NEARNESS IN CHRIST

Eph 2:13

Morning Meditation 6/3/2014

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

There is nothing more desirable that to experience the nearness of Christ. This text deals with that issue.

WHAT WE WERE

We were “afar off.” That is where the Lord found us. The Pharisees thought they knew God and were close to Him. But Jesus made it plain that they were not saved. He told them if they knew the Father they would know Him as the Son.

John 8:21, "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come."

John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

John 8:40-42, "But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me."

WHERE WE ARE

Our text teaches that the saved are “in Christ.” 2 Cor. 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

All saved people are in Christ. Colossians 1:2, "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 3:24, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

What a comforting thought. We are in Christ and being in Christ we share His destiny. What security!!!

WHAT WE ENJOY

We are “Made nigh.” We are no longer “afar off.” We are near to Christ. Sometimes we feel that He is nowhere near. But He is. When all men forsake us He is there.

2 Timothy 4:16-17, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

WHEN DO THE TRUTHS OF THIS TEXT APPLY TO US

“But now in Christ Jesus.” The word “Now” means anywhere and under all circumstances. Isa.. 12:1 “And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.”

Heb 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”

HOW IS ALL THIS ATTAINED

We are “made nigh by the blood of Jesus Christ.” It is the blood of Christ that cleanses from all sin and makes us ready to receive the blessing of forgiveness and His nearness. 1 John 1:7-9, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

May the Lord bless this verse of Scripture to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White