Approaching A Holy God

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:19-23

What is your image of God, the Father? You know, the Father God who so loved the world. For many, their thinking about God is shaded by their experience with their earthly father. Some adjectives with a negative connotation that I have heard over the years are absent, passive, dismissive, strict, abusive, loving, distant, and unapproachable.  A local politician, raised in a single parent family says he doesn't want to talk about the father who wasn't there but the mother who was. That is understandable and perhaps laudable, but willful absence on the father's part is inexcusable - it is contrary to God's intent for family. Children should have both a father and a mother present. There is little difference between a single mother and a widow. The only difference is the manner in which the father left the home. 

God, the Father, is a loving God and, at the same time, is a Holy God. Because we were sons and daughters of Adam by natural birth, at the moment we breathed our first breath we were denied access to the presence of God. For the people of Israel, being in the presence of God was represented by limited access to the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The place where the Ark of the Covenant rested. Where the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement was made. Accessible only by the high priest. When we are born again by the Spirit, we are granted access into God's presence by the sacrifice of Jesus - the shedding of His blood for our sins - Jesus who is our eternal high priest and who is forever making eternal intercession for us, 24-7-365 throughout eternity. Access to the Father through Jesus is not a one and done thing. It is every day for eternity. We will always need Jesus to intercede for us to have access to the Father.

"I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me." - John 14:6

We are sealed by the Spirit of God on the day of our salvation for eternity. One second spiritually dead - the next spiritually alive - by the Spirit of God. 

"In him [Jesus] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14

When Jesus said "Ask in His name", he was saying that we have no authority to ask anything of the Father apart from the access given by faith in Jesus.

"Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." - John 16:24

I often hear people pray to Jesus - even to the Holy Spirit - as if they cannot or should not address God the Father - but we can and should pray to the Father because of Jesus and the Spirit, by faith. As we pray, Jesus is making intercession for us and the Spirit is praying things that are too hard for us to pray.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." - Romans 8:26-27

It is actually quite amazing - or as a friend would day - it is Him- mazing. Our new life is all about Jesus and all about grace. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone