Ephesians chapter 2. This morning,
I'm going to bring a message, Lord willing. Attempt this message. Verse 19 down to verse 22 of
Ephesians chapter 2. And I'm calling this message,
Jesus Christ Himself. You see those three words in
verse 20. God's church are built upon this
one foundation. All the apostles of the past
Prophets of the past all said there's just one foundation,
one way of salvation, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. That sums up all of salvation.
Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus Christ Himself is all of
salvation. For it says in verse 18, by way
of introduction, for through Him We both, Jew, Gentile, all
the redeemed, all of God's elect, we both have access, liberty,
boldness, by one Spirit, by one way unto God Almighty in Christ
Jesus. Our blessed Lord said, I am the
way, the truth, the life, No man comes to the Father but by
and through me. Because of the glorious priestly
work of the Lord Jesus Christ, because of His perfect righteousness,
because of His obedience unto death, because of His perfect
and glorious sacrifice unto God, all the elect of God are reconciled
in one glorious body in Christ, having free access. Now you think about this. Free
access, liberty and boldness to approach God without fear,
without being intimidated. Coming boldly unto the throne,
not of an earthly king, but of God Himself, who is holy, who
is almighty, who is sovereign. And this is all through Christ
Jesus. Because of what He has done for
us and what He has given unto us. Now, right here in Ephesians
chapter 3, look at verse 11. Ephesians 3 verse 11. According
to the eternal purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence. Now watch this carefully. By
the faith of Him. It doesn't say by our faith,
it says by the faith of Him. It's because of His faithfulness
that we have those three things. We have boldness, access, and
we have it with confidence. Now, let me show you a couple
of places in Scripture where this is also given to us. Back
in the book of Hebrews, where we were a moment ago, find Hebrews
chapter 4. Boldness and liberty. Hebrews
chapter 4 this time, access unto the presence of God, the very
throne of God, through Christ Jesus, through Christ alone.
In Hebrews chapter 4, look at verse 14, seeing then that we
have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not
a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmity, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin, Therefore, stay away. Doesn't say that, does it? Let
us, therefore, come boldly with liberty, freedom, unto the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy, find grace to help in
time of need. Now again, in the book of Hebrews,
where we read earlier, chapter 10, turn there, Hebrews 10, verse
17 says, Their sin and their iniquities
were, I remember, no more. You see, the Lord Jesus Christ
put them away, didn't He? Now, where remission of these
is, there is no more offering for sin. He appeared once to
put away sin in the end of the age, having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest, the presence of God, by the blood
of Jesus Christ. Now, let me show you another
scripture. The point I'm trying to make is we have no reason
to stay away. We have every reason to come
to God through Christ Jesus for all blessings, for all of salvation.
In 1 John chapter 4, turn there. 1 John chapter 4. Now it says in Ephesians 2 verse
18, For through Him we both have access. 1 John chapter 4. Look at verse
17. 1 John 4, 17. Herein is our love
made perfect, God's love for us, that we may have boldness
in a day of judgment, boldness, liberty, freedom, access in a
day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world. There's no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus. Now look back at the text. remembering
what we are by nature, without God, without hope, without Christ,
considering all that He has done for us, His obedient life, which
is our righteousness, His full redemption by His blood, which
is our cleansing, He justified us, He sanctified us. Now, what
are we to do as sinners saved by grace? Come boldly. Didn't
our Lord say that in Matthew? It's recorded, chapter 11, come
unto me, all you that are laboring and heavy laden, I'll give you
rest. There's rest nowhere else but
in Christ. We have access by one Spirit
unto the Father. You see, the one Spirit, God
the Holy Spirit, testifies of one way of salvation. God the Holy Spirit, our Lord,
said He'll take the things of Christ and show them unto you. God the Holy Spirit magnifies
Christ as everything in salvation. Now, considering all that, look
at verse 19, Ephesians 2, verse 19. Now therefore, now therefore,
you are no more. No more now. No more. Now get a hold of that. No more. Strangers. Foreigners. Aliens. No more without God. No more without Christ. No more. But rather your fellow citizens
with the saints. And you're of the household of
God. And on top of that, you mean there's more? And on top
of that, you're built upon one foundation. Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone. Now therefore, now isn't this
good news? Oh, I tell you, good news. Now
therefore, the holy law of God being honored by the Lord Jesus
Christ, every precept and every penalty of that law, in Christ
believers are no more aliens, strangers, aliens without Christ,
without hope, without God, but are made nigh by the blood of
Christ And we have access. We have salvation. We're justified. Therefore, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. No longer,
no more, no longer are we strangers. No longer are we strangers to
His love. No longer are we strangers to
the way of salvation in Christ Jesus. No longer are we strangers
to His mercy revealed in Christ Jesus. No longer are we strangers
to the true Christ of God, to the true living God. No longer are we strangers. But
we know Him. We can say with the Apostle Paul,
I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded. He is able. To
keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." No
longer strangers, but friends of God. Friends of God. Sons of God. No longer strangers, but friends. No longer foreigners. He mentions they're foreigners.
