For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Through Christ both groups, those once far off and those who were near, Jews and Gentiles, have access to the Father by one Spirit. He opened that way by His blood and cross, breaking down the middle wall of partition, abolishing the enmity, making of two one new man and reconciling both to God in one body. That access is free and open to every soul without distinction of nation, race, rank, creed, caste or social status, because sin had separated humanity from God and Gentiles as well as Jews are made fellow heirs with equal standing. Those who come are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the chief cornerstone into a holy temple for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This access is received by grace through faith and exercised in prayer, coming boldly to the loving heavenly Father for mercy and grace, and it joins all who believe in one brotherhood with no wall between person and fellow in unity, love and good works.
Both Given Access
Through Christ both groups have access to the Father by one Spirit. The two are those once far from God and those who were near, that is Jews and Gentiles reconciled to God through Christ. His death brings peace and unites them as one people in God's household, so they are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Joined together they become a spiritual building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone, like a temple resting its whole weight on its foundation, fitly framed together growing into a holy temple in the Lord and built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This oneness is an instructive lesson for those not working in harmony, calling them to individual dependence upon Christ and unity between members.
That access is free and open to every soul without distinction. People of every nation, race, rank, creed, caste, and social condition may come to the Father by the Holy Spirit through Christ, with Gentiles as well as Jews sharing the promises as fellow heirs with equal standing in God's plan. Christ removes the divisions that kept people apart and brings them near through His blood, breaking down every wall of partition and throwing open every compartment in the temple of His creation so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God. His blessing is as universal as light and the message He brought from the Father was for the ears of the whole world, for there are no boundaries to God's grace and the Lord will have mercy on those who seek Him with contrition of soul. All belong to one family by creation and are united through redemption, in which Jew and Greek, bond and free, are one in a common brotherhood equal before God, and Christ's love reaches everywhere to rescue those deceived by Satan and bring them within reach of God's throne. Loving service across religious differences can break down prejudice and help lead people to God, so every soul should yoke up with Christ to reach souls of every caste and every nation, hanging the helpless soul upon Jesus Christ and drawing every soul to Him.
Access was needed because sin separated humanity from God. Through Christ people who were separated by sin can approach the Father, for He is the mediator and great High Priest who pleads for fallen people and the way between earth and heaven joining them and making a way for the redeemed to come to God. Through Him they present their case to the Father, and even when a person sins the case is not hopeless because He is an advocate. Accepting Christ joins finite humanity to God and begins the way to true exaltation and readiness for heaven, with access through His righteousness and the crediting of that righteousness to believers.
How Access Was Opened
Access comes by the blood of Christ and the cross, for He is peace, has broken down the middle wall of partition, has abolished the enmity, has made of two one new man, has brought the far off near, has preached peace to both, and has reconciled both unto God in one body. Through His death both those once far from God and those who were near have access to the Father by the one Spirit, and are united as one people in God's household rather than remaining strangers and foreigners. This shared access gives Gentiles as well as Jews a part in the promises of God with equal standing in His plan, as fellow heirs with Israel.
The separation He broke through was built by Jewish pride and prejudice that kept sympathy from the heathen, and was pictured in the temple barrier that admitted Gentiles to the outer court but barred them from the inner enclosure. He came to break down every wall of partition and to throw open every compartment, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God. In doing so He removes divisions of nationality, rank, and creed and makes mercy and love available to all, with blessing as universal as light and a message for the ears of the whole world.
He is the mediator and great High Priest who pleads for fallen people, the advocate and the way between earth and heaven joining them together. Through Him the separation caused by sin can be overcome, for people present their case to the Father through Him and receive a way for the redeemed to come to God. Even when a person sins the case is not hopeless, because Christ advocates for them and His righteousness opens the approach.
