Growing in HopeSample

You Have Been Reconciled to God

Many times, we might think of restoration, like that of a relationship. If two people are separated because of an argument or quarrel, you might say that once they come back together and restore their friendship, that they have been reconciled. 

Here, the word has similar implications as this. Paul is definitely talking about us being restored to a state of harmony with God. You see, before you and I became followers of Jesus, our sin broke our relationship with God, and separated us from Him. 

We could not reconcile ourselves to God, which is why Jesus came! It is through His sacrifice that we are reconciled, forgiven and made right with God. 

It is through Jesus that we are reconciled to God, and it is also through Jesus that “we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” 

What does it mean to have access to the Father? 

Before Jesus, God’s people went to the temple to submit offerings and prayer requests to God through the high priest. The high priest was the only one who was allowed to enter the “Holy of Holies”; the room in the temple where God dwelt on earth. Because this was a special room in which the holy presence of God remained, only someone who was considered clean and holy by God could enter this room and not die. That person was the high priest. The high priest stood as a mediator between God and His people. People did not have direct access to God.

Instead of having a mere human as the mediator between us and God, Jesus is now the “high priest” for all of God’s children, and His Holy Spirit lives inside of us (1 Corinthians 6:19). This means that our body now serves as a temple of God. With our bodies being the temple of God and Jesus being our High Priest, we now have complete access to the Father.

Our bodies are the temple of God, and Jesus is our High Priest. We now have complete access to the Father. We are now able to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence”. Only children of God (followers of Jesus), have this privilege! You can talk to God about anything, anywhere, and anytime. 

Note: Jesus being our High Priest is one reason we pray “In the name of Jesus”. Another reason we do this is because in John 14:13, Jesus tells us, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do.”

Prayer:
Father, I come before You today confidently, knowing that You hear me and that You desire that I, your child, come to You! Thank you for forgiving me and making me right with You, and giving me full access to speak with and hear from You. Teach me to live a life that brings honor to You. Teach me to be an agent of peace on this earth, promoting the peace and reconciliation that You came to give Your children! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.