No longer foreigners. No longer aliens. I'm here legally. All the legal demands of God's
law have been met. I'm in Christ legally. I have
a legal standing, a right standing in Christ Jesus. God's law has
nothing against me. Who can lay anything to the charge
of God's elect? It is God who is justified. Who
can condemn me? It's Christ who has died. We
have a right legal standing in Christ before God. No more foreigners. No more aliens. We belong here. We belong in Christ Jesus. God
says so. No longer foreigners and aliens
to His promise of salvation in Christ. We know now all the promises
of God in Him are yes, and in Him, amen. And we're persuaded
He's able to do all that He has promised to save sinners by His
grace. No longer strangers. No longer
foreigners, we are one with Christ Jesus. But rather, he says, but
rather. No more, no longer, anymore,
no more. Don't talk about that anymore.
But now we are fellow citizens. We're fellows. You know what
fellowship is? We have a fellowship. You know
what fellowship is? It's fellows in the same ship.
That's what fellowship is. We're in the same ship. Christ.
He's the ark, He's the way. No longer strangers and foreigners,
but we're fellow citizens with the saints, having a blessed,
sweet fellowship around the glorious good news of God's saving, pardon,
saving mercy and pardon of sin in Christ Jesus, in whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin, according
to the riches of His grace, for our Citizenship, the Apostle
Paul writes in Philippians 3, our citizenship is from heaven,
from which also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are fellow citizens in Christ Jesus. We're fellow citizens
with the saints. We're set apart by His divine
election for but one offering. Remember what we read in Hebrews
10, four by one offering, we are perfected forever. He has
perfected them forever. Them which are sanctified. The saints have but one offering.
We are fatal citizens with the saints being set apart by divine
election, being set apart by divine calling and regeneration. He has called us out of darkness
into His marvelous light. Turn over just a couple of books
on Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1. It says
here in verse 12, giving thanks unto the Father. Colossians 1
verse 12, who made us meet fit to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light in Christ, who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and have translated us into the kingdom of His dear
Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness
of sins. We are fellow citizens with the
saints of God. Saint Paul, he's my brother.
Saint Jude, he's my brother. Every believer in Christ Jesus
is a saint. I'm looking at some saints out
there that are sanctified in Christ Jesus. Now, here's the
second thing he mentions. No more are you foreigners and
strangers, but you're fellow citizens with the saints, and
you are of the household of God. What does that mean? That means
He's made us sons of God. Behold what manner of love the
Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called sons of God
by His glorious adoption of love, by regenerating grace, and by
the new birth. We're born into this family.