The way is provided by the sacrifice of the Son of God, which gives humanity a second probation and a way to escape the bondage of sin, since people cannot overcome by their own strength. Through Jesus Christ every obstruction between people and God is removed and access is secured, and He is the only hope through His name. In this access sins are laid upon Christ and His righteousness is credited to believers, so that they are made righteous in Him and accepted in the Beloved. God welcomes them to pardoning love, forgiving sin and imputing Christ's righteousness while remaining just, a pardon that does not excuse continued transgression but enables a life of obedience rather than continued sin.
One Spirit to Father
Through Christ all have approach to the Father by one Spirit, that is the one Holy Spirit. Through his merits believers may come confidently before God to ask for the riches of his grace. This access is open to every soul without distinction, to people of every nation, race, and social group, for Christ removes the barriers that separate people and brings them near to God through his blood.
The goal of this access is the Father. Through the Son people can look to God and call him Father. God is the Father of Jesus and of the whole human family, and relationship with him calls for the highest regard.
The gospel was designed to make all who embrace it children of God and members of one family. Rightly received and rightly understood it gives them free access to God as their Father and leads them to love one another as brethren. In Christ they are bound up with Christ in God, adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God and given every advantage of his power and redeeming love. Pure religion therefore leaves no room for proud, partial, exclusive favoring of a few, but gives sympathy for lowly and suffering humanity of all classes, making all human elements one in him with no wall of separation between a person and his fellow. This access removes self-centeredness, produces unselfish love for one another, and allows nothing to bring in contention and strife.
Household and Temple
Those given access through Christ are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. They are subjects of the kingdom of heaven, enrolled as citizens of the heavenly country. This citizenship belongs to both groups together, Jews and Gentiles, those once far off and those once near, joined as one spiritual building and dwelling place for God through the Spirit.
They are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone uniting all parts. Like a temple resting its whole weight on its foundation, the whole structure depends on Him. Christ is to be all and in all, and no person is the head or foundation.
In Him the whole building fitly framed together grows into a holy temple in the Lord and is built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This building fulfills God's purpose for what each person may become. Believers themselves are the temple of the living God, with Christ dwelling in the cleansed heart by faith to ennoble and sanctify the whole nature, so even the most splendid outward temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right.
Like different materials in a building, every human being consecrated to Christ has an appointed place and is connected with others to make the church a perfect whole. Large timbers and smaller material are each fully essential and none is to be ignored. Self and selfish customs, habits, and thoughts wrestle for mastery and must be overcome, for the symmetry of the building as the Master Builder designs requires every part to fill its appointed place, united together in peace to make a complete whole fitted to the places designed by the great Master Artist.
Grace, Faith, and Prayer
Ephesians 2:18 stands within teaching about salvation by grace through faith, not of self but the gift of God, and about Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. That indwelling means keeping Him in view, contemplating and beholding Him, and ever cherishing the dear Saviour as the very best and honored Friend, so that no action grieves or offends Him. It is given as comfort for a depressed spirit and is full of instruction to be read carefully as never before.
The hellish shadow of Satan will always be cast athwart the pathway to obstruct faith and eclipse the light from the presence of Jesus the Sun of Righteousness. Faith must therefore not stagger but cleave through that shadow, buried not in darkness of doubt and resting not in feeling but in truth. Being rooted and grounded in love means being able to comprehend with all saints the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of God which passes knowledge, with precious possibilities and encouragement. In the human heart cleansed from all moral impurity dwells the precious Saviour, ennobling and sanctifying the whole nature and making the man a temple for the Holy Spirit.
Access is access in prayer, the privilege of committing every trial and temptation, sorrow and disappointment to the loving heavenly Father and making God the confidant. Through Christ's merits believers may come confidently, even boldly, before God to ask for the riches of His grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Christ Himself felt the need of prayer and strengthened His humanity by daily communion with God for energy, perseverance, and steadfastness, showing where strength lies. Without this daily communion no one can gain power for service or avoid falling prey to the enemy.
