◄ What Does Ephesians 2:13 Mean? ►

God chose to take a people for His name from the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to proclaim to the nations the goodness of God. For thousands of years, the only way that mankind could approach a holy God was through Israel's high priest and their God-ordained sacrificial system.

Every sacrifice that was offered to God down through the centuries, pointed to the final, perfect sacrifice of the eternal, begotten, incarnate Son of the Father, Who by means of His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection, flung wide the door into the throne room of heaven. Whoever would believe on His name, would not perish but have everlasting life, and by grace they would find mercy in time of need.

But what stark contrast there is between the sinful man's restricted approach to a holy God pre-Cross and the believer's open-access to our heavenly Father post-Cross. What a great distinction between the time when we were dead in our trespasses and sins and without God in the world, and the wonderful day when we began to believe in the only begotten Son of the Father, for our full and free salvation.

Before we were born again into the family of God, we were without Christ, without a heavenly citizenship, without a covenant relationship, without God's promises, without access to the throne of grace, and without hope in the world. We were godless sinners and members of a hopeless sinful race that was condemned to eternal separation from our Creator. Before we were accepted in the Beloved by grace through faith in His sacrificial death and Resurrection, we were spiritually dead and doomed to eternal separation from God.

But NOW through the blood of Christ, all restrictions in approaching our Creator have been lifted and all barriers to our Father have been removed. We who were once dead are now made alive. We who were once lost are now found. We who were perishing and enslaved to sin are now rescued. We who were once sick have now been made whole.

We who were sinners have now been made saints. We who were condemned have been made free. We who were in darkness have been brought into the kingdom of light. We who had no promises have been flooded with the many precious promises of God which are all 'yes' and 'amen' in Christ.

"NOW in Christ Jesus, we who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Let us live our lives as unto to Lord, for He alone is worthy of our praise and thanks.

Heavenly Father, thank You that while I was still dead in my trespasses and sins and at enmity with You, Christ Jesus my Lord, died for me. Thank You that His blood paid the price for my sins and that by grace through faith in Him, I have been brought near to You, returned into covenant relationship with You, have been forgiven of my sins, and received the gift of eternal life. To You alone I offer my praise and worship. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.