Believers share in the fullness of His grace, and they are richly
clothed in Him. Of His fullness have we all received
grace for grace. They have plenteous provisions
of mercy. They are heirs of a never-fading inheritance, made heirs of God,
and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are federal
citizens with the sanctity of the household of God. Look at
Ephesians 3, verse 6. that the Gentiles should be fellow
heirs of the same body, partakers of His promise in Christ by the
gospel. We're fellow heirs. We're fellow
citizens. We're saints of God. We are of
the household of God. What are we by nature? Remember
Ephesians chapter 2? We are by nature children of
wrath, even as others, but now in Christ Jesus. Sons of God,
fellow citizens, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. And, verse 20, built upon this
strong and one foundation, all the prophets had one way of salvation. Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, Daniel, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi, Micah, all
the prophets, to Him give all the prophets witness. Moses wrote
a hymn. Abraham rejoiced to see his day.
All the prophets of the past all pointed to the Lord Jesus
Christ saying, the Savior, the Messiah, He's coming. And the
apostles declared, He has come. He has come. Behold, the Lamb
of God. All the prophets and all the
apostles all declare one message. Christ is the only way of salvation.
For there are other foundations can no man lay than that which
is laid, which is Christ Jesus himself. Christ Jesus himself. Now that's the essence of the
gospel. That's the meat and marrow of
the gospel is Jesus Christ Himself. Now let me give you these five
things about Jesus Christ Himself. Here's number one. Jesus Christ
Himself is the theme of all Scripture. Jesus Christ Himself is the theme
of all Scripture. Notice in Ephesians chapter 3
verse 8, And to me, who am less than the least of all saints,
Is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ? Jesus Christ himself is the theme
of all scripture. I want you to turn to Luke chapter
24. Luke chapter 24. Jesus Christ
himself is the theme of all scripture. Therefore, because he is the
theme and the message of all scripture, therefore he must
be the message of our preaching. Jesus Christ Himself. Now remember,
in Luke chapter 24, the risen Lord Jesus Christ was following
along with two men, and they were talking about the prophet
that should come, that should deliver them, and they thought
that the prophet of God had failed, and our Lord said to them in
Luke 24, verse 25, Then He said unto them, O fools, slow of heart,
To believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ,
who hath suffered these things, to enter into his glory? And
beginning of Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them
in all the scriptures the thing concerning himself." The Lord
Jesus Christ is the theme of all Scripture, the message of
Scripture. Now, stay right here in Luke
24, look at verse 44. And he said unto them, These
are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law
of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning
me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures concerning me, Moses, the law, the prophets. And thus
it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise
from the dead the third day, that repentance and remission
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of what? Remission of sin in Christ Jesus. Because he is the theme of this
book, he must be the subject of our preaching. Now, one wise
preacher of the past said this, when we're done preaching Christ,
when we're done preaching Christ, we'd better be done with preaching.
If our message is not the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That's why Paul said, I'm determined
not to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
That is our message. Christ and Him crucified. That
is the message of this book. These things are written that
you might believe. Jesus Christ Himself is the theme
of this book. It's all about Him. Sixty-six
books. Every page, every line, every
verse is all about Christ. So, Jesus Christ Himself. What's
this book about, preacher? Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the beginning, God created. Well, who's the Creator? The
Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 22, it says, "...even
so come, Lord Jesus Christ. Here's the second thing. The
Lord Jesus Christ Himself is all of our redemption. Turn back
to Ephesians chapter 2. Jesus Christ Himself is all our
redemption. Christ Himself. Now here's a
couple of scriptures. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7.
Jesus Christ Himself is all our deliverance. That's the word
redemption. You remember verse 7 of Ephesians
1? In whom we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sin, in whom? Jesus Christ Himself. Through His blood, the forgiveness
of sin, according to the riches of His grace. Now turn to Ephesians
chapter 5 verse 1. What did He redeem us with? as
our great high priest. What did he give to purchase
us, to buy us, to put away our sin? Did he give the blood of
bulls and goats and calves? Did he bring the blood of others?
What did he give? Let's read about it. Ephesians
chapter 5, verse 1 to 2, Be therefore followers of God as dear children,
and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and has given, what's
that word? Himself. For us, an offering,
sacrifice to God for a sweet, smelling, savor unto God. Look at Ephesians 5 verse 25. Husband love your husbands. What
are we to do? Well, love your wife. Love your
wife. Even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for
it. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself
is all our redemption. And my friend, it's who He is.
