GLORY APOLOGETICS

How should we approach God?
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Many of us are sometimes perplexed, doubtful and confused as to how we should approach God? Some may say that since God is a God of Grace, we can approach Him just as we are. He is just interested in our heart and therefore all other things don’t matter. Some may say that God is Holy and so we have to approach him on the basis of various rules, regulations & systems and if we don’t do that God will judge us and send to hell. Still some others have a moderate approach and think that if they arrive Church on time, pay tithes & offerings regularly, contribute to missions work and listen to the sermons attentively then God will be pleased with their way of approach to God. Let’s see how it all works out. 

We can approach God because of Jesus Christ.

First of all we must understand that due to the fall of man (Romans 5:12), he cannot approach God; rather man falls short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). But at the same time God displayed His love for us and provided a way through Jesus Christ so that now we can approach God trusting in the sacrificial death of Christ, His burial & His resurrection (Romans 3:24, 5:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Therefore, Jesus Christ is the one & only mediator between God & man (1 Timothy 2:5-6). 

We can approach God on the basis of the Jesus’s sacrifice

The Holy God’s wrath could only be satisfied by a perfect sacrifice and Christ the unblemished lamb of God became that perfect sacrifice by shedding His precious blood (1 Peter 1:17-18). He obtained for us the Eternal Salvation once and for all, perfected all those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:11-14). It was this perfect sacrifice by which God’s wrath upon sinful man was satisfied. 

God instituted the demand of a “Pleasing Sacrifice” in order to approach Him
Jesus being the perfect sacrifice is the fulfillment of God’s demand for sacrifice which we find in the Old Testament. Abel was accepted & declared righteous because of His sacrifice. (Refer to the YouTube Video on Sermon by a Dead Man – Abel to understand why God accepted Abel’s Sacrifice). Priests served as mediators between God and man and therefore offered sacrifices on behalf of the people so that they became acceptable in God’s sight (Leviticus Chapter 1-5, 16). Sacrifice was also offered in the OT Worship during the dedication of the Temple made by Solomon (2 Chronicles 7: 1-7). It was in the context of the acceptable sacrifices that Holy God could have fellowship with people.

God’s Holiness & Justice

God will not compromise on His holiness & justice in order to accept us as well as allow us to approach Him. Though God is Love (1 John 4:8) but God cannot cease or stop to be Holy & Just (Deuteronomy 32:4) in order to allow us to approach Him in the way & manner that we want and we like and think best. The Holy & Just God therefore requires a “Pleasing Sacrifice” so that man can approach Him. 

Our responsibility

Christ’s sacrifice has justified us/given us a right standing before God but that does not mean that we now become irresponsible & careless. Now after being sanctified we need to work out our salvation by living sanctified lives (Philippians 2:12) which includes how we approach God. We are now commanded not to be confirmed according to the world but we have to offer ourselves as a Living Sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). We approach God realizing what Christ has done for us, by being reminded from the slavery from which we have been redeemed, by presenting our bodies as instruments for righteousness (Romans 6:12-13). 

Conclusion:

As we approach God we must not fall in the danger of legalism and we must not be careless also. Both these approach shows that we have not understood the sacrifice of Christ & God’s Holiness. So our approach towards God should reflect gratefulness, gratitude, humbleness thankfulness and with a holy fear towards God. Whether it is attending a Church Service, Prayer Meeting, Worship time, Bible Study etc., we should evaluate ourselves as to how we approach God, how has been our attitude, have we given the due honored to God. Let our lives continue to be acceptable and pleasing to the Lord and may we strive to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to our God who is Holy. 

-Pastor Monish Mitra