Access to God

Only the pure have access to God

Ps 24:3–4; 1 Jn 3:21–22

See also Ps 41:12; Ps 66:18–19; Ps 73:28; Mt 5:8; 1 Pe 3:12; Ps 34:15–16

The wicked do not have access to God

Ps 101:7; Is 59:2

See also Ge 4:14; Ge 4:16; Le 22:3; Dt 31:18; Ps 5:5; Is 1:15; Is 64:7; Je 7:15; Je 15:1; Je 23:39; Je 52:3; Eze 39:23; Ho 5:6; Mic 3:4

Access to God through the priests and sacrificial system

Access to God by this means in the OT

Exodus 29:44–45 KJV 1900

And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

See also Ex 29:29–30; Ex 29:36; Ex 29:38–39

This OT access to God fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Heb 4:14–16; Heb 7:23–25

See also Heb 2:17; Heb 7:18–19; Heb 10:10–12; Heb 12:18–24

Access to God by the priesthood of all believers

1 Peter 2:5 KJV 1900

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

See also 1 Pe 2:9; Re 1:6

Access to God through the Tent of Meeting and the tabernacle

Access to God by this means in the OT

Exodus 33:7–11 KJV 1900

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

See also Ex 40:1–2; Ex 40:34–35; Nu 1:51; Nu 3:10; Nu 3:38; Nu 18:7; Nu 18:22; 2 Ch 1:3

This OT access to God fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9:23–24 KJV 1900

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

See also Ac 7:44; Heb 8:1–2; Heb 8:5–6; Heb 9:11

Access to God through the Most Holy Place

Access to God by this means in the OT

Hebrews 9:7–8 KJV 1900

But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

See also Le 16:2; Le 16:12–17; Le 16:32–33; 1 Ki 6:16; 1 Ki 8:6; 1 Ki 8:10–11; 2 Ch 3:8

Access to God by this means fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9:3–5 KJV 1900

And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Hebrews 9:12 KJV 1900

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

See also Mt 27:51; Heb 6:19–20

Believers have access to God by grace

Psalm 21:6 KJV 1900

For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

See also Ps 51:10–11; Ps 145:18; Ho 6:1–2; Ac 17:27; 2 Co 4:14; Jas 4:8; Jud 24

Believers have access to God through Jesus Christ

Ro 5:1–2; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12

See also Jn 10:9; Jn 14:6