Access to the Father: The Heart of Salvation

 

Summary

In Ephesians 2:18, Paul presents a profound truth about the Christian faith: "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." This verse encapsulates the essence of Christianity, highlighting the unity and privilege of believers, both Jews and Gentiles, in having direct access to God. This access is made possible through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, unto the Father, illustrating the active involvement of the Holy Trinity in our salvation. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the staggering reality that once we were far off, alienated from God, but now, through Christ's sacrifice, we are brought near, enjoying the full benefits of being in God's family.

The doctrine of the Trinity is central to understanding this access. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct yet united in their purpose and action towards our salvation. The Father initiates the plan of salvation, the Son executes it through His life, death, and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives, bringing us into a living relationship with God. This divine collaboration underscores the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin, which required such a profound solution.

The ultimate goal of salvation is not merely reconciliation but intimate fellowship with God. We are not just forgiven; we are invited into the very presence of God, to know Him as our Father. This relationship transforms our understanding of Christianity from a mere duty to a joyous privilege. It calls us to live in the reality of this access, experiencing the peace and assurance that comes from knowing God as our loving Father.

Key Takeaways:

- The Trinity's Role in Salvation: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are actively involved in our salvation, each playing a distinct role. The Father plans, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies salvation, demonstrating the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin. [12:18]

- Beyond Reconciliation: Salvation is not just about being reconciled to God but having access to Him as our Father. This access is the climax of our faith, inviting us into a personal and intimate relationship with God. [27:12]

- The Essence of Christianity: True Christianity is about knowing God as our Father, experiencing His love, and living in the reality of this relationship. It transforms our faith from duty to delight, filling us with wonder, love, and praise. [35:42]

- The Profound Problem of Sin: Sin is a profound problem that required the action of the Trinity to address. Understanding the gravity of sin helps us appreciate the magnitude of our salvation and the lengths God went to redeem us. [21:18]

- Enjoying God: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This enjoyment begins now, as we live in fellowship with God, experiencing His presence and love in our daily lives. [43:53]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:18
[00:33] - The Greatness of Our Position in Christ
[01:09] - Unity of Jews and Gentiles
[02:27] - Christ's Work of Reconciliation
[03:38] - The Climax of Christian Faith
[05:29] - The Church's Need for Realization
[07:04] - The Mystery of the Trinity
[08:57] - The Trinity's Role in Salvation
[11:58] - The Father's Plan and the Son's Sacrifice
[15:16] - The Son's Humility and Sacrifice
[18:46] - The Holy Spirit's Application of Salvation
[20:32] - The Profound Problem of Sin
[23:44] - The Staggering Love of the Trinity
[26:01] - The Ultimate Goal: Access to the Father
[29:21] - The Grand End of Salvation
[35:42] - Knowing God as Father
[40:16] - Enjoying Access to the Father
[43:53] - Enjoying God Now and Forever

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:18

Observation Questions:
1. What does Ephesians 2:18 reveal about the role of the Trinity in our access to God? [08:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the transformation of our relationship with God through Christ's sacrifice? [02:45]
3. What is the significance of the term "access" as used in Ephesians 2:18, according to the sermon? [28:10]
4. How does the sermon explain the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the context of Ephesians 2:18? [01:09]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon illustrate the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the process of salvation? [12:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding the Trinity can transform our view of Christianity? [08:57]
3. What does the sermon imply about the ultimate goal of salvation beyond reconciliation? [27:12]
4. How does the sermon describe the problem of sin and its impact on the necessity of the Trinity's involvement in salvation? [21:18]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal understanding of the Trinity. How does this understanding affect your daily walk with God? [08:57]
2. The sermon emphasizes the privilege of having access to God as our Father. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of this privilege in your prayer life? [35:42]
3. Consider the unity between Jews and Gentiles as described in the sermon. How can you promote unity within your own church community? [01:09]
4. The sermon highlights the seriousness of sin. How does this understanding influence your approach to repentance and seeking forgiveness? [21:18]
5. How can you move from viewing Christianity as a duty to experiencing it as a joyous privilege, as suggested in the sermon? [06:24]
6. The sermon calls us to enjoy God now and forever. What practical steps can you take to experience God's presence and love in your daily life? [43:53]
7. Reflect on the idea of being brought into the presence of God. How can you make this a reality in your spiritual practices this week? [34:23]

Devotional

Day 1: The Trinity's Unified Role in Salvation
The doctrine of the Trinity is central to understanding the Christian faith and salvation. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each play a distinct yet unified role in the salvation of humanity. The Father initiates the plan of salvation, the Son accomplishes it through His life, death, and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives. This divine collaboration underscores the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin, which required such a profound solution. The Trinity's involvement in salvation demonstrates the lengths to which God has gone to redeem us and bring us into a relationship with Him. [12:18]

Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV): "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

Reflection: How does understanding the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in your salvation deepen your appreciation for God's love and the seriousness of sin in your life today?