The verse teaches individual dependence upon Christ and entire dependence upon His merits, with unity between members. Human beings are nothing in themselves, and Christ is all and in all, the Source and source of strength. By relying wholly upon His merits and uniting human ignorance to His wisdom, weakness to His strength, imperfection to His merits, and frailty to His enduring might, believers have access to the heavenly Father and are thus closely connected with heaven. That gift calls for deeper and higher attainments in the divine life, hungering and thirsting for righteousness and growing in love for Jesus beyond faint and inconsistent love.
This access belongs to close spiritual union formed by personal faith, complete reliance and consecration, and surrender of the will to God. It comes through communion with the living God as a living, active principle, which applies to believers associated together in God's work. In that communion believers receive grace from Christ and are joined to God, with sins laid on Him and His righteousness credited to them so they are accepted. Accepting Christ thus joins finite humanity to God and begins the way to true exaltation and readiness for heaven, so that even when a person sins the case is not hopeless.
Unity, Love, and Mission
Through Christ both those far off and those near have access by one Spirit to the Father, and this is given as a direct lesson to those not working in harmony, calling them to oneness. That oneness comes because He is peace, breaking down the middle wall of partition, abolishing the enmity, making of two one new man, and reconciling both to God in one body by the blood and the cross, so that those who share this access are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit. True peace is established through Christ, and the Holy Spirit works to bring unity and love between divided parties who were at odds, replacing dissension with peace and unity as the work of God and cause for thankfulness to the heavenly Father. The members of the church joined together in Christ as a holy temple are therefore to work together in unity and peace.
This shared access joins people across racial and social divisions in one brotherhood equal in God's sight, with no wall of separation between a person and his fellow. Through Christ people of every nation, race, and social group have free access to God by one Spirit, without distinction of nationality, race, rank, creed, caste, or social status, for all belong to one family by creation and are united through redemption, in which Jew and Greek, bond and free, are one. Christ removes the divisions that kept people apart and brings them near through His blood, throwing open every compartment as pictured by the temple and opening the way to God for every soul. Pure religion leaves no room for proud, partial, exclusive favoring of a few, but gives sympathy for lowly and suffering humanity of all classes, binding men to Himself, to God, and to one another and making all human elements one in Him. Through the Spirit's power they can live lives rich in good works, and loving service across religious differences can break down prejudice and help lead people to God, for Christ's love reaches everywhere to rescue those deceived and bring them within reach of God's throne.
Drawing near to God brings the tempted soul into awareness of Jesus' nearness, so that troubles that seemed unbearable vanish. God meets with His people and gives them access to Himself, and believers themselves are the temple of the living God, so that even the most splendid temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right. The greatest anxiety must therefore be over spiritual condition, reverence must be taught in worship, and children must be educated that God meets with His people and have their thoughts directed heavenward.
Those who have been quickened from death in trespasses and sins and made fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as chief cornerstone and fitly framed together growing into a holy temple in the Lord, must do the same work for other souls still dead in sins. This means making personal effort in the name of Jesus to bring those around them to a knowledge of the truth. Since Christ came to break down every wall of partition and throw open every compartment, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God with blessing as universal as light and a message for the ears of the whole world, every soul should yoke up with Christ to reach souls of every caste and every nation, hanging the helpless soul upon Jesus Christ and drawing every soul to Him. The gospel was designed to make all who embrace it children of God and members of one family, giving them free access to God as their Father and leading them to love one another as brethren, and when rightly received and understood it removes self-centeredness, produces unselfish love for one another, and allows nothing to bring in contention and strife.
Enrollment as fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the apostles and prophets with Christ as chief cornerstone into a holy temple and dwelling place of God, gives the privilege to claim the rights of subjects of the kingdom of heaven. It requires behavior the gospel can approve, separate from the world, without strife, selfishness, impurity, or dishonesty, standing fast in one spirit and striving together for the faith of the gospel. This access through Jesus, by which both Jews and Gentiles can draw near to God the Father by the one Spirit, is the basis for believers' union with Christ and with one another.
