Access to God

We have access to God by Christ. The Bible said that when Jesus died, there came a terrible earthquake:

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” -Matthew 27:50-51

It shook the earth greatly and his spectators fled in fear. A centurion in his awe said,”Truly, this man was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:55). Among the impressive damage the quake left was the tear of the veil of the temple that guarded the Holy of Holies – the imaged presence of God.

But God had a purpose to ruining his furniture. The veil being torn represented man’s now available access to God. The shedding of the Lamb of the God was the completed sacrifice that made the permanent remission of mankind’s sin. No longer will anyone have to give offerings to make peace with God for Christ paid the price of the payment for sin on the cross.

What does this mean? It means the end of traditions, rituals, procedures to come into God’s presence. We can simply come to God just as we are. We enter into community with God by receiving His grace -the grace that brought salvation. Christ giving to us no what other could: peace with God.

May we come to the Lord with reverence. Honor his holiness by confessing sin and requesting Him to be filled of His spirit.

Jesus Gave His Life

“…I lay down my life…” -John 10:17

Do you know that Jesus wasn’t killed but that He gave up His life?

Yes, He was crucified on the sentence of death, but when they hanged Him on the cross they did not kill Him.

He died on the cross on His call. We can know this by referring to Luke 23:46: “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” By the words of His mouth, He let Himself die.

Listen to Jesus again. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18).

Although crucified in weakness as a man, Christ on the cross was still God Almighty. He still possess power of His deity even at His death. “No one takes it from Me” – no took Jesus’ life from Him, but He lay it down of Himself to give His life to save us.

Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He came to give His life to ransom us from sin.

Jesus was both God and man. He lived His entire life on Earth in this manifestation, especially on the cross. He suffered and died as a man did dying on a cross, but He also experienced death as Jesus -The God Who Saves.

He lay down His life on the cross and took it up again when He rose again on the third day.

Our Jesus is both power and love. He authored life even at death when He lay it down by His will. That’s the God whom you worship – Jesus whom you love.

Access to God

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” -Matthew 27:50-51

When Jesus died, there arose a terrible earthquake. It shook the earth greatly and his spectators fled in fear. A centurion in his awe said,”Truly, this man was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:55). Among the impressive damage the quake left was the tear of the veil of the temple that guarded the Holy of Holies – the imaged presence of God.

But God had a purpose to ruining his furniture. The veil being torn represented man’s now available access to God. The shedding of the Lamb of the God was the completed sacrifice that made the permanent remission of mankind’s sin. No longer will anyone have to give offerings to make peace with God for Christ paid the price of the payment for sin on the cross.

What does this mean? It means the end of traditions, rituals, procedures to come into God’s presence. We can simply come to God just as we are. We enter into community with God by receiving His grace -the grace that brought salvation. Christ giving to us no what other could: peace with God.

May we come to the Lord with reverence. Honor his holiness by confessing sin and requesting Him to be filled of His spirit.