Turn to Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews chapter 1. It's who He
is that gives infinite value, infinite merit to what He did. He didn't attempt to put away
sin. He didn't make salvation a possibility by dying for all
the sins of all men, that they would do certain things. No,
the Lord Jesus Christ gave His own life's blood to accomplish
the salvation of those people given unto Him in that covenant
of grace. We call that particular redemption. We call that definite atonement.
Here it is, Ephesians, or rather, Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrew chapter
1, it speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, verse 3, who being the
brightness of His glory, the express image of His person,
upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by
Himself purged our sin, He sat down on the right hand of God.
Christ Himself is all of our redemption. Now, either He accomplished
it or He didn't. Now turn to Hebrews chapter 9.
Either he accomplished it or he didn't. Hebrews chapter 9
declares this. Verse 26. Verse 12 says, He obtained
eternal redemption for us with his own blood, Jesus Christ himself. Hebrews 9, 26. For then he must
have often suffered since the foundation of the world, but
now once in the end of the world hath he appeared He appeared
to try to put away sin. To make a down payment on sin.
To do partial work. To put away sin by the sacrifice
of Him. What's the word? Himself. I'm
saying this clearly as Scripture can make it. The Lord Jesus Christ
Himself is all our redemption. He redeemed us from our sin with
His own blood. Here's the third point. Jesus
Christ Himself. Turn back to Ephesians chapter
5. Jesus Christ Himself is the theme
of all scripture, is the message of all preaching. Jesus Christ
Himself is all of our redemption. Thirdly, Jesus Christ Himself
is all of our righteousness. Christ Himself is all of our
righteousness. Now, in Ephesians chapter 5,
verse 26, that He might sanctify and cleanse it, that's our righteousness,
by the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it
to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, but that it should be holy without blemish. Jesus Christ Himself is all of
our justifying righteousness before God. Now what does a guilty
sinner need? What does a guilty sinner need?
He needs to be declared justified. How is that done? Only through
the justifying righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. He
is all of our righteousness. Now, preacher, can you make good
on that? I think I can. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. He's all of our righteousness.
You see, we're no longer, are we? Are you trying to establish
a righteousness of your own? Are you going about doing certain
duties or what you think are sacrifices, trying to perfect
a righteousness to present it unto God? Are you doing that? Are you being ignorant of that
righteousness that is provided in the gospel and are going about
to establish your own? Or are you rather resting in
Christ our righteousness? And the believer finds total
acceptance before God in Christ justifying righteousness because
of this. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21. You knew I was going to turn
before I said, didn't you? 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21. For
God made Him, Christ, to be sin for us. God made Him sin for
us. The one who knew no sin, that
we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Now, did you ever
think about this? We're raised the same way we're
falling. We're raised the same way we're
falling. In Adam all died. By one man's disobedience, many
became sinners. How are we raised? By the obedience
of another shall many be made righteous. That's our righteousness
in Christ Jesus. No longer going about to establish
a righteousness by the deeds of our hand or by the law. but
resting in Christ, who is the Lord, our righteousness. Here's the fourth thing. Jesus
Christ Himself is the only object of saving faith. Jesus Christ
Himself is the only object of saving faith. I want you to find
the book of Hebrews again in chapter 12. The Lord Jesus Christ
is the only object of saving faith. Without faith, it is impossible
to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is,
and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Now, I told you to
turn to Hebrews chapter 12, didn't I? Christ Himself is the only
object of saving faith. You see, my friends, saving faith,
that's described in the Word of God in Ephesians chapter 2,
faith is called the what? The gift of God. It's not a product
of the flesh. The only thing that's native
to this old wicked heart is unbelief. If you're a believer resting
in Christ, He's granted you and given you precious faith. And
faith has one object. Faith doesn't look in here. Faith
looks objectively to Christ, not in here subjectively. In
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1, Wherefore, seeing we are accomplished about
with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight
in the sin which is so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, looking, looking. Now notice it doesn't say I look. Looking, present tense, looking,
let us run with patience the race that sat before us, looking
unto Jesus, the victorious Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is
the author of salvation, he's the finisher of salvation, he
is the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. So saving
faith looks unto the glorified Christ, the victorious Christ,
the one who has accomplished salvation for us. Jesus Christ
himself is the only object of saving faith. It's looking to
Christ alone, not to past experience, not to my... you certainly wouldn't
look to your feelings, would you? What was it Martin Luther
said? Feelings come and feelings go
and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is a word of God and
nothing else is worth believing. Look to Christ alone, not to
the past experience, not to my feelings. Don't look to your
faith. Look to Christ. Look to Christ.
