The Fourteenth Sermon, the Sixth on the Second Chapter - Ephesians 2:16-19

"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." - Ephesians 2:16-19

We have seen this morning how St. Paul has spoken to those who were without hope of salvation, emphasizing that they are even more bound to God for His calling them to be among His children. This calling was not common or expected. On the other hand, he humbled all pride so that the Jews would not think that the privilege of adoption was something they had earned. Even though God had chosen them above all others, they should not boast in their own merits.

Continuing on the same theme, St. Paul states that we were reconciled, both on one side and the other, by the death of Jesus Christ. Through His death, He has united us into one body, abolishing all enmity through His sacrifice on the cross. This serves to further express what we have already learned: that we must approach God through our Lord Jesus Christ, as without Him, both Jews and Gentiles remain far from God due to our sinfulness. God is our enemy until His wrath is appeased. This appeasement is achieved through Jesus bearing our sins on the cross, for it is His obedience that removes our iniquities, and His sacrifice that washes away our sins.

Indeed, without the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we would remain bound by the debts of our sins, unable to plead our case before God or escape the deserved damnation. If we tried to justify ourselves, a thousand accusations would silence us. Therefore, when we pray or resist temptations, we must remember that we need encouragement to persevere, assurance of eternal life, and take refuge in the death and passion of the Son of God. It is through His blood and the work of His Holy Spirit that we are cleansed. Without this, God would rightly reject us, acting as a judge rather than a father.

It is not enough to know that Jesus Christ made amends for us and fully accomplished all that is necessary for our salvation through His death and passion. We must also receive this benefit as it is offered to us. The Jews, Turks, and others who rejected the Gospel will find themselves doubly guilty for denying the benefit they could have shared had they received the promises of the Gospel through faith. While some blessed the Lord Jesus Christ, others scorned Him. The Papists sought to diminish His grace. These actions will increase their condemnation.

Even those who never heard the Gospel are excluded from this treasure. Paul adds that Jesus Christ preached peace to both those who were near and those who were far off. This shows that as the Gospel is preached, we are continually being made partakers of the salvation purchased by our Lord Jesus Christ. This happens when we lay hold of Him through true faith in our hearts, which then produces good fruit. Therefore, two things are required: that we understand the essence of our salvation is in Jesus Christ, and that this is declared to us through the Gospel. Paul emphasizes that Christ Himself has come to bring tidings of peace to all people, rather than sending apostles or numerous teachers.

Now it is certain that our Lord Jesus Christ has not personally carried out the act of preaching since His resurrection, except among His disciples, to prepare them to spread the doctrine committed to them everywhere. St. Paul, however, states that He preached to those who had been far from God. He did not do this in person, as it is evident that ordinary speakers continue the preaching of the Gospel, carried out by ministers appointed by God and Jesus Christ. Yet, despite this, he says that it was Christ Himself who preached. This is to emphasise the need for us to hold the Gospel in the highest reverence, regarding it as the truth authorised by God. Each of us should submit to it without doubt or dispute. If we have any doubts about it, we should not expect Jesus Christ to confirm it. Therefore, we must be certain of it. As we have seen in the first chapter, God's promises must be sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is referred to as the pledge of the life we hope for and the very seal God impresses upon us. This is to give us full certainty in our faith. We see Paul emphasising this in this text, stating that Jesus Christ, raised from the dead and having fulfilled the command of God, His Father, was our Redeemer and the one who delivered the same message to us. He did not preach it just once but continuously, so much so that His mouth will remain open to testify to us that in Him, we will undoubtedly find everything we need for eternal life.

We should be deeply moved when we hear these words. It is true that the Son of God does not physically move from place to place or walk among us in a visible form. There is no need for this. However, the doctrine preached in His name should have the same authority as if He were speaking to us directly. He said, "He who hears you hears Me," and "He who receives you receives Me." When we believe the Gospel, God the Father is honoured. Conversely, it is a great dishonour and reproach to Him when the things that are so firmly attested are doubted. The Pope and his clergy often use this argument to maintain their tyranny. However, our Lord Jesus Christ intended to assure us of the message of the forgiveness of our sins, which would be continually heard, even if we were lacking faith. We would always be plagued by doubts if we were not completely convinced that everything in the Gospel is confirmed by Jesus Christ, who is the infallible truth itself. So, even though our Lord Jesus Christ abides in His heavenly glory, and we are physically separated from Him, and it may seem strange to say that He dwells within us, we must be entirely certain that when the pure doctrine of the Gospel is preached, it is as if He Himself is speaking to us and is among us. In short, our faith must be directed towards Him as its true goal and anchor. Since God the Father has sent Him as a faithful witness, we must accept everything that is truly taught in His name without objection. Moreover, we are strengthened in true constancy of faith by this knowledge and armed against all the attacks and threats that Satan may pose.

