Ephesians 2:13

 

Ephesians 2:13

You are Made Nigh by the Blood of the Lamb

 

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

         1.      Now You Are in Christ

a.       Because of the justification of Christ’s work on the cross we now have access to a loving relationship with God

                                                              i.      Romans 5:1-2 

          2.      Once You Were a Far Off

a.       There is no one righteous - Romans 3:10 

b.      Everyone is a sinner - Ecclesiastes 7:20 

c.       The punishment for sin is death - Romans 6:23 

         3.      Now You Have Been Made Nigh by the Blood of the Lamb

a.       How are we made nigh to God?

                                                              i.      Not by morality - Luke 18:10-14 

                                                            ii.      Not by my good deeds - Isaiah 64:6 

                                                          iii.      Not by an interest in religion

                                                          iv.      Not by mysticism

                                                            v.      We are brought close to God by the blood of Christ

1.      Without the shedding of blood there is no cleansing of sin

a.       Hebrews 9:22 

2.      He had to be made sin for us - 2 Corinthians 5:21 

3.      He had to be beaten for us - 1 Peter 2:24 

4.      He had to be the sacrificial lamb for us - John 1:29 

5.      He had to taste death of us - Hebrews 2:9 

6.      He had to be brought back from the dead for us - Hebrews 13:20 

                                                          vi.      What benefits do I now enjoy because of being brought nigh?

1.      A clear conscience - Hebrews 9:14 

2.      No more condemnation - Romans 8:1 

3.      Continual cleansing - 1 John 1:7 

4.      Bold access - Hebrews 4:16