Believers have “access” to God the Father through
the Holy Spirit because of the atoning death of
Jesus Christ on the cross.
“Access” (prosagoge) comes from two words
ago meaning, "to go," and the preposition
pros meaning "toward, facing." It is a leading
or bringing into the presence of another person, and
denotes "access." The idea is to have freedom to
enter through the assistance or favor of another.
The word is used in Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18;
3:12. The apostle Paul used the word to picture
God's grace as a place of safety for the Christian.
The believer has a permanent safe refuge in which we
now live in the rich experience of God's saving
grace (Rom. 5:2). "We have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand."
We have obtained as a permanent possession our
introduction by faith into the grace in which we
stand and exult in glory.
The verb proago means "approach” or “a
drawing near." The apostle Paul writes we both have
our access in one Spirit through Christ to the
Father (Ephesians 2:18). All three persons of the
Trinity share in the work of the redemption. It is
"through Him [Christ] . . . in one Spirit to the
Father."
It is God's eternal purpose in Jesus Christ our
Lord that "we have boldness and confident access
through faith in Him" (3:12).
The Holy Spirit leads or brings us into the
presence of God. We have freedom to enter through
the assistance or favor of another. The word was
used to introduce a person into the presence of the
king, the place where a ship docks or "landing
stage" in a safe haven or harbor. The ship would
have access into and rest in a safe haven. We have
entered through the atoning death of Jesus Christ
into the permanent unlimited favor of the haven of
God's infinite grace.
The apostle Peter used the root verb prosago,
meaning "approach, drawing near" when he wrote "in
order that He might bring us to God." He said, "For
Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for
the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having
been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in
the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
We now have an entree into the presence of
a holy God on the basis of the saving work of
Christ. Jesus declared that He alone is our access
to God. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I
say to you, I am the door of the sheep" (John
10:7). "I am the way, and the truth,
and the life; no one comes to the Father but through
Me" (John 14:6). The apostle Peter issued an
invitation to all a the end of a sermons saying, "And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no
other name under heaven that has been given among
men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
1. Because of God's saving grace in Jesus Christ
we are acceptable to Him and have assurance that He
is favorably disposed toward us. The sole basis of
our acceptance with God is the death of Jesus Christ
for our sins.
2. Because Jesus came and died as our substitute
and by means of that death for our sins and His
resurrection He literally became the Door by which
sinful people can come into the presence of God and
abide with Him. It is the "new and living way" (Heb.
10:20), and it is "through Him we . . . have access
. . . to the Father" (Eph. 2:18; 3:12).
3. If we are believers we have the right to enter
God's presence in prayer, and worship with
confidence that He will receive us and answer us.
Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; 3:12; John 14:6; Acts
4:12
I
AM the Door
Who
Tore the Veil
Getting
Near God
Behold the
Glory of God
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
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