ACCESS


A. "FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT UNTO THE FATHER" - EPH. 2:18; "IN WHOM WE HAVE BOLDNESS AND ACCESS WITH CONFIDENCE BY THE FAITH OF HIM" EPH. 3:12; "BY WHOM ALSO WE HAVE ACCESS BY FAITH INTO HIS GRACE WHEREBY WE STAND, AND REJOICE IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD." - ROM. 5:2
  1. You will have noticed in reading the above scriptures:
    1. That Christ opened the way for sinners to reapproach the Father by the Holy Spirit
    2. That Christ, who is the way, made this grace possible for us
  2. The great emphasis is on the word access as used by Paul:
    1. It shows that without Christ becoming our way back to God, the way is barred
    2. But in Christ Jesus and by the operation of the Holy Spirit we do have access to his grace B. THERE ARE FOUR GLORIOUS TRUTHS EMBODIED IN THE WORD ACCESS AS FOUND IN OUR TEXTS
  3. It shows that the way was closed:
    1. Sin barred the way to the tree of life - Gen. 3:8-22
    2. Sin separates the sinner from God - Is. 59:1-3
    3. When man is cut off from God, he is totally without hope - Eph. 2:12
    4. Sin holds the sinner prisoner; he is a bond-slave - John 8:34; Rom. 6:16
    5. He awaits the judgment of God and eternal damnation - 2 Pet. 2:9
  4. The way back to God must be opened:
    1. Man's need of God makes the opening of the way back to God a must
    2. The cry and consciousness of his guilt reach toward heaven for help - Ps. 42:2; 63:1. Examples: The prodigal son's destitution called for a return to his father - Luke 15:11-32. The man in the horrible pit reaches out for help - Ps. 40:2
  5. For the way has been opened:
    1. Christ is that living Way - John 14:6
    2. It was Christ who broke the seal and opened the book - Rev. 5:5-14
    3. He is the door to the way back to the Father - John 14:6; 10:1-9
    4. The way to the tree of life has been opened; some day the redeemed will eat of the fruit of the tree of life - Rev. 2:7; 22:1-6
  6. The way back to God is absolutely free:
    1. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" - Rev. 22:17
    2. "O everyone that is athirst, come ye to the waters...without price" - Is. 55:1-2 C. THE GLORIOUS TRUTH WHICH GLADDENS OUR HEARTS
  7. God has found a ransom:
    1. Jesus Christ gave Himself as a ransom - Matt. 20:28
    2. Writes Paul, "the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" Gal. 2:20
    3. He paid the price of reconciliation; His own blood - Eph. 2:14-16; I Cor. 6:20; I Pet. 1:19
  8. The door of mercy is wide open:
    1. The hand of a compassioned God are stretched out to the lost - Is. 65:1-3; Matt. 11:28-30
    2. The Father is waiting for the prodigal to come home - Luke 15:11-20
    3. Word has gone out from the Father to all to come to the banquet of heaven Luke 14:16-24
  9. Blessings without measure await the home-coming of the penitent:
    1. The fatted calf has been killed; a wonder-feast is all ready
    2. The gift of the Spirit of God are at the disposal of the believers - 2 Peter 1:3-8; Gal. 5:22-24
  10. Think of the inclusiveness of that word ACCESS:
    1. Our connection with Jesus Christ gives us access to the Father
    2. It gives us access to the grace of a new relationship
    3. It makes us partakers of the bounties of Heaven
    4. And it makes us fellow heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord


Design © John Bryant 2011