SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1256

“Brought Near”

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13

The Garden of Eden

The garden was a place of close fellowship with God until Adam and Eve sinned. Their sin, and the sin we are all born with, drove them away from the Garden and created a chasm between mankind and God. This was the beginning of mankind being ‘far off’.

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. … therefore, the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. – Genesis 3:22-23

Old Covenant – Keep Back!

And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. – Exodus 19:12

And you shall hang the veil from the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. – Exodus 26:33

God, in His great love and mercy promised a redeemer for mankind when He drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden. His chosen people, the Nation of Israel were set apart as the people through whom God would bring the Messiah, the Redeemer of all mankind. The Old Covenant of the Law prepared people for His coming by making us all keenly aware of our need for a Savior – a better hope … through whom we draw near to God.

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. – Hebrews 7:18-19

New Covenant – Come!

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. – Matthew 27:50-51

When Jesus died on the cross for our sins and He said it is finished, the curtain (veil) that separated the Holy of Holies from mankind was torn down. Jesus bridged the gap between sinful humanity and our Father in Heaven.

Jesus is the Only Way – We cannot come near to God on our own merits.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

Good Works Don’t Work – The pridefulness of mankind looks for another way to bridge the gap apart from Jesus. We look for ways earn His favor and enter into the presence of God.

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment… – Isaiah 64:6

We justify ourselves: ‘I am better than that person’.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? – Matthew 7:3

We rationalize and repackage God’s character to our liking: ‘My God is a God of love, and He will not send people to hell.

The Lord has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples; And he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness; And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. – Isaiah 3:13- Psalm 9:8- Revelation 20:15

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:21-23

We look for an easier way – A way that loves the world.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. – Matthew 6:24

Jesus is the Only Way – We are Drawn and Brought Near.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:19-22

Our recognition and acknowledgement that we need Jesus brings a repentant heart and we are drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! …. – Romans 7:24-25

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – Galatians 4:6; John 1:12

Our world is under the influence of Satan. Jesus is the only way for us to enter God’s presence and the world system that we live in is steadily and continually seeking to eliminate Him. For example: Praying in the Name of Jesus is banned in many places and we no longer measure time periods as BC (Before Christ) and AD (After Jesus’ Death). They are now using BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era).

May you discern the Truth and avoid the lies of this world as you draw near to Christ and be brought near to God through Jesus clothed in His righteousness.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness… – Isaiah 61:10