Through Christ both groups, those once far off and those who were near, Jews and Gentiles, have access to the Father by one Spirit. He opened that way by His blood and cross, breaking down the middle wall of partition, abolishing the enmity, making of two one new man and reconciling both to God in one body. That access is free and open to every soul without distinction of nation, race, rank, creed, caste or social status, because sin had separated humanity from God and Gentiles as well as Jews are made fellow heirs with equal standing. Those who come are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the chief cornerstone into a holy temple for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This access is received by grace through faith and exercised in prayer, coming boldly to the loving heavenly Father for mercy and grace, and it joins all who believe in one brotherhood with no wall between person and fellow in unity, love and good works.
Both Given Access
Through Christ both groups have access to the Father by one Spirit. The two are those once far from God and those who were near, that is Jews and Gentiles reconciled to God through Christ. His death brings peace and unites them as one people in God's household, so they are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Joined together they become a spiritual building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone, like a temple resting its whole weight on its foundation, fitly framed together growing into a holy temple in the Lord and built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This oneness is an instructive lesson for those not working in harmony, calling them to individual dependence upon Christ and unity between members.
That access is free and open to every soul without distinction. People of every nation, race, rank, creed, caste, and social condition may come to the Father by the Holy Spirit through Christ, with Gentiles as well as Jews sharing the promises as fellow heirs with equal standing in God's plan. Christ removes the divisions that kept people apart and brings them near through His blood, breaking down every wall of partition and throwing open every compartment in the temple of His creation so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God. His blessing is as universal as light and the message He brought from the Father was for the ears of the whole world, for there are no boundaries to God's grace and the Lord will have mercy on those who seek Him with contrition of soul. All belong to one family by creation and are united through redemption, in which Jew and Greek, bond and free, are one in a common brotherhood equal before God, and Christ's love reaches everywhere to rescue those deceived by Satan and bring them within reach of God's throne. Loving service across religious differences can break down prejudice and help lead people to God, so every soul should yoke up with Christ to reach souls of every caste and every nation, hanging the helpless soul upon Jesus Christ and drawing every soul to Him.
Access was needed because sin separated humanity from God. Through Christ people who were separated by sin can approach the Father, for He is the mediator and great High Priest who pleads for fallen people and the way between earth and heaven joining them and making a way for the redeemed to come to God. Through Him they present their case to the Father, and even when a person sins the case is not hopeless because He is an advocate. Accepting Christ joins finite humanity to God and begins the way to true exaltation and readiness for heaven, with access through His righteousness and the crediting of that righteousness to believers.
How Access Was Opened
Access comes by the blood of Christ and the cross, for He is peace, has broken down the middle wall of partition, has abolished the enmity, has made of two one new man, has brought the far off near, has preached peace to both, and has reconciled both unto God in one body. Through His death both those once far from God and those who were near have access to the Father by the one Spirit, and are united as one people in God's household rather than remaining strangers and foreigners. This shared access gives Gentiles as well as Jews a part in the promises of God with equal standing in His plan, as fellow heirs with Israel.
The separation He broke through was built by Jewish pride and prejudice that kept sympathy from the heathen, and was pictured in the temple barrier that admitted Gentiles to the outer court but barred them from the inner enclosure. He came to break down every wall of partition and to throw open every compartment, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God. In doing so He removes divisions of nationality, rank, and creed and makes mercy and love available to all, with blessing as universal as light and a message for the ears of the whole world.
He is the mediator and great High Priest who pleads for fallen people, the advocate and the way between earth and heaven joining them together. Through Him the separation caused by sin can be overcome, for people present their case to the Father through Him and receive a way for the redeemed to come to God. Even when a person sins the case is not hopeless, because Christ advocates for them and His righteousness opens the approach.
