Now once again let us turn to
the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians chapter 2. We'll just read to
verses 18 and 19. Ephesians chapter 2 reading verses
18 and 19. For through him we both have
access by one spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are
no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the
saints and of the household of God. This was and is a wonderful truth
to the Church of God. It was a wonderful truth to the
Ephesians who were generally of course Gentiles and hadn't
enjoyed the privilege which the ancient Jews Israel had. But
now the apostle is able to come and join them together and say
that for through him, that of course is the Lord Jesus Christ,
for through him we both have access by one spirit unto the
Father. It's a very glorious and solemn
scene to try and visualize that there is the Father, and there
is the Son, and there is the Holy Spirit. And therefore, as
we pray, and whenever we pray, and as we pray here tonight,
to realize the significance of such a glorious statement. It is through Him Without Him,
there would be no through Him. Without the Lord Jesus Christ,
there would be no benefit in our prayers. And so we are told
for through Him, we both, Jew and Gentile, have access by one
Spirit unto the Father. And so as we approach unto our
Father in heaven, He is our Father to all those who are redeemed
all those who are called by grace, all those who have received His
mercy, all those who have been blessed with the new birth, He
is our Heavenly Father. And I think sometimes we seem
to forget the wonder of that, the thing that we have a Father
in heaven and we can approach unto Him, but not directly. We're told here, we have access,
by one Spirit, and that's the Holy Spirit unto the Father. So it's through the Lord Jesus
Christ, it is He that has the merit so that you and I can approach
unto the Father, and it's by the way of the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful thing it is
to think that we, as sinners of the earth, have no ability
to approach unto the Holy God, our Father, who is a consuming
fire. And we are sinners of the earth,
and we will be consumed, but we should be so thankful that
there is that new and living way which is being brought about
by the death and the resurrection and the ascension of the Lord
Jesus Christ. So now we believe our Saviour
is seated on the throne in glory, there to intercede for us, for
through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. And we read of course this 10th
chapter, and I hope you probably appreciated why we read it, because
it's so suitable for this subject we've had before us in this verse. And in this 10th chapter to the
Hebrews, the apostle is able to tell them so clearly, having
therefore, brethren, boldness. We could not come boldly were
it not for the gracious invitation, were it not because of the intercession
of the Lord Jesus Christ. But he says, having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of
Jesus. See, no other way, no other entrance. Our prayers will not be accepted,
but through this way, into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus. And that's why the blood of Jesus
is invaluable. Without it, we would have no
access. It signified the Lord had put
away our sins, that we stand complete in him. Having therefore
brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus
by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us through
the veil That is to say, his flesh. It just would no doubt
have meant so much to the Jews, the Hebrews, to realise that
they'd been worshipping God in the temple, and there in the
temple had been that vast and important veil which separated
the holiest of all from the holy place. And the only person that
was allowed to go in there was high priest and not only on their
annual occasion. But now we have this set before
us a new and living way. That was the only way in Old
Testament times of access through that veil. And of course we realised
that veil was rent. on the day when Christ died,
when he finished the work that his father gave him to do. And
utter those glorious words, it is finished. Then that veil was
rent in twain. And there was then that access,
and it was the new and living way which the blessed Saviour
hath consecrated for us. It's a very humbling consideration. It's a very wonderful consideration
to think that we now today do not have to go through all those
ceremonies which had to be carried out so accurately, but we have
the great and glorious intercession of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ. As this wonderful high priest,
as the Apostle says, and having a high priest over the house
of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with clean water. It's very relevant to us tonight
to think of this statement, let us draw near as we come to God
in prayer. As we are able to draw near,
we have this gracious word with a true heart, in full assurance
of faith. That means that we are believing.
We do come into the presence of our Father in heaven through
the merits of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through
the Holy Spirit. And it is then to come in that
way with this blessed full assurance of faith. Without faith, it is
impossible to please God, Without faith, it is impossible to come
to God with prayer. But what a blessing it is when
we do come with faith, believing we do come to the prayer hearing
and the prayer answering God. And that means what it says,
wonderfully, in full assurance. Therefore, we should not come
doubting. We should not come thinking that
our prayers won't be answered. should come with a humble and
true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering,
for he is faithful that promised." Well, what a good thing it is.
We could go on, but we'll stop there. in this chapter, it's
a very beautiful chapter, that chapter we read part of tonight
and so for through him we may be known a blessing tonight of
this gracious access through him we both have access by one
spirit unto the Father then he goes on to say now therefore
we are no more strangers and foreigners you see the Ephesians
were strangers and foreigners, they were Gentiles And so were
we, we were strangers and foreigners, we were outside of the fold.
But now says the Apostle, now therefore you are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household
of God. We are joined to the Church of
God, united to the Church of God. And of course, we are united
to the blessed saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to realise
if we are his people, this word is true, no more strangers. We were. All the Gentiles were
strangers, and we by nature were strangers and foreigners. What a blessing it is to have
the realisation that through the sin-atoning sacrifice of
the Saviour. To know that we personally, sinners
indeed, but have an interest in the shed blood of the Saviour.
And because of that, we are now fellow citizens with the saints. Unity with the whole Church of
God. No separation. Wonderful joy. and wonderful peace, and wonderful
unity, and of the household of God. It is the family of God. And what a blessing to be part
of that one family, that one church, and therefore to look
forward to that great and glorious day when the whole church will
be gathered together, when time will be no more, and we shall
be in eternity. with the Saviour and with the
Church of God. Well let us ponder these things
and be encouraged by them and be strengthened by them and realise
the blessing of them and indeed help our brethren who speak audibly
to our God tonight. They may come in faith and we
may join in those prayers in faith so that it may be a blessed
time. May God be with us, for Jesus'
sake.