It is a great shame for us when we are deaf to the preaching of the Gospel or disregard it as though it were a mere tale or of no value, leaving it hanging in the air without giving it due regard. And yet, despite all this, most people today either despise the gospel or are so misguided that they consider it insignificant. Some, having heard sermons or attended lectures, may say, "It is possible that this may be true, but as for me, I am not well-versed in theology, so I will leave it be." Others may declare, "I'll stick to the faith of my ancestors; it's too risky to change." Some argue, "This is a new doctrine we've never heard before." And there are those who, dissatisfied with mere indifference, openly oppose it. They might even go as far as to wish to dethrone God and resort to shedding innocent blood to erase the memory of the gospel. However, we should understand that when the message of our salvation is presented to us, if we despise it, we are not just rejecting a benefit brought to us by a mortal creature, but also closing the gate against God's Son, who came to seek our salvation.

To motivate us to overcome our lethargy and confront the stubbornness that could hinder our full and obedient acceptance of the gospel, we must recognise that the preaching of the gospel is not a random occurrence. It is not something that people do of their own accord, as St. Paul tells the Romans. Instead, God Himself visits us, comes to us, and our Lord Jesus Christ carries out the duty of a shepherd, calling us to Him with His own voice. Even though we may have strayed in various directions, His intention is to gather us back into His flock. When this is firmly impressed upon our hearts, we will be better prepared not only to receive the doctrine of the gospel with humility but also to be filled with zeal and enthusiasm. We will consider God's word to be as sweet as honey, more precious than all gold and silver. This is because, even in His glory, the Son of God makes us hear His voice. This is not some distant or fading sound in the air or something about which we have no certain knowledge. Rather, it is as if He comes to us and preaches to us Himself. Therefore, as He has done this through the authority and commission given to His apostles, we should receive it for His sake, as I mentioned earlier.

Furthermore, St. Paul's intention here is to urge us to accept the gospel not only because of the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ but also because of what is contained in the gospel itself. It is a message of peace. Let us consider what it means to be at war with the One who created and formed us. If we have an enemy in this world, even if they are weak and have little credibility, we still fear that they may plot against us or seek revenge by force. We would always be restless as long as we have enemies in this world. How much more foolish are we if we fall asleep when God shows Himself against us, armed to take vengeance because of our sins? If we truly understood what it means to be at odds with God, we would recognise the immense benefit of having peace and reconciliation with Him. This peace is offered to us through the gospel, and it should kindle within us a fervent zeal to embrace it wholeheartedly and to devote our entire minds to it.

Considering our own apathy and laziness, let us reflect on this statement even more. First, we must understand that the Son of God is willing to teach us and be our instructor if we are willing to be His students. Second, we have a doctrine that is more desirable than all the pleasures, honours, and riches of the world. It is the assurance of being at peace with God, knowing His favour towards us, and having access to Him as His children. We must also note that St. Paul intended to clarify what true peace is because many people believe they are at ease when, in fact, they have no peace with God. Some are puffed up with arrogant self-righteousness, such as the monks and friars under the Pope, who convince themselves that they have earned God's favour to the point where they believe there is no fault in them. Those who build their confidence on their own virtues and good deeds think God owes them, and they may easily be lulled to sleep by the foolish self-assurance Satan has bessotted them with.

And that is because they do not seek God but have fashioned an idol in their own minds. In all honesty, what they offer to God is trivial, like toys and baggage for infants. These hypocrites engage in various religious practices —sprinkling holy water, making the sign of the cross, fasting on certain days, embarking on pilgrimages, abstaining from meat on specific occasions, performing prescribed postures, lighting candles for saints, attending numerous masses, and reciting numerous prayers. When you gather all these practices together, it becomes evident that they are merely indulging in the dregs and filthiness of superstition. Yet, to their perception, God is well-pleased with them, as if He were an idol or a little child. As mentioned earlier, none of these hypocrites, puffed up with presumption, can truly find peace with God. This is because they do not direct their attention towards God but rather gaze askew. Although they pretend to approach God, their offering of themselves is not done with sincerity and a wholehearted spirit. They deceive themselves with their empty flattery.

There are also those who scoff when told about their salvation, saying, "It is enough if we can manage a single heartfelt sigh." Yet, they do not cease to revel and be merry. Why should we spend our entire lives in such folly that brings us no good? Therefore, they revel and indulge themselves in various ways, each according to their own preferences, as they hasten towards their own destruction. They have a thousand ways to ruin themselves, all of which conspire against God as much as possible. There have always been, and still are, too many who lull their consciences to sleep. St. Paul, in this passage, as in Romans chapter five, outhnes the true peace, which is that when we come before God, we must present ourselves before His majesty with the assurance that He will have compassion on us and not charge us with our sins but receive us as His own children.

