From Alienation to Access: The Power of Salvation

 

Summary

In Ephesians 2:13, Paul presents a profound contrast between our past and present states as believers. Once, we were far from God, alienated and without hope. But now, through the blood of Christ, we have been brought near to God. This transformation is not just a change in moral behavior but a fundamental shift in our relationship with God. The power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that brings us into this new relationship. Understanding the greatness of our salvation requires recognizing both the depth from which we have been raised and the height to which we have been exalted.

Paul emphasizes the absolute difference between being a Christian and a non-Christian. This distinction is not about moral improvement but about being brought into a relationship with God. The Christian is someone who has been made nigh, who has access to God, and who knows God personally. This access is not based on our righteousness but on the blood of Christ. The Christian life is marked by a boldness to approach God, knowing that we are His children and that He is our Father.

The essence of Christianity is knowing God and being in a covenant relationship with Him. This relationship is characterized by the assurance of faith, the confidence to approach God, and the experience of His love and care. The Christian is someone who rejoices in this relationship, who glories in the cross of Christ, and who finds their identity and pride in being a child of God. This is the privilege and glory of our position as Christians.

Key Takeaways:

- The greatness of our salvation is rooted in the power of God, which not only raised Christ from the dead but also transforms us from being far off to being near to God. This transformation is a testament to the same divine power that works in us. [02:40]

- The distinction between a Christian and a non-Christian is absolute and not based on moral behavior but on our relationship with God. This relationship is made possible through the blood of Christ, which brings us near to God. [15:18]

- Being a Christian means having access to God and knowing Him personally. This access is not about our righteousness but about being brought into a covenant relationship with God through Christ. [28:28]

- The Christian life is marked by boldness and confidence in approaching God, knowing that we are His children and that He is our Father. This assurance is rooted in the authority given to us by Christ. [37:07]

- The essence of Christianity is knowing God and experiencing the blessings of the New Covenant. This relationship is characterized by the assurance of faith, the confidence to approach God, and the experience of His love and care. [39:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:13
- [01:25] - The Power of God in Salvation
- [03:13] - Understanding Our Condition
- [05:02] - The Positive and Negative Aspects
- [06:52] - The Order of Salvation
- [08:24] - The Greatness of Our Salvation
- [10:28] - The Essence of the Gospel
- [12:26] - The Contrast of Past and Present
- [15:18] - The Absolute Difference
- [19:48] - Relationship Over Morality
- [23:08] - Knowing God Personally
- [28:28] - Access to God
- [33:29] - The New Covenant
- [39:13] - Assurance and Boldness in Faith
- [42:11] - The Blood of Christ
- [46:46] - Closing Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:13
- Hebrews 10:19-22
- John 1:12

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Ephesians 2:13 say about our past and present states as believers? How does this verse describe the transformation that occurs through Christ? [01:06]

2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "made nigh by the blood of Christ"? How does this relate to our relationship with God? [19:48]

3. In Hebrews 10:19-22, what are believers encouraged to do, and what gives them the confidence to do so? How does this relate to the concept of being "made nigh"? [35:04]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian? What is the basis of this distinction? [15:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the power of God in salvation, and why is it important to understand both the depth from which we have been raised and the height to which we have been exalted? [02:40]

2. What does it mean to have access to God and know Him personally, as described in the sermon? How does this access affect a believer's life? [28:28]

3. The sermon emphasizes the absolute difference between being a Christian and a non-Christian. How does this distinction impact a believer's identity and relationship with God? [15:18]

4. How does the concept of being in a covenant relationship with God, as mentioned in the sermon, shape a believer's understanding of their faith and assurance? [39:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life. Can you identify a specific moment or period when you felt "far off" from God? How did you experience being "brought near" through Christ? [01:06]

2. The sermon highlights the boldness and confidence Christians should have in approaching God. How can you cultivate this boldness in your prayer life this week? [37:07]

3. Consider the distinction between a Christian and a non-Christian as described in the sermon. How does this understanding influence the way you interact with non-believers in your life? [15:18]

4. The sermon speaks about the assurance of faith and experiencing God's love and care. How can you remind yourself of this assurance during times of doubt or difficulty? [39:13]

5. Think about your current relationship with God. What steps can you take to deepen this relationship and experience the blessings of the New Covenant more fully? [28:28]

6. The sermon mentions the importance of knowing God personally. What practical actions can you take to grow in your knowledge and understanding of God this month? [33:29]

7. Reflect on the idea of finding your identity and pride in being a child of God. How does this perspective change the way you view yourself and your purpose in life? [09:37]

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Salvation
The greatness of our salvation is rooted in the power of God, which not only raised Christ from the dead but also transforms us from being far off to being near to God. This transformation is a testament to the same divine power that works in us. The power that raised Christ is not just a historical event but an ongoing reality in the life of every believer. It is this power that takes us from a state of alienation and hopelessness to one of closeness and hope. This transformation is not merely about changing our behavior but about a profound shift in our relationship with God. We are brought near to Him, not by our own efforts, but through the blood of Christ, which bridges the gap between us and God. [02:40]

Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV): "And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel distant from God. How can you invite His transformative power into that area today?


