In the beginning, man's access to God was beautiful and pleasant as the sound of God walked in the Garden of Eden. But that access was broken when man sinned and was driven from the garden. In that state, sinners are unable to reach the holy God. However, sinners find access to God once again through Jesus Christ. (cf. Genesis 3:8,24; Isaiah 59:1,2; I Timothy 2:5).
Having introduced the mediation of Christ (I Timothy 2:5), we note that He is the only Way to come to God. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
That way of access to God has been made possible through much suffering, and finally the death of Jesus. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" (I Peter 3:18). The High Priest has made possible even a boldness in the access we have to God. "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19).
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesian church, wrote: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. . .But now in Christ Jesus you who once were fare off have been made near by the blood of Christ" (1:7 & 2:13). That nearness that was lost when man sinned has been revived, not by any merit of man, but by the shedding of the blood of the Hold Christ.
For many centuries, God favored the nation of Israel, but by the sacrifice of His Son has opened access to both Jews and Gentiles through the Holy Spirit. "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:1;8).
Our access is by faith, first that of our Lord, and then ours as well. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1,2).
Thank God that access has been restored.
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Most recent revision Tuesday, September 09, 1997