The way is provided by the sacrifice of the Son of God, which gives humanity a second probation and a way to escape the bondage of sin, since people cannot overcome by their own strength. Through Jesus Christ every obstruction between people and God is removed and access is secured, and He is the only hope through His name. In this access sins are laid upon Christ and His righteousness is credited to believers, so that they are made righteous in Him and accepted in the Beloved. God welcomes them to pardoning love, forgiving sin and imputing Christ's righteousness while remaining just, a pardon that does not excuse continued transgression but enables a life of obedience rather than continued sin.
One Spirit to Father
Through Christ all have approach to the Father by one Spirit, that is the one Holy Spirit. Through his merits believers may come confidently before God to ask for the riches of his grace. This access is open to every soul without distinction, to people of every nation, race, and social group, for Christ removes the barriers that separate people and brings them near to God through his blood.
The goal of this access is the Father. Through the Son people can look to God and call him Father. God is the Father of Jesus and of the whole human family, and relationship with him calls for the highest regard.
The gospel was designed to make all who embrace it children of God and members of one family. Rightly received and rightly understood it gives them free access to God as their Father and leads them to love one another as brethren. In Christ they are bound up with Christ in God, adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God and given every advantage of his power and redeeming love. Pure religion therefore leaves no room for proud, partial, exclusive favoring of a few, but gives sympathy for lowly and suffering humanity of all classes, making all human elements one in him with no wall of separation between a person and his fellow. This access removes self-centeredness, produces unselfish love for one another, and allows nothing to bring in contention and strife.
Household and Temple
Those given access through Christ are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. They are subjects of the kingdom of heaven, enrolled as citizens of the heavenly country. This citizenship belongs to both groups together, Jews and Gentiles, those once far off and those once near, joined as one spiritual building and dwelling place for God through the Spirit.
They are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone uniting all parts. Like a temple resting its whole weight on its foundation, the whole structure depends on Him. Christ is to be all and in all, and no person is the head or foundation.
In Him the whole building fitly framed together grows into a holy temple in the Lord and is built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This building fulfills God's purpose for what each person may become. Believers themselves are the temple of the living God, with Christ dwelling in the cleansed heart by faith to ennoble and sanctify the whole nature, so even the most splendid outward temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right.
Like different materials in a building, every human being consecrated to Christ has an appointed place and is connected with others to make the church a perfect whole. Large timbers and smaller material are each fully essential and none is to be ignored. Self and selfish customs, habits, and thoughts wrestle for mastery and must be overcome, for the symmetry of the building as the Master Builder designs requires every part to fill its appointed place, united together in peace to make a complete whole fitted to the places designed by the great Master Artist.
Grace, Faith, and Prayer
Ephesians 2:18 stands within teaching about salvation by grace through faith, not of self but the gift of God, and about Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. That indwelling means keeping Him in view, contemplating and beholding Him, and ever cherishing the dear Saviour as the very best and honored Friend, so that no action grieves or offends Him. It is given as comfort for a depressed spirit and is full of instruction to be read carefully as never before.
The hellish shadow of Satan will always be cast athwart the pathway to obstruct faith and eclipse the light from the presence of Jesus the Sun of Righteousness. Faith must therefore not stagger but cleave through that shadow, buried not in darkness of doubt and resting not in feeling but in truth. Being rooted and grounded in love means being able to comprehend with all saints the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of God which passes knowledge, with precious possibilities and encouragement. In the human heart cleansed from all moral impurity dwells the precious Saviour, ennobling and sanctifying the whole nature and making the man a temple for the Holy Spirit.
Access is access in prayer, the privilege of committing every trial and temptation, sorrow and disappointment to the loving heavenly Father and making God the confidant. Through Christ's merits believers may come confidently, even boldly, before God to ask for the riches of His grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Christ Himself felt the need of prayer and strengthened His humanity by daily communion with God for energy, perseverance, and steadfastness, showing where strength lies. Without this daily communion no one can gain power for service or avoid falling prey to the enemy.
