Drawing Near To God (2)

Continuing our thoughts on Ephesians 2:13—But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ—and Hebrews 10:22— “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water”—we saw last time that the first and foremost principle of what it means Biblically to draw near to God is having a sincere desire for Truth.

Second, drawing near to God means having absolute confidence in God. The words “full assurance” translate a Greek word (plerophoria) that means “entire confidence, full assurance.” To be near to God, then, means that we have total confidence in His promises, absolute assurance of His provision, and full trust in His sovereignty. The more we doubt Him, the more we question Him, the further away from Him we drift.

Third, drawing near to God means having a desire for holiness. The imagery in the words “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” is distinctly Old Testament, referring to the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice for the cleansing of sin. But not only are we saved by this blood, but we are constantly brought back to it for daily cleansing. As the Apostle John declares, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9). We are forever coming back to the Cross, for it is there that our sin was dealt with and our conscience cleared.

Fourth, drawing near to God means having a desire for His Word. The first principle was one of attitude, while what we see here is the action. Some interpreters view the words “our bodies washed with pure water” as a reference to baptism. But this is clearly incorrect because baptism is not a washing away of sin, rather a symbol of identification, a public testimony of what has occurred in the heart. What this phrase means is that God’s Word is the commodity that is going to keep us clean by our constant “bathing” in it. Paul meant this when he wrote later in Ephesians: “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (5:25-26). Drawing near to God means that we are constantly involved with His Word, to be constantly “immersed” in It.

So, Jews and Gentiles are on the same ground in this age. As Paul goes into more detail in the passage that follows, there is no distinction. Jews in the early church had a problem with this and Jews today still do; they believe man can come to God only through Judaism. But any division or distinction that exists is man-made. God has made all of us near in Christ. All men now come to God on exactly the same basis—the blood of Christ.

The story is told of a preacher who was one day approached by a man who had heard him preach. The man said, “I don’t like your theology at all—it’s too bloody. It’s all blood, blood, blood. I like a pleasanter gospel.” The preacher replied, “My theology is bloody, I allow; it recognizes as its foundation a very sanguinary scene—the death of Christ, with bleeding hands and feet and side. And I am quite content that it should be bloody, for God hath said, ‘that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins’ [Heb. 9:22].” The same is true today. Most people want a sentimental gospel or a feel-good gospel, something that appeals to their “felt needs.” While they don’t like “a bloody Gospel,” that is, indeed, the only Gospel, the only good news. As Paul writes in Galatians 1, any other “gospel” is not a gospel (good news) at all and must be cursed. The only good news is the blood of Christ. As one poet puts it: “So near, so very near to God / Nearer I cannot be; / For in the Person of His Son / I am as near as He.”

This sets the stage for verses 14-18. How can a person come near to God? Can he come through philosophy or logic? Can he come through apologetics or argumentation? Can he come through works, religion, or sacraments? Can he come by mysticism? No, and he can’t even come by Judaism or even the teachings of Christ. The only way to God is through the blood of Christ. Augustus Toplady, the author of the old hymn “Rock of Ages,” realized this the day he was converted while listening to a message on Ephesians 2:13. And as Paul proclaimed back in 1:7: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”