all the places and peoples who reject Him. Not all people will respond, but He will save all who call upon Him.

Christ brings us perfect access to the heavenly Father. The word "access" means that we can boldly approach the throne of God knowing that He will respond in grace toward us, and that we are acceptable to Him because we are in His Son, Jesus Christ. If all of this truth was not overwhelming enough, Paul reminded us that it is the Spirit of God living in us that brings us that precious access. 

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Rom 8:2-7  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Sublime spiritual truths are brimming over in Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. We need these truths because the world is pressing its values and immorality upon us from all sides. We can easily become bogged down navigating through the here and now where we live and lose sight of all that God has given us in Christ. 

The two texts above will help us remember all of the riches of our inheritance in Christ.

The text from Hebrews tells us of the powerful and effective entrance that Christ made for us to the throne of God.  Access is granted so that we might confess our sins, knowing that our Father will be merciful to us. Access to the throne also means that we can ask for God's grace when we face troubles, trials or tribulation in this present evil world. 

Paul's letter to the Romans brings back the truth that our natural man has a mind that is carnal and therefore is at enmity with God. Since Jesus came into our heart, we received a new heart, a new spirit and a new beginning to our lives. God's Spirit indwells us so that we can walk in newness of life and become spiritually minded people instead of those who are carnally minded. 

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help us comprehend these truths and that He will change how we think as He helps us live for the glory of God. May we willingly submit to the will of our Great God in all things so that we exalt our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bob