Day 2: Access to God as Our Father
Salvation is not just about being reconciled to God but having access to Him as our Father. This access is the climax of our faith, inviting us into a personal and intimate relationship with God. Through Jesus Christ, we are no longer distant or alienated from God; instead, we are brought near and invited into His presence. This relationship transforms our understanding of Christianity from a mere duty to a joyous privilege, as we are called to live in the reality of this access, experiencing the peace and assurance that comes from knowing God as our loving Father. [27:12]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally draw near to God today, embracing the access you have to Him as your Father?


Day 3: Experiencing Christianity as a Relationship
True Christianity is about knowing God as our Father, experiencing His love, and living in the reality of this relationship. It transforms our faith from duty to delight, filling us with wonder, love, and praise. This relationship is not static but dynamic, inviting us to continually grow in our understanding and experience of God's love. As we embrace this relationship, we find that our faith becomes a source of joy and fulfillment, rather than a mere obligation. [35:42]

1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of delight and wonder in your relationship with God today, moving beyond mere duty?


Day 4: The Gravity of Sin and the Magnitude of Salvation
Sin is a profound problem that required the action of the Trinity to address. Understanding the gravity of sin helps us appreciate the magnitude of our salvation and the lengths God went to redeem us. Sin separates us from God, but through the sacrifice of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are brought back into a right relationship with Him. Recognizing the seriousness of sin and the cost of our salvation should lead us to a greater appreciation for God's grace and a desire to live in a way that honors Him. [21:18]

Isaiah 59:2 (ESV): "but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: What is one area of sin in your life that you need to bring before God today, seeking His forgiveness and grace?


Day 5: Enjoying God Now and Forever
The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This enjoyment begins now, as we live in fellowship with God, experiencing His presence and love in our daily lives. We are invited to delight in God, finding our ultimate satisfaction and joy in Him. This relationship is not just for the future but is meant to be experienced in the present, as we walk with God and experience His goodness and faithfulness. [43:53]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to enjoy God's presence and love in your life today, finding joy and satisfaction in Him?

Quotes


The Apostle Paul emphasizes the staggering reality that once we were far off, alienated from God, but now, through Christ's sacrifice, we are brought near, enjoying the full benefits of being in God's family. This is the most astonishing and staggering thing he sells that they at one time were so far off strangers from the Covenant of Israel and aliens from the promises without God without hope in the world and so on outside Christ that they now are in Christ and with the Jews and enjoying these great and wonderful benefits together. [00:50:40]

The ultimate goal of salvation is not merely reconciliation but intimate fellowship with God. We are not just forgiven; we are invited into the very presence of God, to know Him as our Father. This relationship transforms our understanding of Christianity from a mere duty to a joyous privilege. It calls us to live in the reality of this access, experiencing the peace and assurance that comes from knowing God as our loving Father. [00:54:50]

The doctrine of the Trinity is central to understanding this access. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct yet united in their purpose and action towards our salvation. The Father initiates the plan of salvation, the Son executes it through His life, death, and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives, bringing us into a living relationship with God. This divine collaboration underscores the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin, which required such a profound solution. [00:56:30]

The Trinity's Role in Salvation: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are actively involved in our salvation, each playing a distinct role. The Father plans, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies salvation, demonstrating the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin. [01:00:30]

Beyond Reconciliation: Salvation is not just about being reconciled to God but having access to Him as our Father. This access is the climax of our faith, inviting us into a personal and intimate relationship with God. [01:03:00]

The Essence of Christianity: True Christianity is about knowing God as our Father, experiencing His love, and living in the reality of this relationship. It transforms our faith from duty to delight, filling us with wonder, love, and praise. [01:06:00]

The Profound Problem of Sin: Sin is a profound problem that required the action of the Trinity to address. Understanding the gravity of sin helps us appreciate the magnitude of our salvation and the lengths God went to redeem us. [01:09:00]

Enjoying God: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This enjoyment begins now, as we live in fellowship with God, experiencing His presence and love in our daily lives. [01:12:00]

The staggering love of the Trinity: The three persons in the Blessed Holy Trinity so loved us as to do all this for us, self-subsistent eternally existing in that ineffable unity and glory yet concerned about us. The Father eternal has his eye on you and he knows you and he's interested if the Son of God has so loved you that he's given himself for you. [01:15:00]

The grand end of salvation: The object of salvation is that we might know God as our Father. For through him, we both have access by one spirit unto the Father. Now that I say is the chief end and object of salvation. [01:18:00]

Knowing God as Father: God in Christ by the Spirit becomes to us our Father. That is why the Lord when he taught his model prayer taught us to say our Father which art in heaven. [01:21:00]

Enjoying access to the Father: We have access to the Father. Now you notice the change in the term when he says in what he says in verse 16 is this and that he Christ might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. [01:24:00]

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Transcript
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