The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 86

Ver. 18.-0ur access to tllll Fa/her. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." If the enmity had not been slain there could not have been access to the Divine presence. Both Jews and Gentiles enjoy' this access on a footing of grace and mercy to the throne of God. L THE APPROACH IS TO THE FATHER. It is not to. a stem Judge or a God wielding terrible power S..,"'8.inst us, but to a gracious Father, we have access in virtue of Christ's atoning work. It is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is represented in this Epistle as having blessed us with all spiritual blessings; it'is the Father who has made known to us his purpose to reconcile all things to himself in Christ; it is the Father who has made peace through the blood of the cross. We must ever seek the true origin of our salvation, not in the suffering of the cross, but in the bosom of the eternal Father. II. OUR AOCESS TO Bill IS THROUGH CBBIST. 1. We are brought near to God through his blood (ver. 13). 2. Through his intercession. Jesus, as Mediator, Advo- care, Forerunner, takes us, as it were, by th~ hand, and preseI!ts us to God. This is the doctrine of the Epistle t;o the Hebrews, which introduces the era of the better hope, under which we draw nigh to God with true heart, in full assurance of faith, becanse we have such an High Priest over the house of God. But our Saviour is more than High Priest; he is Forerunner; he is ·not merely Representative of believers, as the high priest of Judaism was representative of the theocratic people, but ho is Forenmner, entered within the veil, whither his people can follow him' to the very place which he has gone before to prepare for them. There is no longer a restriction upon our access to God. It is a free access, an open access, an access that may well inspire confidence, because it is in Christ:. "We have boldness and: access with confidence by the fa.ith of him" (eh. iii. 12). IIL THE ACCESS IB BY ONE SPIRIT. 1. It is by his influence we are first brou~ht home to the Father. It is by him we are baptized into.one body. : 2. The indwelling of the Spirit is: necessary to the perpetuation and .power of " o'ur fellowship with the Father and the Son." 3. It is the Spirit especially who helps our infirmities in prayer (Rom. viii. 26). Thllll we see how the three Persons of the Trinity are con- cerned in our salvation.-T. C. Ver. 19.-11ie ahurch a ti,Y, The Gentiles were now no longer strangers, but fellow-citizens with the saints. L THE CITY HAY BE REGARDED EITHER AS TllE Cmracn ON EABTH OB THE CHURCH n. m:A.VD. They are equally the city of God "which bath foundations, whose Builcer and Maker is God." It is a city strongly fortified with the walls and bulwarks of sal'l'ation and is surrounded by a river of love, which ministers to the wants of its citiuns.' There God dwells in the midst of them. It is a city possessing glorio11S franchises and ordered government. It is not limited, like the Jev.;sh theocracy; to one nation ; it is not bounded by the frontiers of any land; it is the kingdom which is not of this world and destined ultimately to triumph over all other kingdoms. II. 'l'aE GE1'"T1Lis's ARE li'O LONGER BTRANGERB IIJ IT, like those who have-no home, no property, no privileges, no interests, in common with its inhabitants, They are now naturalized citizens of the Christian commonwealth, living on terms of perfect CII, II, 1-22.] 'f!IE EPIS'l'LE TO Tlrn EPHESIANS. 83