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Opening the Way to God
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Hebrews 6:19–20
Ever since the perfect fellowship between God and man was broken by Adam’s sin, mankind has been seeking a way to interact with God. Religion teaches that if we do more good works than bad works we can attain salvation. But this teaching goes against what the Bible teaches concerning the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. Sin brings a division: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
The gulf created by sin is so great that man cannot cross it. That meant that if we were to have any hope, it had to come from God. In the Old Testament, the high priest entered into God’s presence before the Ark of the Covenant to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat each year, but that was merely a temporary covering for sin—it did not take it away. But because Jesus is perfect, He was able to enter God’s presence with His own precious blood and make a complete atonement once and for all for those who believe.
T. DeWitt Talmage said, “Glory be to God that Jesus came from throne to manger that we might rise from manger to throne, and that all the gates are open, and that the door of heaven, that once swung this way to let Jesus out, now swings the other way to let us in.” There are no other avenues to God. All religions do not lead to God. There is only one way to Heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Hebrews 6:19–20
Ever since the perfect fellowship between God and man was broken by Adam’s sin, mankind has been seeking a way to interact with God. Religion teaches that if we do more good works than bad works we can attain salvation. But this teaching goes against what the Bible teaches concerning the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. Sin brings a division: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
The gulf created by sin is so great that man cannot cross it. That meant that if we were to have any hope, it had to come from God. In the Old Testament, the high priest entered into God’s presence before the Ark of the Covenant to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat each year, but that was merely a temporary covering for sin—it did not take it away. But because Jesus is perfect, He was able to enter God’s presence with His own precious blood and make a complete atonement once and for all for those who believe.
T. DeWitt Talmage said, “Glory be to God that Jesus came from throne to manger that we might rise from manger to throne, and that all the gates are open, and that the door of heaven, that once swung this way to let Jesus out, now swings the other way to let us in.” There are no other avenues to God. All religions do not lead to God. There is only one way to Heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Jesus came to give us the opportunity to have our sins forgiven and our fellowship with God restored.
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