Ephesians 3:12-13 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.… The apostle here tells us of an exalted privilege. Let us consider — I. THE MATTER OF THE PRIVILEGE — "Access." But access to whom? The apostle does not mention this: it was needless. God was the Being necessarily implied. For, "it is with Him we have to do" mainly and principally in the concerns of the soul and eternity. He is not only the greatest and the best of Beings, but we are most perfectly related to Him. We may view man in three states with regard to God. 1. We may view him before the fall, and in his original condition. Then, he was one altogether with God. He wore His image. He lived in His presence. He enjoyed His smiles, and carried on continual intercourse with Him, and he was no more afraid to meet Him than a child was afraid to meet the tenderest of fathers, or the most endeared of mothers. But, alas! this condition was broken up by sin. We must, therefore, view him — 2. In his fall. Alienated: far from God. Sin separates. Hence results our degradation and wretchedness. 3. We may view man, again, in his renewed state. He now feels his need of God, and returns to Him with weeping and supplication. And he not only seeks, but finds Him, and is in a state of access to God.Let us observe some of the characters under which we have access to God. 1. We have access to Him as a pardoning God. Everything must begin here. 2. We have access to Him as a supplying God. We need not only forgiveness, but supplies. We are poor. I mean now spiritually poor. We are as poor as poverty itself. We have no righteousness; we have no strength; we have no wisdom of our own. 3. We have access to Him, also, as a communing God. We have access, not only to tits door, but into His house; and not only to His house but to His table, and even to His pavilion — we can come, "even to His seat." We have access to His ear, and can pour out our hearts before Him. We can speak familiarly with Him and hold converse with Him. We can lean upon His arm. We can rest on His bosom: we can "rejoice in Him with joy unspeakable, and full of glory." So much for the matter of this privilege. II. Observe THE MANNER. We have boldness and access with confidence. 1. Consider it as an exclusion of that despair and that despondency which very naturally arises from conviction of sin. 2. We may view it in opposition to the bondage of Judaism. 3. As distinguished from the usual access and modes of approach among men. Now, look at earthly monarchs they cannot give you real access to them at all times, it would lower their dignity. For as they have no real greatness, they must substitute the show of it; and this is very difficult, for real meanness underneath will often break through all external greatness; and if they were easy of access, they would be, unquestionably, invaded and incommoded. They are obliged, therefore, to have modes of distance and reserve. There must be guards and established rules of etiquette, and the sovereign can only be approached at particular times, seen only on particular occasions, and heard only on things of importance. Then, too, the interview is short, and frequently is the subject full of intimidation. Such is the impression of external greatness, that Madame Guion, though accustomed to a court, tells us, she "was always breathless when in the presence of Napoleon." But you, brethren, are not breathless in approaching the King of kings, and the Lord of lords — "who only hath immortality" — "before whom all nations are nothing, yea, less than nothing, and vanity." You can approach Him at all times; you can have access to Him on all occasions! III. THE MEDIUM of all this. "We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." Here we see that He is the object of faith; and that, as faith can only, as exercised upon Him, bring the relief we need; thus we see your faith is as necessary in one sense, as Christ is in another. Yes, the one is necessarily meritorious; and the other instrumental. But the faith is as necessary as the Saviour Himself. That is, here is the remedy; but the application of that remedy is necessarily to be procured as well as the remedy itself. As, for instance, eating is as necessary to our support, as the food we partake of. Now, faith takes in three views of it, each of which is perfectly encouraging: and the more we exercise faith in Christ, the more freedom shall we find in drawing near to God. First, we have "boldness and access with confidence through the faith of Him," as the gift of God. Then, secondly, "We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him," as a sacrifice for sin. Thirdly, we have "boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him," as our risen and exalted Saviour. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.WEB: in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. |
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