Notes Do we have access to God?

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3.18.18 | Access Granted - Notes Do we have access to God? • Why is this an important question? • Many people aren’t sure if they have any access to God. • Others think God has taken away their access. • Many feel they don’t deserve access. Story of Esther - Despite Esther breaking the law and coming to the king uninvited, the ming in his kindness towards her allowed her access to Him. - In a similar way, although we don’t deserve the ability to access a perfect God, He still gives us access to Him because of His great love for us. So how do we access God? Ephesians 2:19-20 NIV For through him (Jesus) we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. Romans 5:1-2 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. We have access to God through Jesus Christ! - Illustration of temple curtain being ripped - Matt 27 Because we have access to God, here are 3 specific areas we have access to: 1. ACCESS TO KNOW GOD a. John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. i. Being a Christian entails so much more than simply avoiding hell and obtaining access to heaven one day. ii. We don’t have to spiritually coast through this life, but rather we can have the privilege of knowing God! b. John 17:3 NIV Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. . Eternal life is knowing God today, not just when we die! i. Therefore, in a sense, when Christians enter heaven one day, it is an upgraded continuation of knowing God. ii. The word, ‘know’ represents an intimate bond, knowing someone closely. 1. That is the type of meaningful relationship we can enjoy with God today and one day in heaven! 2. ACCESS TO FORGIVENESS OF OUR PAST . Hebrews 10:10,12,14 NIV By this we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ...But He, having offered one

sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. . We have already been forgiven by God for all sins, it has already been accomplished by Jesus. i. God is making us more like Him through the process of sanctifying us. 3. ACCESS TO SPIRITUAL BLESSING . Ephesians 1:3 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. . Look at Eph 1 - There are approximately 15 spiritual blessings listed in this chapter alone! i. The word, “has” is past tense - God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing that we need in our lives ii. We don’t need to strive for these blessings, they have already been accomplished for us. iii. We must believe they are already ours, thus our faith is the means by how we receive. 1. Our faith is activated through our words - ie. Death & life in the tongue 2. Hebrews 4:16 NIV 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. a. The result of God’s grace and mercy in our lives, ie. His accomplished work & our faith in receiving that work should be a life filled with confidence!