A Single, Powerful Sentence! Ephesians 1-3

 Ephesians 2:18 (ESV)

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Is there a more powerful, singular truth than what Paul said in that one sentence?   When writers write they know the developing thought of a long, run-on sentence vs the dagger of a sentence as constructed like Paul did here.  In chapter one we see Paul use a single Greek sentence to outline countless benefits we have in Christ.  In Ephesians 1:3-10 we have single sentence in the Greek.  It would take a preacher weeks just to preach through the truths found and/or implied in those many words.  But, in the above sentence, we equally have many truths, but stated in a single, concise sentence.   Notice what we can learn from this quick stroke of the pen:

1. We are “in” Christ.  To say “for through Him” implies we are “in Him.”

2. We are not alone in this privilege.  It states that “we” have what is promised.  In fact, the rest of this section is to unfold the “we both” portion of this. In our walk “through” Christ, “we” are not alone. 

3.   We have “access” to a relationship with God. In our society today “access” is paramount to most people’s success.   Privilege is extended to those who have “access” to people, programs, pleasures, and/or power.   To know that we have “access” to God is one of the most important beliefs of the Christian faith.   We were, prior to Christ, “alienated” from God. Note what Paul JUST wrote:

Ephesians 2:12 (ESV)

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

We are no longer “alienated” since we now have access.  

4.  We, through “one Spirt” have this access.  Remember what Jesus told His disciples just before the crucifixion:

John 14:15-17 (ESV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The world “cannot receive” the Spirit.  But, we do!   In that “one Spirit” we are afforded the access Paul writes about.   We can rejoice in the fact that we have the Spirit of God to empower us, guide us, and even convict us when we drift from fellowship with God.   

5.  We have all this access and privilege with the “Father.”   God wants to enjoy a relationship with us. He initiates that relationship by sending His Son to pay for our sins, to open up the avenue, to fellowship with the God of the universe.   This is no small thing. 

The above sentence is no small sentence in our understanding of how to walk with Him.  We have access in one Spirit to the Father.  Rejoice!!!