Sermons on Ephesians 2:18
The various sermons below interpret Ephesians 2:18 as a profound expression of the Christian faith, focusing on the privilege of accessing God the Father through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. They collectively emphasize the Trinitarian nature of this access, highlighting the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the believer's salvation and prayer life. A common theme is the transformative potential of truly understanding this access, which could revolutionize the church. The sermons also explore the complexity of prayer, emphasizing that it is not a simple act but one deeply rooted in doctrine, requiring an understanding of Christ as the mediator and the Holy Spirit as the enabler. The use of metaphors, such as standing on a summit or preparing for an audience with royalty, illustrates the awe and reverence associated with this divine access.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present distinct perspectives. One sermon emphasizes the Trinity's cooperative role in salvation, presenting it as a unified work where the Father initiates, the Son accomplishes, and the Holy Spirit applies salvation. Another sermon challenges the perception of prayer as merely emotional, stressing the necessity of doctrinal understanding. A different sermon introduces the theme of spiritual warfare in prayer, highlighting the adversary's attempts to disrupt it and the Holy Spirit's role in overcoming these challenges. Lastly, one sermon delves into the mystery of prayer, focusing on the Holy Spirit's intercession and guidance in aligning prayers with God's will.
Ephesians 2:18 Interpretation:
Access to the Father: The Heart of Salvation (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 2:18 as the climax of the Christian faith, emphasizing the profound privilege of having access to God the Father through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. The sermon highlights the Trinitarian nature of this access, noting that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all involved in the believer's salvation. The preacher uses the metaphor of standing on a summit to describe the awe and wonder of this access, suggesting that if Christians truly understood this privilege, it would revolutionize the church.
Accessing God: The Role of Christ and the Spirit (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 2:18 as emphasizing the necessity of both Christ and the Holy Spirit in prayer. The sermon highlights that prayer is not a simple act but requires a deep understanding of doctrine, particularly the roles of Christ as the mediator and the Holy Spirit as the enabler. The sermon uses the analogy of a child approaching a parent to illustrate the confidence and access believers have to God through Christ and the Spirit.
Accessing God: The Power of Prayer in the Spirit (MLJTrust) offers a unique perspective by focusing on the difficulties of prayer and the essential role of the Holy Spirit in overcoming these challenges. The sermon emphasizes that true prayer is not merely a mechanical act but a spiritual one, facilitated by the Holy Spirit. It uses the analogy of preparing for an audience with royalty to illustrate the reverence and preparation required for prayer.
The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Prayer Life (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 2:18 by exploring the mystery of prayer and the role of the Holy Spirit in interceding for believers. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding prayer as a means ordained by God and emphasizes the necessity of the Holy Spirit in guiding and perfecting our prayers.
Ephesians 2:18 Theological Themes:
Access to the Father: The Heart of Salvation (MLJTrust) presents the theme of the Trinity's involvement in salvation, emphasizing that the Father initiates, the Son accomplishes, and the Holy Spirit applies salvation. This theme underscores the unity and cooperation within the Trinity in the work of salvation, which is a unique aspect of Christian theology.
The sermon also introduces the idea that the ultimate goal of salvation is not just reconciliation with God but intimate access to Him as Father. This theme challenges the common perception of salvation as merely avoiding hell or receiving forgiveness, instead presenting it as a relationship with God characterized by intimacy and fellowship.
Accessing God: The Role of Christ and the Spirit (MLJTrust) presents the theme that prayer is deeply rooted in doctrine and theology, challenging the notion that prayer is merely a simple or emotional act. It emphasizes the necessity of understanding the roles of Christ and the Holy Spirit in prayer.
Accessing God: The Power of Prayer in the Spirit (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of spiritual warfare in prayer, highlighting the adversary's attempts to disrupt prayer and the Holy Spirit's role in overcoming these challenges. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual preparation and awareness in prayer.
The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Prayer Life (MLJTrust) explores the theme of the mystery of prayer, emphasizing that prayer is both a command and a means ordained by God. It highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in interceding for believers and guiding their prayers according to God's will.
Ephesians 2:18 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Reconciliation Through Christ: Unity, Peace, and Love (St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School Westland) provides historical context about the hostility between Jews and Gentiles during the time of Paul. The sermon explains the physical and cultural barriers that existed, such as the temple's dividing wall, which restricted Gentiles from entering certain areas. This context helps to illuminate the radical nature of Paul's message in Ephesians 2:18, where both Jews and Gentiles are granted access to God through Christ.
Accessing God: The Role of Christ and the Spirit (MLJTrust) provides historical context by discussing the Old Testament practices of sacrifices and offerings as a means of approaching God. It explains how these practices foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, which now provides believers with access to God.
Accessing God: The Power of Prayer in the Spirit (MLJTrust) references the historical context of Jewish and Samaritan worship practices, explaining how Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman redefined worship as a spiritual act rather than one confined to specific locations or rituals.
Ephesians 2:18 Cross-References in the Bible:
Access to the Father: The Heart of Salvation (MLJTrust) references several passages to support the interpretation of Ephesians 2:18. John 17:3 is cited to explain that eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:19-25 is used to illustrate the boldness believers have to enter the holiest place by the blood of Jesus, emphasizing the access granted to believers. Additionally, 1 Peter 3:18 is mentioned to highlight that Christ's sacrifice was to bring us to God, reinforcing the idea of access to the Father.
Accessing God: The Role of Christ and the Spirit (MLJTrust) references several passages, including 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 10, and 1 Timothy 2, to support the interpretation of Christ as the mediator and the necessity of His sacrifice for access to God. These references emphasize the exclusivity of Christ as the way to God and the importance of His atoning work.
Accessing God: The Power of Prayer in the Spirit (MLJTrust) references Ephesians 6, Philippians 3, and Jude 20 to emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer. These passages highlight the necessity of praying in the Spirit and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the believer's prayer life.
The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Prayer Life (MLJTrust) references Philippians 2:13 and Psalm 106:15 to discuss the mystery of prayer and the potential dangers of demanding specific outcomes from God. These references illustrate the importance of aligning prayer with God's will and the consequences of insisting on personal desires.
Ephesians 2:18 Christian References outside the Bible:
Access to the Father: The Heart of Salvation (MLJTrust) explicitly references Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, whose sermons are used to expound on the themes of Ephesians 2:18. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the Trinitarian nature of salvation and the profound privilege of access to God, urging believers to meditate on these truths to transform their understanding of Christianity.
Accessing God: The Role of Christ and the Spirit (MLJTrust) references Charles Spurgeon, emphasizing his dictum that the emphasis on the blood of Christ is a test of true gospel preaching. This reference underscores the importance of Christ's atoning work in prayer and access to God.
Ephesians 2:18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Reconciliation Through Christ: Unity, Peace, and Love (St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School Westland) uses the example of a Jerusalem choir composed of Palestinian and Israeli youth, including Christians, Muslims, and Arabs, singing a song of peace. This illustration is used to demonstrate the possibility of reconciliation and unity through Christ, despite deep-seated hostilities, mirroring the message of Ephesians 2:18 about access to God for both Jews and Gentiles.
Accessing God: The Power of Prayer in the Spirit (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of preparing for an audience with royalty to illustrate the reverence and preparation required for prayer. This analogy emphasizes the importance of understanding the significance of approaching God in prayer.