Access to God is a profound theme throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the privilege and blessedness of entering into a relationship with the Creator. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Bible reveals the unfolding plan of God to restore humanity's access to Him, which was lost through sin. This access is not merely a return to a previous state but an elevation to a new level of intimacy and blessing.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, access to God was mediated through the sacrificial system and the priesthood. The tabernacle and later the temple served as the physical locations where God's presence dwelt among His people. The high priest, once a year, entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). This limited access underscored the holiness of God and the separation caused by sin.

Despite these limitations, the Old Testament contains glimpses of the blessedness associated with access to God. Psalm 16:11 declares, "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Here, the psalmist expresses the joy and fulfillment found in God's presence, a foretaste of the fuller access to come.

The Fulfillment in Christ

The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of God's plan to grant humanity direct access to Him through Jesus Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ tore the veil of the temple, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity (Matthew 27:51). Hebrews 10:19-22 states, "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith."

This access is not only a legal standing but also a relational reality. Believers are invited to approach God with confidence, knowing they are accepted and loved. Romans 5:1-2 affirms, "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 stand."

The Blessedness of Access

The blessedness connected with access to God is multifaceted. It includes peace, joy, and the assurance of God's presence. Ephesians 2:18 emphasizes, "For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." This access unites believers with God and with one another, breaking down barriers of division and fostering a community of faith.

Moreover, access to God brings the blessing of answered prayer. Jesus assures His followers in John 14:13-14 , "And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." This promise underscores the intimate relationship believers have with God, where their requests are heard and answered according to His will.

Eternal Implications

The blessedness of access to God extends into eternity. Revelation 21:3 paints a picture of the ultimate fulfillment of this access: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.'" This eternal communion with God is the culmination of the blessedness believers experience in part now, a promise of unending fellowship and joy in His presence.Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for ever more.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 65:4
Blessed is the man whom you choose, and cause to approach to you, that he may dwell in your courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, even of your holy temple.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 73:28
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

What God Will do for Us
... which is possession, of that perfected salvation is the vision that makes the
blessedness of heaven. ... we, if we will, may have access to God's chamber at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/what god will do for.htm

So Likewise Ye, when Ye Shall have done all those Things
... of faith, which believes that we have access to God for ... says, Rom.4, 6: David also
describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 10 so likewise ye.htm

Three Things Briefly to be Regarded in Christ --viz. His Offices ...
... may feel from their first fruits, that we are truly united to God for perfect
blessedness; and then ... For, as has been said, there is no access to God for us ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 three things briefly.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... up thereby of a way of access to God ... of that provision for communion with God, which
was ... performing that exercise enjoyed substantially the blessedness which is ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... its reasonableness, has experienced the blessedness of obedience ... It gives the doctrines
of eternity access to the ... the world, and he beholds God, and apprehends ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

Twenty-Sixth Lesson. I have Prayed for Thee;'
... which man became partaker of the Divine life and blessedness. ... who has actually made
us one with God: only then ... the Name of Jesus the free, direct access to the ...
/.../with christ in the school of prayer/twenty-sixth lesson i have prayed.htm

P??dobaptism. Its Accordance with the Institution of Christ, and ...
... this manner, when he promised eternal blessedness to his ... These alone can give them
access to the fellowship ... immediately on their birth received by God as heirs ...
/.../chapter 16 paedobaptism its accordance.htm

The Living Dead
... But when the outer access to earth is fast ... 'God giveth His beloved sleep'; and in
that peaceful ... spirits and their happy hearts with blessedness and fellowship. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the living dead.htm

"The Fruit of the Spirit is Love"
... Your blessedness is longsuffering, meekness, kindness; your glory is humility before
God ... one who really loved her, and that love gave access to the ... Praise God! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/the fruit of the spirit.htm

Eighth Day. Holiness and Indwelling.
... know what the rent veil means, and the access into the ... bliss may be ours in its full
blessedness, our Lord ... 1. God's dwelling in the midst of Israel was the ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/eighth day holiness and indwelling.htm

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