We all, as children of God, have or will have saving grace for eternity; however, there is grace needed for every day living and there is only one source of this need and it is our Heavenly Father. Paul tells us in Romans 5:1 that being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he goes on to say in verse 2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Paul tells the Roman church that they have access by faith into grace. Please note that they are standing in grace already and are also standing for what grace represents which is salvation full and free.
So these Roman brethren are standing in the grace of God but by faith they have access into grace for their every day needs and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. There are some interstate roadways across the country that you cannot “access” from just anywhere. There must be a place or road of access to get on that major roadway. We have access by faith into grace for running our Christian race on God’s highway that gives peace and joy.
We cannot access our Heavenly Father outside Jesus Christ. He is our mediator and intercessor. It is by Christ that we have this access through our faith utilized in petitioning God for grace in all our trials and efforts to serve Him. We are told in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” How do we come boldly except through faith, even through the faith of Abraham, who was persuaded that what he had promised he was also able to perform. He eventually had that promised son but it came about on God’s timetable and not that of Abraham.
Paul also tells us about this access for God’s people among the Jews and Gentiles in Eph. 2:18: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” We may not know how to audibly express what grace we are in need of but God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit does know. Paul tells us God takes that problem and provides a solution for the dilemma. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26-27). He takes our inward groaning and makes them known in an intercessory way to the Heavenly Father.
Yes, we have access into grace and may we all use our faith and access His throne of grace on a daily basis and have strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.–January 25, 2015–Elder Larry Wise