Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 2 · Verse and explication 16
Vers. 18. For through him we both have an accesse by one Spirit unto the Father.
THe Apostle, thirdly, proveth that the Gentiles were effectually called, by the preaching of the Gospel, to partake of purchased peace and reconciliation equally with the Jews; because they both had equal accesse and liberty to approach unto God in the practice of all commanded duties, as unto their own reconciled God and Father; for, the word rendered accesse, hath an allusion to the courts of Princes, where petitioners are admitted unto accesse to their Prince, even in the very presence-chamber. Concerning which accesse, he sheweth, first, that it is through Christ, He having removed all those obstructions and impediments which might have marred it. And, secondly, that it is by the one Spirit of God, who doth create, preserve, quicken, and actuate those graces, in the exercise whereof, they obtained accesse unto God. Doct. 1. One main fruit and evidence of reconciliation is accesse unto God, whereby reconciled souls have not only liberty to approach unto God in the enjoyment of all divine Ordinances, (which accesse is the priviledge of all within the visible Church, whether they be reconciled or not, Psal. 147. 19.) but also freedom, and liberty of spirit to approach unto God in the exercise of all their saving graces, by which they do enjoy communion with God, and especially in the confident, bold and reverent exercising of their faith, both as to the change of their state in justification, Rom. 5. 2. and as to their sanctification, and all the duties thereof, Philip. 4. 13. which accesse to God, is chiefly attained in the duties of prayer and praise, as having God for their direct and immediate object. This is that accesse, which in some measure floweth from peace and reconciliation with God, and is an evidence of it: for, the Apostle proveth, that the Gospel was effectually preached in order to their peace and reconciliation, because they had accesse to God; We both have accesse to the Father. 2. There can be no accesse, or familiar approaching unto God by sinners, who are not in Jesus Christ, and come not to God through Him; seing God is a consuming fire unto such, Heb. 12. 29. Their sins having divided betwixt Him and them, Isa. 59. 2. and so closed up all accesse unto God, untill Jesus Christ do apply unto them the merit of His death, whereby He blotteth out their sin, Rom. 3. 25. and bringeth them unto a state of favour with God, and so maketh a patent door for accesse unto Him, Rom. 5. 1, 2. and keepeth it alwayes patent by His continued intercession, Heb. 7. -25. which their renewed provocations would otherwise dayly, and hourly close and obstruct, 1 Joh. 2. 1. for, saith he, through Him, that is, Christ, we both have an accesse to the father. 3. Christ is the only Mediator betwixt God and man, by whom alone we have accesse and liberty to approach unto God in the exercise of our graces, whether in the duty of prayer, or any other way, and not by the mediation of Saints or Angels: for, saith he, through him we have an access, or manuduction to the father. 4. This accesse, and approaching unto God, is not locall by passing from one place to another; especially seing there is no place, wherein accesse to God may not be had, Joh. 4. 21. 23. but it is spirituall, consisting in the motion of the heart towards God, in the exercise of saving and spirituall graces: for, so much is implied, while this accesse is ascribed unto the Spirit, as the efficient thereof; We have an accesse by the spirit. 5. It is not sufficient, in order to our accesse unto God, that obstructions be removed, and a door made patent by Christs merit and intercession, through which we may enter; but, such is partly our impotency, Joh. 15. -5. and partly our aversnesse from making use of the offered opportunity, Luk. 14. 17, 18, &c. that except the Spirit of God do cause us enter, by creating spirituall graces in us, Ezek. 36. 26. by actuating, and exciting those graces, Cant. 4. 16. and especially by helping our infirmities in prayer, and stirring up a vehement flame of holy and ardent affections, which may serve, as wings, to elevate our spirits to God, Rom. 8. 26. Except, I say, the Spirit of the Lord did thus, we could not otherwise have any accesse unto God: for, he saith, through him we have an accesse by one spirit. 6. As it is one, and the self same Spirit of God, who breatheth upon the graces of Gods people, Cant. 4. 16. and thereby giveth them accesse unto God; So it concerneth us much, as we would find accesse and liberty of approaching unto God, to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; there being nothing, that marreth accesse to God, and fellowship with Him more, than imbittered spirits, and division of heart among the people of God, 2 Corinth. 13. 11. for, therefore doth the Apostle mention the one Spirit of God, to shew, that the Spirit doth unite those among themselves, upon whom this rich blessing of accesse is bestowed; We both have an accesse by one Spirit. 7. As there are three distinct persons in the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Spirit; So the enjoying of the Father, is the highest happinesse, which can be attained, and in which the soul doth rest content, when it is attained; the Son again is the way, by which we come to the Father; and the Spirit our guide, which causeth us enter this way, and go alongs in it: all which is clearly hinted at here; through Him, that is, Christ, we have an accesse by one Spirit to the Father.