Access in One Spirit to the Father

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” Verses 17-18.

Both as Gentiles and as those who were dead in sins and trespasses, the Ephesians were “far off.” The Jews, on the other hand, were “near” because they knew God’s will and could have lived according to it had they been willing.

In our day many people are raised in religious homes and go to Sunday School all through their childhood. They are enlightened about the will of God, and in that sense they are “near”—without necessarily having arrived. Others have grown up in an ungodly environment, and anything having to do with godliness is completely alien to them. Both of these groups of people obtain peace through the blood of His cross; with all of them the enmity is broken down on the cross. The work of the cross of Christ in them breaks down the body of sin. Both groups have access to the Father in one Spirit; but the Spirit requires blood, and the blood is a result of the work of the cross. In this way there is peace for those who are far off, and peace for those who are near.