“According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” (vs11-12)

First, we have boldness and access to God by faith in Jesus the Lord. It is not heaven by merit or feeling, and we don’t approach Him by right. We come through what Christ did for us, the Mediator, who took away our sins, and we believe upon Him to have earned the access that we receive. Faith isn’t feeling worthy or spiritual, and it isn’t adding anything to Christ; it is coming to God and acknowledging that we’re accepted by the greatness of His Son’s work, and it is entering His presence by faith alone, believing that He hears and rewards us. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. Grace is what we need, God has it, and Christ is how we get to God. Will you come to Him this way? If so, then you have the petitions that you desire (1 John 5:14-15).

We have boldness because God CANNOT reject faith. He has commanded the way, and if we follow it, then we can’t be refused for any reason. He says, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive them” (Matt 21:22). He doesn’t say, “Come by faith, but you can’t have former sins”, nor does He say, “Believe’, but you must be worthy also”. No, by faith alone, He willingly gives all that He has because you honor the Son and the Father by trusting Him, by saying that He’s holy and only touched by faith, and yet by faith, He is TOUCHED indeed. In Mark 10:51, the Lord asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Come to Him by faith and receive what you need.

Secondly, the way to be filled with God’s fullness and do good works is by receiving His love in the gospel (Eph 3:13-19). He says, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”. Paul has one primary thing in mind, which is that we honor Him who died for us, and the gospel is the ONLY power God has to make this happen. We read elsewhere, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom 1:16). Thus, any sermon that doesn’t have the gospel, that doesn’t point the sinner to Christ’s grace, is a false gospel and a sermon that can’t save. It lacks God’s power, which is the revelation of His love.

Do not think that rules will get you power, or that legal but bloodless sermons will edify you. Your sins must be exposed, but the gospel is more than exposing our faults; it always promises God’s help to everyone who believes, “ for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:17). The gospel must be preached, or no one gets power to serve Christ. People can be religious and zealous, but if they’re not moved by forgiveness, then it is in vain. The law exposes us, and then the gospel heals us. The law shows where we are wrong, and then God’s love convinces us that He’ll make us right. Don’t neglect the gospel but receive it continually all throughout the day. Always look to Christ when you see yourself in sin or estranged. Look to Him when trouble takes away your peace, and receive His love as unbounded, eternal, and saving. Receive Him as He gives Himself to you freely, and THEN you’ll honor Him. Our Lord told the disciples to loose the colt, before bringing it to Him. It has to be set free, so that it could be bound to the Lord. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it” (Luke 19:30-31).

Grace will have the first place in the ministry, or God will not work, and you can judge EVERY church by the gospel it preaches. If God’s love is revealed, then people will have power to worship Him.