The verse teaches individual dependence upon Christ and entire dependence upon His merits, with unity between members. Human beings are nothing in themselves, and Christ is all and in all, the Source and source of strength. By relying wholly upon His merits and uniting human ignorance to His wisdom, weakness to His strength, imperfection to His merits, and frailty to His enduring might, believers have access to the heavenly Father and are thus closely connected with heaven. That gift calls for deeper and higher attainments in the divine life, hungering and thirsting for righteousness and growing in love for Jesus beyond faint and inconsistent love.
This access belongs to close spiritual union formed by personal faith, complete reliance and consecration, and surrender of the will to God. It comes through communion with the living God as a living, active principle, which applies to believers associated together in God's work. In that communion believers receive grace from Christ and are joined to God, with sins laid on Him and His righteousness credited to them so they are accepted. Accepting Christ thus joins finite humanity to God and begins the way to true exaltation and readiness for heaven, so that even when a person sins the case is not hopeless.
Unity, Love, and Mission
Through Christ both those far off and those near have access by one Spirit to the Father, and this is given as a direct lesson to those not working in harmony, calling them to oneness. That oneness comes because He is peace, breaking down the middle wall of partition, abolishing the enmity, making of two one new man, and reconciling both to God in one body by the blood and the cross, so that those who share this access are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit. True peace is established through Christ, and the Holy Spirit works to bring unity and love between divided parties who were at odds, replacing dissension with peace and unity as the work of God and cause for thankfulness to the heavenly Father. The members of the church joined together in Christ as a holy temple are therefore to work together in unity and peace.
This shared access joins people across racial and social divisions in one brotherhood equal in God's sight, with no wall of separation between a person and his fellow. Through Christ people of every nation, race, and social group have free access to God by one Spirit, without distinction of nationality, race, rank, creed, caste, or social status, for all belong to one family by creation and are united through redemption, in which Jew and Greek, bond and free, are one. Christ removes the divisions that kept people apart and brings them near through His blood, throwing open every compartment as pictured by the temple and opening the way to God for every soul. Pure religion leaves no room for proud, partial, exclusive favoring of a few, but gives sympathy for lowly and suffering humanity of all classes, binding men to Himself, to God, and to one another and making all human elements one in Him. Through the Spirit's power they can live lives rich in good works, and loving service across religious differences can break down prejudice and help lead people to God, for Christ's love reaches everywhere to rescue those deceived and bring them within reach of God's throne.
Drawing near to God brings the tempted soul into awareness of Jesus' nearness, so that troubles that seemed unbearable vanish. God meets with His people and gives them access to Himself, and believers themselves are the temple of the living God, so that even the most splendid temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right. The greatest anxiety must therefore be over spiritual condition, reverence must be taught in worship, and children must be educated that God meets with His people and have their thoughts directed heavenward.
Those who have been quickened from death in trespasses and sins and made fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as chief cornerstone and fitly framed together growing into a holy temple in the Lord, must do the same work for other souls still dead in sins. This means making personal effort in the name of Jesus to bring those around them to a knowledge of the truth. Since Christ came to break down every wall of partition and throw open every compartment, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God with blessing as universal as light and a message for the ears of the whole world, every soul should yoke up with Christ to reach souls of every caste and every nation, hanging the helpless soul upon Jesus Christ and drawing every soul to Him. The gospel was designed to make all who embrace it children of God and members of one family, giving them free access to God as their Father and leading them to love one another as brethren, and when rightly received and understood it removes self-centeredness, produces unselfish love for one another, and allows nothing to bring in contention and strife.
Enrollment as fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the apostles and prophets with Christ as chief cornerstone into a holy temple and dwelling place of God, gives the privilege to claim the rights of subjects of the kingdom of heaven. It requires behavior the gospel can approve, separate from the world, without strife, selfishness, impurity, or dishonesty, standing fast in one spirit and striving together for the faith of the gospel. This access through Jesus, by which both Jews and Gentiles can draw near to God the Father by the one Spirit, is the basis for believers' union with Christ and with one another.