Believers have ACCESS to God

After referencing the dividing wall (Soreg) at the Temple that warned non-Jews (Gentiles) like the Ephesians not to enter on threat of death, Paul defined their new access to God. During his ministry, Jesus preached peace with God to those spiritually ‘near’ to God (the Jews with the Law), and to those ‘far’ from God (the Gentiles with no knowledge of God; Matt. 4:17). This meant bothJews and Gentiles who believed in Jesus now had access to God without a pope, priest, or pastor (Rom. 5:1, 2; 1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus is the way and the means to God, so those without God can know God (John 14:6)!

The Apostle Paul was born a devout Jew who followed the Law and supported Jewish traditions like circumcision (Gal. 1:14). He was of Abraham’s descendants (the Israelites/Jews) to whom God gave His Law and promises to bless them (Gen. 18:18, 19). As they were God’s chosen people, all others (Gentiles) were outside His personal connection and blessing. By not having God’s Law or interaction, all other cultures were lost and blind to God’s salvation (John 4:22). Lost without the Law, separated without the Savior.

The Apostle Paul was born a devout Jew who followed the Law and supported Jewish traditions like circumcision (Gal. 1:14). He was of Abraham’s descendants (the Israelites/Jews) to whom God gave His Law and promises to bless them (Gen. 18:18, 19). As they were God’s chosen people, all others (Gentiles) were outside His personal connection and blessing. By not having God’s Law or interaction, all other cultures were lost and blind to God’s salvation (John 4:22). Lost without the Law, separated without the Savior.

Paul described all humanity as having an in-born spiritual nature that isn’t ‘good’ or even neutral toward God. But it is rather hostile and self-righteous, deserving punishment as children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). Yet after describing this hopeless situation, Paul writes the two greatest words ever penned—‘But God’. Into this bleak condition God extends His offer of mercy to those who deserve none. Mercy is not receiving what you do deserve!In mercy, God saves people by forgiving their sins by His grace (Gr. charis, ‘unearned, unmerited favor’). Grace is receiving what you don’t deserve (Titus 3:5-7)! In God’s mercy His judgment is restrained, but in His grace His blessing is gained. Grace is the proactive passion of God to bless the people He loves forever!

Paul described all humanity as having an in-born spiritual nature that isn’t ‘good’ or even neutral toward God. But it is rather hostile and self-righteous, deserving punishment as children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). Yet after describing this hopeless situation, Paul writes the two greatest words ever penned—‘But God’. Into this bleak condition God extends His offer of mercy to those who deserve none. Mercy is not receiving what you do deserve!In mercy, God saves people by forgiving their sins by His grace (Gr. charis, ‘unearned, unmerited favor’). Grace is receiving what you don’t deserve (Titus 3:5-7)! In God’s mercy His judgment is restrained, but in His grace His blessing is gained. Grace is the proactive passion of God to bless the people He loves forever!

After Paul described the amazing relationship the Ephesians had with God through Jesus, he recalled their former state. Before Jesus, they were dead (Gr. nekros, ‘dead/corpse’) in the waythey lived their lives. This meant that all their actions—even things they or their culture considered ‘good’—was valueless before God. ‘Good’ is subjective to people, but objective to God!Paul described their actions as trespasses (Gr. paraptōmasin, ‘to fall away, deviate’) against God’s written laws, and sins (Gr. hamartiais, ‘failure to hit the mark’), which are violations of God’s overall moral standards that all people are aware of (Rom. 2:14, 15). Nothing helps you appreciate where you are, like looking back at where you’ve been!

After Paul described the amazing relationship the Ephesians had with God through Jesus, he recalled their former state. Before Jesus, they were dead (Gr. nekros, ‘dead/corpse’) in the waythey lived their lives. This meant that all their actions—even things they or their culture considered ‘good’—was valueless before God. ‘Good’ is subjective to people, but objective to God!Paul described their actions as trespasses (Gr. paraptōmasin, ‘to fall away, deviate’) against God’s written laws, and sins (Gr. hamartiais, ‘failure to hit the mark’), which are violations of God’s overall moral standards that all people are aware of (Rom. 2:14, 15). Nothing helps you appreciate where you are, like looking back at where you’ve been!

Ephesus was a Roman city that drew from the best human wisdom, being deeply influenced by Greek philosophy. Before the Ephesians heard the Gospel, they believed they saw reality clearly, but were actually spiritually blind. Once they became believers, the Holy Spirit took residence in their heart and gave them ‘eyes’ that were enlightened (Gr. phōtizō, ‘to shed rays’) to comprehend spiritual things (2 Cor. 1:22; 4:6). One of these was the hope that comes from knowing God (Rom. 15:13). The Ephesians had wealth, education, and technology, but at the end of it all had no hope in the present or for the future. Hope without God is no hope at all!

Ephesus was a Roman city that drew from the best human wisdom, being deeply influenced by Greek philosophy. Before the Ephesians heard the Gospel, they believed they saw reality clearly, but were actually spiritually blind. Once they became believers, the Holy Spirit took residence in their heart and gave them ‘eyes’ that were enlightened (Gr. phōtizō, ‘to shed rays’) to comprehend spiritual things (2 Cor. 1:22; 4:6). One of these was the hope that comes from knowing God (Rom. 15:13). The Ephesians had wealth, education, and technology, but at the end of it all had no hope in the present or for the future. Hope without God is no hope at all!

As Paul hadn’t physically been to Ephesus in years, the church had grown and there were many people he didn’t know. Yet even during his travels and incarceration for the Gospel, he had heard second-hand about the reputation of the church. The Ephesians were known as genuine believers with a culture of love toward others. A church without love is a church without God (John 13:34, 35; 1 John 4:7)! The DNA of a church is the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of its existence—one is seenthe other is sensed. A biblical church’s reputation should be one of truth in Jesus and love for others (1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:18). Your reputation greets people before you do!Just as abusing and neglecting your own body is dysfunctional, the Body of Christ—global and local—should be cared for. People know love when they know God’s love. Self-love is emotional and tied to our view of ourselves, which is distorted and broken. We don’t need a better self-image of us, we need a better Savior-image in us!