This is the faith of God's elect acknowledging that all of salvation
is in Christ Jesus. Our Lord God Almighty says in
Isaiah 45, He says, Look unto Me and be ye saved. For I am
God, beside Me there is no other. Our Lord said in Matthew 11,
Come unto Me and I'll give you life. So here's the fifth thing. Jesus Christ Himself is the only
source of true joy, comfort, hope, and peace. Now, don't go
looking for peace. Don't go looking for comfort
and joy and hope. Look for Christ. The fruit of
being in Christ and resting in Him is joy, comfort, hope, and
peace. You see what I'm saying? Don't
go looking for joy. Look for Christ. He is our joy. He is our delight. Now, here's
the Scripture. Jesus Christ Himself is all our joy, comfort, salvation. This is 2 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians
2, verse 16. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 16. Therefore, he says in verse 15,
Brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have
been taught, whether by word or epistle. Verse 16, Now our
Lord Jesus Talking about conditions there is the truth. Now our Lord
Jesus Christ himself and God even our father who had loved
us and had given us an everlasting consolation and a good hope through
grace. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself. You see it right there? And God
even our father. who had loved us, washed us from
our sin, and He's given us an everlasting comfort and a good
hope through grace and grace alone. Christ Himself is all
our hope. Jesus Christ Himself. Now, look
right across the page. 1 Timothy chapter 1, verse 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the commandment of God our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, Our
hope. Christ Himself is all our hope. Christ Himself is all our joy. Find Romans chapter 5. Romans chapter 5. He's all our
hope, all our joy, all our comfort, all our joy. Romans 5 verse 11. Not only so. But we also joy
in God. We joy in God. How? Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation,
is the word, their atonement, atonement for our sin. He is
all our joy. He is all our comfort. Find Isaiah
40. Isaiah 40. Jesus Christ Himself
is all our hope, all our joy, all our comfort, He's all our
peace. He's all our victory. Isaiah 40, verse 1, Comfort ye,
comfort ye, my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably
to Jerusalem. Cry unto her that her warfare
is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. For she hath received
of the Lord's hand double for all her sin. We find great comfort. in the Lord Jesus Christ who
put away all our sin. He is our hope. He is our joy. He is our comfort. He is our
peace. Turn to John 21. John chapter
21. He is all our peace before God.
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. John 21. The resurrected Lord
declared unto those apostles who were huddling together because
they were fearful of the Jews. And the Lord Jesus, risen and
victorious, came among them that day. In John chapter 20, verse
26, After eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas
with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being
shut, this is the resurrected, glorified Christ, and stood in
the midst of them. And he said unto them, Peace
be unto you. Peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Then he said to Thomas, Reach
hither your finger, behold my hands. Reach hither thy hand,
and thrust it into my side. And don't be faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. That's peace. That's comfort. That's joy. That's hope. Jesus
Christ Himself. is all our hope. He's the chief
cornerstone. Now, Ephesians 2, in closing,
I'll read these two verses and let you go. Ephesians 2, verse
21, In whom all the building, fitly framed together, grows. That which is living grows, doesn't
it? Grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In whom? In whom? In Christ. You are built together. for habitation of God through
the Spirit. Christ in you, the hope of glory.