215. Access
Ephesians 2:18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Access to God the Father is a very great and precious promise. The promise is clear enough in Scripture. God is ever near, never far away, and He will never abandon us or leave us alone, unless we should demand that He leave. Access to the power and love of God is always available since He is always with us. “We have obtained access by faith.” With such ever present access to the grace of God at any time 24/7 we are in the presence of His throne, where He listens to our prayer and encourages us to ask for help in any kind of need. Simple faith grants access. The Father is always accepting us on account of Christ. Acceptance and approval means access to might and mercy.
Who are the “both” in “we both have access?” In this context God is giving the same access promise to the Jew and the Gentile. Neither Jew nor Gentile has different routes of access to the Father, but we all have access by one Spirit. Jews and Gentiles are very diverse from one another in culture, language, customs, background, lifestyle, race and religion; yet the one and the same Spirit of God grants the same access to both diverse groups. The Holy Spirit convinces all people of sin, righteousness, and judgment through one Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit unites all diverse groups of people and brings them all before the Father on an equal footing.
So not only both, but also all, diverse people groups have access by one Spirit. All the different races, religions, cultures, tongues, tribes and people groups have strengths that they love, which make them feel superior to others who are different. We know that there is no superior and inferior, just differences and diversities; but they all have the same access to the Father by the one Spirit. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father; and one access.
Thank God for free access; nothing but sin can block access to God, but in Christ the separating sin has been taken away. Now only faith is needed, and the one Spirit grants that by grace though the Gospel.