Access by One Spirit

Ephesians 2:18-22 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together grow unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom you also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 

‘Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.’ Ten works of Christ: He died for us (2:13). He became our peace (2:14). He made Jews and Gentiles one (2:14-16). He broke down the wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles (2:14-16). He abolished the law (2:15). He made peace between Jews and Gentiles (2:15-16). He reconciled men to God (2:16). He slew the enmity between Jews and Gentiles (2:15-16). He preached peace to all men (2:17). He made access to God for all (2:18).

‘Him’ – Another clear reference and proof of a Trinity of separate and distinct Persons in the Godhead (1Jn. 5:7).

‘Access’ [Greek: prosagoge] the privilege of entrance (3:12; Rom. 5:2).

‘No more strangers and foreigners’ – No longer strangers and foreigners [Greek: paroikos] sojourners (Acts 7:6, 29; 1Pet. 2:11), but citizens with equal rights with the saints and of all who are of God’s household (2:19; Php. 2:20).

‘Household’ [Greek: oikeios] the domestics.

‘Foundation’ [Greek: themelios] foundation on which to build. Jesus Christ is the true foundation (1Cor. 3:11). The apostles and prophets have also been made part of the foundation of Christianity. Others are built into the structure of the body of Christ. All of them are the temple of God and a habitation of God through the Holy Spirit.

‘Chief cornerstone’ [Greek: akrogoniaios] In Jerusalem this cornerstone was laid and there Christ suffered and died for the sins of the whole world (Matt. 23:37-39; Luke 13:33). There the Holy Spirit fell upon the first large group of Christians after the death of Christ took place (Acts 1:8; 2:1-8:1).

‘Fitly framed together’ [Greek: sunarmologeo] harmoniously fitted together (4:16).

‘Grow unto an holy temple in the Lord.’ Continually increasing by new converts.

‘Habitation’ [Greek: katoiketerion] a dwelling place. This does not mean that God has no personal body and the only bodies He ever has to manifest Himself through are those of saints. God has His own personal body. This simply refers to God’s manifestations of His own nature and attributes through multiplied outlets. Each saint becomes a reflection of God and acts for Him as God would act in the world if He were visibly present. God dwells in men only as they live in union with Him.