Second Tuesday of Advent

Access Granted

Read Romans 5:1 – 5
I used to be an editor for an online review site and because of this I had a few perks.  I would receive 100s of CDs, books and DVDs for free every month.  Sometimes I would get free tickets to concerts; and, on a few occasions, I would get press passes with the tickets.  Press passes were awesome because they gave you access to places where most people were not allowed to go.  Sometimes I would access the photo pit, other times I had access to the backstage area with the road crew and bands, and occasionally I was granted access onto the tour bus of the band.  I would wear this little sticker or laminate that said “All Access” with pride because I had access to special places that others could not go. 

I share this information with you because I believe it fits well with today’s passage.  In Romans 5:2 the Apostle Paul writes, “Through him (Jesus), we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  Because of faith in Jesus Christ believers now have access to the glorious grace in which we stand.  This is the perk of justification.  Because of our position as sons and daughters of Christ, we now have the special privilege of standing firm in God’s presence and grace.

I love what Timothy Keller writes in his commentary of Romans, “Access to grace means we are given a favorable position from which to develop a personal relationship.  In Christ, we are ushered into the royal throne room, and we stand – remain- there.  Wherever we go in the world, we are always in the heavenly throne room.”[i]  We have eternal access to God, wherever we are.

In these first two verses Paul tells us that faith in Jesus Christ does two specific things.  First, it puts us at peace with God.  Second, it gives us access to stand in the grace and glory of God.  This means that we are secure in Christ.  Jesus is our ally and he is our access to God’s glory. 

What should our response to all of this be?  Rejoicing!  We may enter the presence of God whenever we desire and we have the certainty that one day we will share in God’s future redemption.  This, my friends is cause to celebrate every day.

[i] Keller, Timothy: Romans 1 – 7 For You.  Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Company, 2014, p. 110