Your New Identity (Victory Series Book #2): A Transforming Union with God (9 page)

Hebrews 10:19–25

Key Point

We have complete access to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Verse

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12

W
ho may ascend the mountain of the L
ORD
? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3–4). Jesus said it is the “pure in heart” who will see God and experience fellowship with Him (see Matthew 5:8). Because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23), who can approach Him?

In the Old Testament, everything about the Temple was set up to emphasize the near-unapproachable holiness and power of God. Only priests
could enter the Temple, and only the high priest on one day a year—the Day of Atonement—could go into the Holy of Holies behind a thick veil or curtain that separated God from the priests. This was a day of great fear, reverence, and awe. The high priest entered only after going through a great deal of ceremonial cleansing. Even then, he probably entered with fear and trepidation, not knowing if he would come out alive. The other priests actually tied a rope around his ankles to pull him out of God’s presence if it appeared that he had expired, because nobody else wanted to go in after him.

In the New Testament, there is a radical shift in access to God. The moment Jesus died for our sins on the cross, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). The relationship between God and humankind had been restored. As the writer of Hebrews says, “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19–22).

Suppose you petitioned for months to have an audience with the president of the United States. Finally, you were granted your request and given 15 minutes alone with him. Since you have no personal relationship with him, what would you hope to gain by such a visit?

Now suppose that you had access to the God who created the president of the United States. He has even taken the initiative to invite you into His presence (see Matthew 11:28). You know this God personally, and He has known you from the foundations of the world. You have an audience with Him 24 hours of every day, and He listens to you. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Knowing that we have access to God, let us never lose hope (see Hebrews 10:23). We have a God of all hope, and with Him all things are possible. So if you are discouraged, draw near to God and you will find mercy and grace in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). Because we have access to God, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good
deeds, not giving up meeting together . . . but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Who could approach God in the Old Testament?

How did the high priest enter the Holy of Holies? Why did he likely enter that place with fear and trepidation?

What was the significance of the veil in the Temple being torn down that separated God from the people? How do you think the people would have responded at the time?

How does knowing that you have complete access to an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God fill you with hope for the future?

What right do you have to enter the Holy of Holies?

“Let us draw near,” he [the writer of Hebrews] says, “with a true heart.” To the holy things, the faith, the spiritual service. “With a true heart, in full assurance of faith,” since nothing is seen, neither the priest henceforth, not the sacrifice, not the altar. And yet neither was the Old Testament priest visible, but stood within, and they all without, the whole people. But here not only has this taken place, that the priest has entered into the Holy of Holies, but that we also enter in.

John Chrysostom (AD 347–407)

Joel 2:28–32

Key Point

The Church Era began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers, fulfilling the prophecy of Joel.

Key Verse

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Joel 2:28

O
n the Day of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus were gathered together in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. They were following Jesus’ instructions to “not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised” (Acts 1:4). Suddenly, “a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (2:2–4). Peter
immediately associated those spiritual manifestations with the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (see verses 16–21; Joel 2:28–32).

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is what distinguishes the Old Covenant from the New Covenant. Prior to Pentecost, the presence of God was
with
His people. In the Church Age after Pentecost, the presence of God is now
within
believers in the person of the Holy Spirit. Old Testament believers had a legal relationship with God, but New Testament believers have a new identity and a personal relationship with their heavenly Father. The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to testify “with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16). Peter wrote, “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10).

Through the prophet Joel, God said, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Joel 2:28). This universal inclusion of all people is also a marked difference between the Old and the New Testament. God said that “all peoples on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3) through the seed of Abraham. This will be true regardless of race, age, gender, or social class (see Joel 2:29). “And everyone who calls on the name of the L
ORD
will be saved” (verse 32; see also Romans 10:13).

In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets to the people, but in the Church Age, God personally leads every one of His children, “for those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14). In the Old Testament, Moses said, “I wish that all the L
ORD
’s people were prophets and that the L
ORD
would put his Spirit on them” (Numbers 11:29). God has put His Spirit in every New Testament believer, and according to Joel’s prophecy, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (2:28). Because of our personal relationship with God, He will uniquely equip all His children.

