Ephesians 2:11-13 Brought Near by the Blood of Christ

  I.  To be far off is to be in hopeless darkness.

      A.  How quickly we forget: therefore remember...

      B.  To be far off is to be without Christ.

      C.  To be far off is to be aliens and strangers to God’s kingdom.
       
       	  Ezekiel 14:5; Eph 4:18

      D.  To be far off is to be strangers to God’s covenants of promise.
        
          Genesis 6:18; Abraham, Genesis 17:4; Israel, Exodus 19:5 (Exodus 24:8, Deuteronomy 4:13);
	  David, 2Samuel 7, cf. Psalm 89:3-4; Romans 9:4; Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16; 
	  2 Corinthians 1:20

      E.  To be far off is to have no hope and to be without God in the world.
       
          Not: Psalm 16:9-10; 1Peter 1:3.

 II.  To be brought near is to come into union with the Lord.
      A.  To have our existence in Christ.

      B.  To be citizens in God’s kingdom.
        
          Colossians 1:21; Revelation 22:15; Psalm 14:1; Matthew 7:21; Revelation 21:24 Isaiah 49:1;
	  Isaiah 57:19; Acts 2:39; Ephesians 2:17

      C.  To have God himself.
        
       	  2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.
	  He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

 III. None can come near except by the blood of Christ.

      A.  You ... have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
        
          Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:25; Colossians 1:20.

      B.  This is why the Lord graciously gives us the bloodless sacraments of the New Testament.
        
          Colossians 2:11; 1Corinthians 10:16.

      C.  This is why it is necessary to go and make disciples of all the nations.
        
          Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:18; John 14:6.

Pastor Christian Adjemian, Dipl. Div., Ph.D.

pastor@reformedprescambridge.com 617-864-3185