All hope is not lost! There is a way back to God from the depths of the sinful lives that man has experienced for many centuries. "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). There is hope!
We concluded out discussion of this subject in article 2 by presenting the fact that our access is by faith in our Lord. We have strong, confident access through faith in Christ. "...in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (Ephesians 3:12).
Having such confidence, Christians should draw near to God in their prayers, through Christ. We ask the Father in the name of Christ. "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:23,24).
Such does not mean that we will not, or can not, sin again. But it does mean that if we sin, Christ, our Advocate, intercedes with the Father for us. John, having stated that we must not think, or state, that we have not sinned, gives this further assurance. "My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" ( John 2:1).
When we are tempted, we have Christ. "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17,18).
We draw near to God with confidence because of our Great High Priest. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest. . .Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16). ". . .and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:21,22).
While sin separates us from God, Christ acts as a Mediator to bring us back into the access process.
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Most recent revision Tuesday, September 09, 1997