Generally speaking, the “day of the L
ORD
” (verse 31) is an idiom used to emphasize the decisive nature of God’s victory over His enemies. Prior to Pentecost, Jesus defeated the devil; and according to Paul, it is the eternal purpose of God to make His wisdom known through the Church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, which is the spiritual kingdom of darkness (see Ephesians 3:10–12). The enemy knows he is
defeated when the children of God speak the truth in love through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In what ways does the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost distinguish the Old Covenant from the New Covenant?

Many of those who were present at Pentecost had witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. So why were they instructed to wait in Jerusalem before they could be witnesses?

What defines the Church today?

How has the Holy Spirit empowered your life to be a witness?

Of what are you a witness?

He [Jesus] said earlier, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans.” What He did not say then, He added here [Acts 1:8], “and to the ends of the earth.” “When He said this, as they were watching, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.” . . . For they saw in the resurrection the end, but not the beginning, and they saw in the ascension the beginning, but not the end.

John Chrysostom (AD 347–407)

Effective Prayer

What humans cannot do in eternity, God can do in an instant, and He does it in response to our prayers. Scottish minister Thomas Chalmers said, “Prayer does not enable us to do a greater work for God. Prayer is a greater work for God.” The prophet Samuel demonstrated this principle when he said, “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the L
ORD
is about to do before your eyes” (1 Samuel 12:16). God didn’t move until “Samuel called on the L
ORD
” (verse 18).

James said, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (5:16–18). Both Samuel and Elijah were righteous, which is why
they were effective in prayer. However, in every other way they were no different from us.

We will never be effective in prayer if we go to God only in emergencies and then return to managing our own lives when the crisis passes. That would make prayer a fourth-down punting situation instead of a first-down huddle. It is not appropriate to ask God to bless our plans; we must humbly ask God to reveal His plans. God is capable of doing anything that is consistent with His nature. The question is, will He? We may never know unless we ask. Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance. It is laying hold of God’s willingness. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15). Our prayers will always be effective if our petitions and intercessions are in agreement with the Word of God.

Paul instructed us to be alert and pray in the Spirit for all the saints (see Ephesians 6:18). Prayer is part of our divine protection as believers. We need to respond immediately in prayer to the Spirit’s prompting and to the requests of our brothers and sisters in Christ. In addition, Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

Samuel considered it a sin against God not to pray for others (see 1 Samuel 12:23). However, we can only ask the Lord to do through others what we are willing for the Lord to do through us. Only to the degree that we have been tested and found approved can we request on behalf of others. Neither Christ nor the Holy Spirit can intercede through us on a higher level than that which they have first had victory in us. Christ is the perfect intercessor because He took the place of each one prayed for.

I
n the Old West, a circuit preacher came upon an orphaned boy named Peter. He realized that he couldn’t raise the boy and continue his ministry, so he looked for someone who could. He heard of a Christian couple named Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They had a little boy named Sammy who was about Peter’s age.

The couple agreed to raise Peter, and the boys became the best of friends. Sammy was an obedient child, but Peter was incorrigible. One time, they told the boys not to swim in a contaminated pond on their property, but Peter went anyway. Peter must have scratched himself on some barbed wire, because he got sick. He was so sick that he had to be quarantined.

The Smiths had to make a trip to town and told Sammy not to go into Peter’s room, lest he get sick as well. However, when they came home they found the two boys fast asleep in each other’s arms. Nobody understands the providential care of God, but in this case Peter got well while Sammy got sick. In fact, Sammy died.

Several years passed before the circuit preacher made his way back to the farm where he had dropped off Peter. As he rode his horse up to the farmhouse, he recognized Mr. Smith, but not the young man standing beside
him. “Say, whatever happened to that kid I dropped off several years ago,” asked the preacher. Mr. Smith put his arm over the shoulders of the young man. “Meet Peter Smith,” he said. “We have adopted him. He is my son and part of the Smith family.”

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