Now, if we intend to experience this spiritual peace that surpasses all worldly goods, we must learn to wage war against ourselves. How is this done? First, we must recognise that we are damned and forsaken, with no hope of rescue unless we are saved through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are stripped of all self-trust in our own merits and realise that we are empty and utterly naked, we must approach God like poor beggars. This is the necessary attitude to obtain true peace. Along the way, we should not think that being sluggish will gain us anything. Since we have no set time appointed for us, we should summon ourselves before God morning and evening, examine our sins thoroughly, and be both sorry and ashamed of them. Once we have learned to wage war against our own vices and do so earnestly, without hypocrisy or pretence, we are on the path to the peace proclaimed and preached to us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel.

That is why St. Paul specifically states that through Him, we have access to the Father. In other words, unbelievers, heathen worldlings, God-mockers, and those who do not think about their eternal salvation cannot taste the value of the peace offered by the gospel or comprehend how precious and desirable it is. This is because they place too many obstacles in their own path, preventing them from experiencing God's justice and fearing their own sins. In short, they deliberately intoxicate themselves, so their consciences become numb, and they convince themselves that they lack understanding, behaving like brute beasts. But when we realise that our well-being depends on our ability to turn to God for help and that we can confidently approach Him, we will forget all other concerns and yearn to be united with our Lord Jesus Christ. We will long for God to accept us and call upon Him with unwavering trust in our time of need. We will rest upon the love He has for us, knowing that whatever is offered to us in the gospel is as if God Himself has spoken to us.

Now, St. Paul, having spoken of the gospel being preached, emphasizes the importance of being united in one spirit. Although the gospel is proclaimed, many stubborn individuals and others are so engrossed in this world that they regard heavenly life no more highly than dogs and swine. Yet there are others who remain ensnared in their hypocrisy. Even though God calls and sweetly allures us to Him through His Son, the number of those who truly come to God is quite small. For this reason, St. Paul says that we must possess God's Spirit. It is certain that by nature, we are fickle. Not only does each of us have our own opinions, but we also change every minute of every hour. Because of this, we are far from being in agreement, and none of us maintains a steady opinion from morning to night unless we are led by God. Therefore, when we hear the gospel preached, it is essential that we have God's Spirit to guide and govern us so that we may wholeheartedly embrace our Lord Jesus Christ and gain access to the Father.

It is important to remember that when our Lord Jesus Christ calls us through His ministers, as St. Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians, we should be eager to come to Him and run towards Him with all our might. Even when we have done our best, we will not be able to reach Him unless His Spirit guides us. Therefore, we must pray to God to touch us with His Holy Spirit and enable us to approach Him, as mentioned in Romans and Galatians. St. Paul distinguishes between God's children and the reprobate, stating that those with the Spirit of adoption can cry out, "Abba, Father." We, in and of ourselves, are too weak and feeble to call God our Father. Only when God has sealed the truth of His gospel within us through His Holy Spirit and enlightened us internally, allowing us to recognize that it is He who speaks, will we be able to freely and confidently proclaim Him as our Father. In essence, we must remember not to rely on our own understanding when the gospel is preached to us, but instead, considering our own ignorance and frailty, we must allow ourselves to be guided by God's Spirit. This Spirit is the primary key to opening the gate to Paradise.

Additionally, we must be cleansed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, as mentioned in 1 Timothy. The apostle in Hebrews also states that Jesus Christ was offered up in the Spirit. This means that His sacrifice, which secured our righteousness, would be in vain if the Holy Spirit did not empower it. Continuing with the topic that has been discussed here, St. Paul reiterates that both those who were far off and those who were near heard the same message. This message is also relevant to us today, confirming and strengthening us in our faith. As I mentioned earlier, the Jews, who had some familiarity with God through the Law, which He gave them and by acknowledging them as His chosen people, were not fully united with Him until their sins were forgiven through Jesus Christ. The Law could only bring them fear, anguish, and curses, as stated by St. Paul in Romans and 2 Corinthians. Therefore, the gospel needed to be added to the Law. Although the Old Testament faithful, including David, the holy prophets, and the kings, did not have the gospel as clearly as we do, God revealed to them the essence of salvation—that He, out of His goodness, received them in mercy for the sake of the Redeemer in whom they trusted. If the Law were separated from the gospel, it would not profit anyone but instead serve to condemn and terrify. True peace is found in the Gospel, and it was necessary for the Jews to partake of this doctrine. As for us, the Gentiles, as I mentioned earlier, we should all the more recognise the dual bond that binds us to God. He graciously made us partakers with His chosen people, bringing us, who were like those born out of time, into the company of those He selected and adopted. This fulfills the prophecies, as we are now able to glorify God together with His own people, both Gentiles and Jews, as foretold by the Holy Spirit. This unity and harmony is revealed when we are gathered together from our scattered state, as we have discussed previously. St. Paul's purpose in saying that the gospel was preached to all people, whether near or far, is to emphasize that we must have unwavering faith and not remain undecided and sceptical, as mentioned in Romans.

