Access by faith into grace.

Here are those three words, access, faith and grace. Here is the first time each of those words occur in the ESV version of the bible.

Zechariah 3:7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.”

Exodus 21:8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.

Esther 2:17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

We should not be surprised to discover these new testament words first appeared in the Old Testament. God’s intentions, and conversations begin there. Now look at what our search engine suggests we read first for each word.

Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Hebrews 11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The reason that these suggestions are made is not because God has changed but rather because of this important truth.

Colossians 1:15 The Preeminence of Christ

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Dictionary

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

pre·em·i·nence

noun

• the fact of surpassing all others; superiority.

If we cannot accept this as fact, then we have not been granted access into His grace by the faith we have been granted. “He was in the beginning with God.” Fact not fiction.

2 Corinthians 6:2 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation!

The opening words of that verse sound very Old Testament. We have trouble understanding God sometimes. We can read what others have heard and said in different translations.

2 Corinthians 6:2 English Standard Version

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

What is the difference between acceptable and favorable?

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

It might be that our behavior dictates when a time is favorable.

Romans 2:3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

Romans 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Since this is true, when will we get it right?

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We will be tested over and over again until we get it right. That is the nature of testing the mind, to align our thinking with the true nature of a heart that is occupied by the indwelling Spirit of Truth. Do we make these choices based on the knowledge of our past or the hope of our future?

Romans 5:2 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.

Access by faith into grace.