Week 31
Ephesians 3:11-12 “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”
Sin shuts us out! Sin separates us from God and all the covenant blessings contained in God’s lawful promises. And though sinners do not truly perceive the meaning and significance of this, they often do feel a deep and perhaps vague inner sense that something is desperately wrong. This may generate a pursuit of what is presumed to be missing, only to find that they cannot even define the problem, let alone discover the solution. We are shut out, yes, we are shut out from God and His life; we are separated from ourselves for we are separated through sin from our Creator.
But in Ephesians 3, the Bible plainly explains that in Christ, and through the saving work of Christ, believers are brought near to God. Yes, through Christ’s saving atoning work on the cross, the believer gains bold and confident access through faith in Christ. We gain access to God’s favor, to God’s peace, to God’s love, to God’s joy, to God’s life, for we are given access to GOD HIMSELF! In and through Jesus Christ a glorious and transcendent intimacy is born by which an eternal relationship of love and acceptance is forged with God! What joy!
To truly see this in the teaching of the gospel through the regenerating work and illumination of the Holy Spirit is to rejoice in the great mercy of God! To understand this is to enjoy this truth in all of life’s experiences and exigencies. The door is open for us to God! We belong to Him, and He belongs to us! We love Him because He loves us! He delights us, and we rise in surprising joy to find it so. Our God, once our Judge, is now the love of our hearts and the delight of our souls. We are brought to Him that He might be brought near to us.
This nearness is the theme of our songs, and we are ecstatic with amazement that through Christ we should have such an elevated position and opportunity! We are blessed indeed!
Jesus said of Himself as our Good Shepherd, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep…I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:7, 9).” There is no other door to God, and there is no other door to heaven; Jesus is THE DOOR! No one can sneak into heaven and God’s presence; he must come through Jesus Christ and His saving work on the cross.
Oh, dear Christian friend, relish your relationship with your Redeemer! Enjoy and delight in His love for you. Come close, draw near, to Him in all matters throughout your life. He is available to you; His heart beats lovingly for you. Come, come to the Savior in your pain, your sickness, your need, your struggle, and in your heartache. Pour out your heart to Him, for HE IS NEAR! What a glorious access to God we have in Christ!
Prayer: Dear Lord, I know what it feels like to be far from You. It is horrible to be in such a state! Thank You for Jesus, thank You for the cross, and thank You for the open door You give to me through Christ. I come to You now in prayer, and one day I will come to You in death. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude. Amen.