Coming to the Father

4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Thesis:

The privilege of coming to the Father through the work of Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

Coming to the Father is made possible through the obedient works of the Son.

The old testament was a shadow of things to come

We see the reality that cast that shadow is Jesus Christ

Let’s begin by quickly looking generally at who does and who does not come to the Father

Who does not come before the Father

Ps 101:7; Is 59:2

Psalm 101:7 ESV

7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

Isaiah 59:2 ESV

2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Compare that with scripture showing us who comes to the Father...

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

Who comes before the Father

Ps 24:3–4; 1 Jn 3:21–22

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

1 John 3:21–22 ESV

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

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

under the old covenant the Father pointed the way from His creation to have access to Him

we will now take a look at a few of those ways

He should us through the Priesthood

He should us through the Temple

He should us through the Most Holy Place

Priests come before the Father

OT Priests come before the Father

Exodus 29:44–45 ESV

44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.

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

so through the priesthood a means was established for God to dwell amongst His people and be their God

A New Priesthood fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Heb 4:14–16; Heb 7:23–25

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:23–25 ESV

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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

A new and eternal priesthood is established by the Christ

We now make up the priesthood...

NT Priests come before the Father

1 Peter 2:5 ESV

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Coming to the Father through the Tent of Meeting and the Tabernacle

First let’s view the OT shadow of things to come...

OT Coming to the Father by temporary means

Exodus 33:7–11 ESV

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

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

NT Tabernacle access to the Father fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Hebrews 8:5–6 ESV

5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Coming to the Father through the Most Holy Place

Coming to the Father by this means in the OT

Hebrews 9:7–8 ESV

7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still 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

This way into the Most Holy Place is now made possible through the works of Jesus...

Coming to the Father by this means fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9:3–5 ESV

3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Hebrews 9:12 ESV

12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Coming to the Father by Grace

Jesus is blessed forever in the Father’s presence

Scripture shows we can be blessed forever as well...

Psalm 21:6 ESV

6 For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

2 Corinthians 4:14 ESV

14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

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

This should demonstrate the importance of being in Jesus...

Coming to the Father through Jesus Christ

Ro 5:1–2; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12

Romans 5:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:18 ESV

18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 3:12 ESV

12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.