Access Unto the Father (Ephesians

Описание: Jews and Gentiles United in Christ (7): Access Unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18)
I. What?
II. By Whom?
III. For Whom?
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2
Speaker: Rev. Angus Stewart
Charles Hodge: “Access is not mere liberty of approach; it is ‘introduction.’ Christ did not die simply to open the way of access to God, but actually to introduce us into his presence and favour. This all Scripture teaches, and this the context demands. Those for whom the death of Christ has procured peace are declared in what follows to be fellow-citizens of the saints, members of the family of God, constituent parts of that temple in which God dwells by his Spirit. It is a real not a mere potential redemption and reconciliation which the blood of Christ effects. He died, the just for the unjust, to bring us nigh unto God. This introduction into a state of grace, Rom. 5:2, is not identical with the peace procured by Christ, but the effect or sequence of it. Having made propitiation, or secured peace, he introduces us, as our Mediator and Advocate, into the divine presence” (Comm. on Eph. 2:18).
John Calvin: “For through him we both have access. This is an argument from the fact, that we are permitted to draw near to God. But it may be viewed also as an announcement of peace; for wicked men, lulled into a profound sleep, sometimes deceive themselves by false notions of peace, but are never at rest, except when they have learned to forget the Divine judgment, and to keep themselves at the greatest possible distance from God. It was necessary, therefore, to explain the true nature of evangelical peace, which is widely different from a stupified conscience, from false confidence, from proud boasting, from ignorance of our own wretchedness. It is a settle composure, which leads us not to dread, but to desire and seek, the face of God” (Comm. on Eph. 2:18).

Psalm 25:1-7
1To thee I lift my soul:
2 O Lord, I trust in thee:
My God, let me not be asham’d,
nor foes triumph o’er me.
3 Let none that wait on thee
be put to shame at all;
But those that without cause transgress,
let shame upon them fall.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord;
thy paths, O teach thou me:
5 And do thou lead me in thy truth,
therein my teacher be:
For thou art God that dost
to me salvation send,
And I upon thee all the day
expecting do attend.
6 Thy tender mercies, Lord,
I pray thee to remember,
And loving-kindnesses; for they
have been of old for ever.
7 My sins and faults of youth
do thou, O Lord, forget:
After thy mercy think on me,
and for thy goodness great.

Psalm 17:8-15
8 As th’ apple of the eye me keep;
in thy wings shade me close
9 From lewd oppressors, compassing
me round, as deadly foes.
10 In their own fat they are inclos’d;
their mouth speaks loftily.
11 Our steps they compass’d; and to ground
down bowing set their eye.
12 He like unto a lion is
that’s greedy of his prey,
Or lion young, which lurking doth
in secret places stay.
13 Arise, and disappoint my foe,
and cast him down, O Lord:
My soul save from the wicked man,
the man which is thy sword.
14 From men, which are thy hand, O Lord,
from worldly men me save,
Which only in this present life
their part and portion have.
Whose belly with thy treasure hid
thou fill’st: they children have
In plenty; of their goods the rest
they to their children leave.
15 But as for me, I thine own face
in righteousness will see;
And with thy likeness, when I wake,
I satisfy’d shall be.

Psalm 135:1-7
1 Praise ye the Lord, the Lord’s name praise;
his servants, praise ye God.
2 Who stand in God’s house, in the courts
of our God make abode.
3 Praise ye the Lord, for he is good;
unto him praises sing:
Sing praises to his name, because
it is a pleasant thing.
4 For Jacob to himself the Lord
did choose of his good pleasure,
And he hath chosen Israel
for his peculiar treasure.
5 Because I know assuredly
the Lord is very great,
And that our Lord above all gods
in glory hath his seat.
6 What things soever pleased the Lord,
that in the heav’n did he,
And in the earth, the seas, and all
the places deep that be.
7 He from the ends of earth doth make
the vapours to ascend;
With rain he lightnings makes, and wind
doth from his treasures send.

Psalm 66:1-7
1 All lands to God in joyful sounds,
aloft your voices raise.
2 Sing forth the honour of his name,
and glorious make his praise.
3 Say unto God, How terrible
in all thy works art thou!
Through thy great pow’r thy foes to thee
shall be constrained to bow.
4 All on the earth shall worship thee,
they shall thy praise proclaim
In songs: they shall sing cheerfully
unto thy holy name.
5 Come, and the works that God hath wrought
with admiration see:
In’s working to the sons of men
most terrible is he.
6 Into dry land the sea he turned,
and they a passage had;
Ev’n marching through the flood on foot,
there we in him were glad.
7 He ruleth ever by his pow’r;
his eyes the nations see:
O let not the rebellious ones
lift up themselves on high.