Day 2: The Absolute Distinction of Faith
The distinction between a Christian and a non-Christian is absolute and not based on moral behavior but on our relationship with God. This relationship is made possible through the blood of Christ, which brings us near to God. Being a Christian is not about being morally superior but about being in a covenant relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by knowing God personally and having access to Him. It is not our righteousness that grants us this access but the sacrifice of Christ. This distinction is profound and changes the way we view our identity and purpose in life. [15:18]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Reflection: Reflect on how your identity as a Christian shapes your daily interactions. How can you live out this distinction in a way that reflects your relationship with God?


Day 3: Access to God Through Christ
Being a Christian means having access to God and knowing Him personally. This access is not about our righteousness but about being brought into a covenant relationship with God through Christ. The Christian life is marked by a boldness to approach God, knowing that we are His children and that He is our Father. This assurance is rooted in the authority given to us by Christ. It is a privilege to have this access, and it should fill us with confidence and joy as we live out our faith. [28:28]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: What is one way you can boldly approach God in prayer today, trusting in your access through Christ?


Day 4: Assurance and Boldness in Faith
The Christian life is marked by boldness and confidence in approaching God, knowing that we are His children and that He is our Father. This assurance is rooted in the authority given to us by Christ. As believers, we are called to live with the confidence that comes from knowing our identity in Christ. This boldness is not arrogance but a humble assurance that we are loved and accepted by God. It empowers us to live out our faith with courage and conviction, knowing that we are never alone. [37:07]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Reflection: Identify a situation where you need to exercise boldness in your faith. How can you rely on God's assurance to take that step today?


Day 5: Experiencing the Blessings of the New Covenant
The essence of Christianity is knowing God and experiencing the blessings of the New Covenant. This relationship is characterized by the assurance of faith, the confidence to approach God, and the experience of His love and care. As Christians, we are invited to rejoice in this relationship and find our identity and pride in being children of God. This is the privilege and glory of our position as believers, and it should fill us with gratitude and joy as we live out our faith. [39:13]

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Reflection: How can you more fully embrace the blessings of the New Covenant in your daily life? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God today?

Quotes

"Let us never forget the greatness of this Christian salvation. He wants us to realize that it's so great that nothing less than the power of God himself could ever have achieved it. That's his whole argument. The power that makes us Christians is precisely the same power that brought the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and from the grave, showed him in glorious resurrection, and then raised him into the Heights in the Heavenly places where he is seated at the right hand of God's power." [00:01:36]

"Two things are essential if we would understand the greatness of Christian salvation. The first is our condition apart from it, and then secondly our condition as the result of it. Now last Sunday morning in the 12th verse we were looking at our condition apart from it at that time we were without Christ, being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of Promise, without hope, without God in the world." [00:03:16]

"The astounding thing is that anybody's a Christian, and nothing but the power of God in Christ accounts for it when we realize what man is by nature, when we realize what he is as the result of sin. But as I say, we must not only realize that if we are to measure this great power, you not only measure the depth out of which we've been raised, you also measure the height to which we've been exalted and elevated." [00:04:40]

"The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is an absolute difference. It's a complete contrast. Now, I want to emphasize that with all my being because that's exactly what the Apostle does here. It is an absolute and an utter difference. It's clear, it's definite, it's discreet. There should never be any difficulty about telling whether we are Christian or whether we are not." [00:15:08]

"The thing that makes you a Christian is this: that you who were a far off are made nigh. You are near to God, whereas formerly you were far from God. So you see, the distinction and the difference is to be drawn not in terms of our morality or conduct or behavior, but in our relationship to God." [00:19:48]

"The Christian is a man who can enter into the presence of God, the holiest of all. There's nothing to stop him. There is this New and Living Way, the holiest of all, made nigh, admitted into the presence. What else? Well, I've just read it. We do so with this full Assurance of Faith." [00:36:02]

"To be a Christian is to know God. They shall no longer, says the New Covenant, teach one another, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know me from the least to the greatest. The least as well as the greatest, to know God. 'I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.' And that's what it means to become a Christian." [00:33:00]

"The Christian is a man who not only has access into the presence of God, but he knows God as his father. Christ has given him authority to be a child of God. He's been adopted, and though he is going into the presence of the Holy and eternal God, he goes with the confidence of a child." [00:37:07]

"God has not given us the spirit of fear again, says Paul to the Romans in the 8th chapter. He hath not given to us the spirit of bondage again and of fear, but he hath given us the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, 'Abba, Father.' That's the Christian's position. He's not praying to some distant God." [00:38:32]

"To be nigh unto God is to experience all those blessings of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. Amen." [00:43:56]

"The only way to draw nigh unto God is the way in which the Apostle puts it at the end of this glorious verse and which I must leave over, I regret to say, until next Sunday morning. There is only one way to draw nigh, there is only one way of entering into the holiest of all, by the blood of Jesus." [00:41:45]

"The blood of the Lamb on the lentil and the doorposts of the House of the Israelites in Egypt saved them and spared them, and the one sign that is looked for on all who would approach and draw nigh unto God is the mark of the blood of the Son of God." [00:42:11]

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Transcript
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