ACCESS BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE. Romans 5:2

Access means entrance and acceptance into the Presence of the eternal One, Who is satisfied with the entitlements of the now-converted child.

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The catastrophe of all ages occurred when God denied the rebellious Adam and Eve access to the garden. In Genesis 3:22-24 is the account of the tragic event, when the Lord said, ’Behold, the man has become like one of us , to know good and evil’ Our first parents had fallen; and sin had stained their lives. ‘And in Adam we all died.’

And now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life , and eat, and live for ever- therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. ‘ So, HE drove out the man; and HE placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life‘, which is our Lord Jesus Christ. God had barred the way.

In the book of Joshua, God granted admittance to the people of Israel to the Promised land. (1:11-15). Despite the terrifying, swirling waters of the flooded River Jordan , the Lord said, ’Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days , you will cross over this (turbulent) Jordan , to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God is giving you to possess. ’The Lord your God is giving you rest, and is giving you this land.’ (v13) After enduring forty years of wilderness wandering; God manifested grace in subsiding the tumultuous Jordan , thus enabling a miraculous crossing, conquering the fortified Jericho, after triumphantly parading around the city until the climactic seventh day. .

Joshua entered the promised land by faith, basking in the grace of our God. Do you have faith like Joshua; and do you revel in the kindness of the Lord?

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In the Psalms, David expected that we should enjoy access to the living God Indeed, he wrote in Psalm 24:3,4 ‘Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? And Who shall stand in HIS holy place?. The response delights us, ’He that has clean hands and a pure heart, and has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.’ David, the man after God’s own heart, yearned to enter the presence of the eternal One. We should also.

The Lord Jesus described Himself as the door, in John 10, where He describes our right of entry, ’If anyone enter by ME, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.’

While in the Revelation 3, verse 8, HE said to the Philadelphian church , ‘I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door.’ and no one can shut it. Our Lord also said, ’Suffer the little children to come unto Me,’ and so enjoy sweet fellowship.

Paul spoke of this in Romans 5:2 after telling us ’We have justified by faith, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This amazing truth that we are Justified and peace-possessing, led on with our ‘access by faith into this grace, wherein you stand.’

Paul reminds us that in Ephesians 2:12-19 that we ‘Were once Gentiles, without Christ - aliens from the commonwealth -strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope-and without God in the world.’ Access to the Lord had now been realised. ‘Now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once afar off, have been made near by the blood of Christ.’ Heart-moving! Calvary drew us near to our beloved Lord.

Paul continued, ’ ‘He himself is our peace, who has made both one, has broken down the middle wall of partition. (v14 ) He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. Paul excitedly climaxed, ‘For through Him, we both have access by One Spirit to the Father.‘ (v18) Jew and Gentile have unimpeded entrance into the immediate Presence of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. Let’s rejoice !

Our grandson recently had an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England, his university scholarship opening the regal door for this singular honour. However, our King has conferred on every believer a far greater and abiding privilege, namely, unceasing admission to the throne. Many outwardly-poor believers live handsomely at God’s throne.

WE should rejoice with great joy.

We read in Hebrews 9:11-15 ‘Christ with His own blood entered into the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (v12 ) As Forerunner, our Lord pioneered the path to the throne of God. ’If the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ , who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. None dare challenge His acceptance of us. Because of His accessibility, we are ‘accepted in the Beloved.’

Hebrews 9:28 tells us, ’So Christ was once offered to bear the sin of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.’ We call this His second Coming. He will rapture us ( that is, snatch us away from this troubled scene) and give us access to and royal acceptance at His throne. Indeed, it is a blessed hope.

Revelation 21 describes how ‘all things are made new, namely a new heaven and a new earth.’ (v1) John records,’ He saw the holy city , new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride for her husband.’ In this exciting vision, he added,

‘I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,’ Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and be their God. Access has now been realised for we are now the bride of Christ. As the body has a trillion cells, yet every cell has the individual DNA , so we shall be a distinct cell in the body of Christ, His bride. Oh, what a glory-filled moment..

The final chapter of God’s Word, repeats the plea for access to heaven’s throne. Christ said, ‘I AM the root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning star. ‘The Spirit and the bride take up the theme, ‘COME.’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come’. And let him who thirsts come’. Access to our dear Saviour is the climax of the word.