If we did not know that the preaching of the Gospel comes from God's authority and unchangeable decree, it would not be appropriate for individuals to present themselves unless God has sent them. In the past, God has taught the world not only through preaching or writing but also through the mere existence of the world itself. Therefore, it is evident that God's grace has been extended to all nations, making it known that He will be their Father. In light of this, the Jews needed to recognise the great necessity of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. They should not be deceived by relying on their birthright, circumcision, or any of the shadows of the law. Instead, they should turn to the only means I have previously discussed: that God receives them in mercy for the sake of the eternal sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ. Likewise, we should magnify God's goodness, as He has allowed us to be a part of His household and church despite our prior exclusion and banishment. We must be careful not to let this blessing slip away due to ingratitude. We have no excuse if we do not eagerly and earnestly run to Him with our hearts, demonstrating that we understand all our well-being, joy, happiness, and glory are only achievable through His free goodness.

Furthermore, if we reject this peace, we must be wary that Jesus Christ may change His message. The gospel does not always bring damnation to those who do not conform to God's will. The Scriptures speak of both binding and loosing, as our Lord Jesus Christ intended to illustrate that the nature and duty of the gospel is to release us from the bondage and imprisonment in which we are held until He sets us free. He has declared this in the Gospel of John. However, there are bonds prepared for those who do not accept Him as their Redeemer or allow Him to free them. This is what He means when He says, "Whose sins you release, they are released unto them, and whose sins you withhold, they are withheld." Therefore, when we preach the gospel, our primary task is to proclaim the message of reconciliation, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians. We must continually declare that God, in the person of His Son, has been reconciled with us, accepting us to be cleansed from all our impurities and counted as righteous before Him. We are unbound, captives set free, and those once engulfed in the darkness of death brought back to the light of life.

On the other hand, we are also commissioned to withhold forgiveness from sins by warning those who despise God's Word of His dreadful wrath. We must inform them that when they disregard the doctrine they have heard, it will become ropes and fetters to bind them. Simple, in another place, expressly states that we have vengeance prepared for all who oppose our doctrine, even if they hold the highest positions in the world. If they raise their defenses against God and disdain Him, they will not escape the threatened damnation, especially when the faithful have fulfilled their duty.

Indeed, when an enemy calls upon others, there is trembling for fear that they may find no mercy if reasonable conditions are refused. What, then, shall be done when God not only calls us to surrender ourselves to Him but also offers Himself to us, desiring us to possess Him and all His blessings in the person of Jesus Christ? What will become of us if we reject such grace when He shows such kindness towards us? Should we not expect terrible damnation to fall upon such villainous pride and scornful rejection? When people refuse to receive Him, even Him who procured not only their salvation but also created and sustains them, what punishment should they expect?

Therefore, let us learn to pay close attention to this doctrine which has been expounded, so that we do not further provoke God, nor make our bread vain and our food deadly poison. We must be truly enlivened by the grace that God offers us daily. For this reason, Paul concludes that those who were touched by God's Spirit obeyed the gospel with simplicity and substance. They are no longer strangers but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. This is so that God's name may be glorified as it deserves, and that we may not treat Him lightly as we are often wont to do.

Before the gospel was preached, the Gentiles were without hope of salvation, cut off from God's favour, without promises, without God in the world. They lived in the world, received sustenance, and enjoyed the light of the sun, yet they were without God. The same is true for all unbelievers. Therefore, when God makes us understand the incomparable good that He has given us by placing us among the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all the faithful, we must go even further and realise that He has made us fellow citizens with the angels of heaven. Many would labour greatly for earthly citizenships, free dinners, or town privileges, even though these are temporary. What is this life but a fleeting shadow that quickly disappears? God invites us not only to sojourn in His church as strangers but also assures us that He has accepted us as His children. With true trust, we can boldly call Him our Father and harmonise our voices with all the saints. This is what we must remember.

Though we may not fully experience it yet, by faith, we can walk through this life as strangers to the world, knowing that God will not forsake His children and heirs. Even though we are wrapped in many vices and imperfections, all the saints in heaven acknowledge us as their brethren and embrace us for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and praying that we may feel them deeply and desire to be more like the saints. On the other hand, let us focus on the infinite grace extended to us by God, who calls us to Him. May we not be spiteful, foolish, or blind to His call, but obediently yield to the doctrine He sets before us. Let this doctrine be our life, our well-being, and our salvation, pulling us away from the wicked desires of the world and the deceitful affections that lead us astray from Him. In this way, we can grow in His fear and love, being conformed to His image, until we attain His heavenly glory. He calls us to this, and may He grant this grace not only to us but also to all people, and so forth.