Through the work of Jesus, we have access to God the Father! Without the cross, without the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, there is an un-crossable chasm between us and God. BUT… through Jesus, that gap has been closed, and the way has been made for us to “go to God”. To go to God with our hurts, with our needs, with our struggles, with our pain, and with our praise.
Because we are broken and sinful human beings, we MUST go through the way that Jesus made for us. There is no other way to approach God. We don’t go to a priest on our behalf, we don’t ask the pastor to do it for us, we don’t have to clean ourselves up and be perfect, but through Christ and his work we are able to go to God in prayer. Here are some biblical realities of what we have in prayer through what Christ has done and what his death and resurrection have opened the door for:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19–23)
He intercedes for us now. He appeals for us, goes to God the father on our behalf.
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).
He is our advocate with God the Father. Our sin has been placed on the shoulders of him who beat sin and death.
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
(1 John 2:1).
He is our High Priest before the throne of God. He is not only a High Priest who approaches God on our behalf, but one who can empathize with us, therefore we can approach God, through Christ with a confident spirit.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15–16).
Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Jesus is not a barrier between us and God, but a bridge. Because of his sacrifice, through his substitutionary atonement, through his perfection being laid down, through his full humanity and full deity, we can confidently approach God in prayer. This truth should instill in us encouragement that our prayers are heard, and our cares are cared for by the one who holds it all. In Jesus name.
Because we are broken and sinful human beings, we MUST go through the way that Jesus made for us. There is no other way to approach God. We don’t go to a priest on our behalf, we don’t ask the pastor to do it for us, we don’t have to clean ourselves up and be perfect, but through Christ and his work we are able to go to God in prayer. Here are some biblical realities of what we have in prayer through what Christ has done and what his death and resurrection have opened the door for:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19–23)
He intercedes for us now. He appeals for us, goes to God the father on our behalf.
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).
He is our advocate with God the Father. Our sin has been placed on the shoulders of him who beat sin and death.
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
(1 John 2:1).
He is our High Priest before the throne of God. He is not only a High Priest who approaches God on our behalf, but one who can empathize with us, therefore we can approach God, through Christ with a confident spirit.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15–16).
Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Jesus is not a barrier between us and God, but a bridge. Because of his sacrifice, through his substitutionary atonement, through his perfection being laid down, through his full humanity and full deity, we can confidently approach God in prayer. This truth should instill in us encouragement that our prayers are heard, and our cares are cared for by the one who holds it all. In Jesus name.