Confident Access to God

Confident Access to God

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. – Ephesians 3:12

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.

Vaccine Passports and the Hope of Returning to Normal

An article in The Wall Street Journal carried the title COVID-19 Vaccine Passports Could Help Life Return to Normal, but Experts Urged Caution (Jason Douglas, Dec. 8, 2020). The title captured the tension of that historical moment. On the one hand, there was a strong desire to return to normal life after months of disruption, uncertainty, and restrictions. On the other hand, there was widespread recognition that any system built around vaccination status would raise serious ethical, political, and social concerns.

At the time, studies suggested that crowded indoor spaces likely accounted for a large share of new coronavirus infections. As a result, some proposed that individuals who could verify their vaccination status might be exempt from certain restrictions, including mask mandates and social distancing requirements. Under that framework, restaurants, coffee shops, theaters, offices, and similar public venues could reopen with greater confidence by admitting only those certified as vaccinated. International travel, which had been sharply limited, might also have resumed more freely.

The Ethical Debate Over Freedom and Fairness

The practical appeal of vaccine passports was clear, but so were the deeper questions they raised. Should vaccinated individuals be granted greater freedom of movement and participation than those who are not vaccinated? Was there a sound case for issuing formal proof of immunity or vaccination? Would such a policy serve the common good, or would it create new and troubling social divisions?

The discussion about vaccine passports extended beyond public health, raising moral and political issues. Attention moved from their effectiveness to worries about fairness, freedom, and possible exclusion based on medical status. Efforts to safeguard public health could potentially alter everyday life in concerning ways.

Emerging Questions in a Time of Uncertainty

If verification was required, what form could that proof assume? Some imagined a physical card, while others suggested a vaccine passport. Others thought about digital records or a complete immunity verification system. A statement from that era noted, “The 2019 coronavirus pandemic and ensuing global shutdown demonstrated the need for instant, verified, and individual-consent public screening for immunities, vaccines, and travel history.”

This perspective highlighted a growing interest in integrated systems that could unify medical data, public access, and travel permissions into one framework. At that time, many uncertainties remained, and there was a feeling that the potential implications extended well beyond the current crisis.

Israel’s Green Passport Initiative

In December 2020, Israel’s Health Ministry planned to issue “Green Passports” for citizens vaccinated against COVID-19, granting benefits such as lifted restrictions, including the end of mandatory quarantine after exposure, and access to restaurants and cultural events.

This development illustrated how quickly medical status could become linked to access, mobility, and social privilege, transforming the concept of a passport from one tied to national borders to one tied to health status and participation in public life.

Restricted Places and Controlled Entry

The idea of regulated access is familiar. Some locations on Earth have long been heavily restricted and well-guarded. Examples include specific research and medical centers, military installations, Area 51, Fort Knox, and the White House. Entry to these sites is not casual. Access restrictions exist due to the sensitive material they hold, the authority they symbolize, or security risks they pose.

These examples highlight the significance of terms such as passes, credentials, and authorization. Restricted access implies boundaries, control, and the necessity for recognized clearance. The bigger and more critical the location, the more its entry rights are meticulously protected.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer and the White House

Dr. Erwin Lutzer recounts a personal experience from a visit to Washington, D.C., when someone with authorized access to the White House invited him to a private tour. He was delighted to accept. After initial vetting, he accompanied his host on a one-on-one tour of the White House.

During the visit, it became clear that he did not need to keep showing his pass to move about in that highly protected setting. His host was already known, trusted, and authorized. Because of that standing, the host’s presence and word were enough to account for Dr. Lutzer’s entry and movement. The host only had to say, “He is with me.”

This account illustrates a powerful principle. In highly protected spaces, access may depend not only on what a person possesses but also on whom that person accompanies. Credentials may open doors, but a recognized relationship can also grant entry where independent standing would not be enough.

REFLECT & PRAY

Albert Einstein quipped, “There is no vaccine against stupidity.”

Father, thank You that I can come boldly into Your presence without fear or trepidation. The choices before me require Your all-knowing guidance and direction. Grant me wisdom, insight, and discernment to know what to do.

INSIGHT

Insight Into Our Access To The Father

Romans 5:1-2:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”

The passage presents one of the most comforting and majestic truths in the Scriptures: through the Lord Jesus Christ, children of the King are reconciled with God and have continuous access to His grace. This access is guaranteed based entirely on the completed work of Christ.

The Meaning of Prosagoge

The Greek term translated as “introduction” or “access” is prosagoge. The word may be understood literally as “a leading or bringing into the presence of.” It is formed from two Greek words: pros, meaning “to,” and ago, meaning “to lead.” Together, they convey the idea of “being brought near by another.”

Prosagoge refers to “access, the freedom to enter, made possible through the favor, help, or authorization of someone else.” In ancient times, the term was often used to describe the privilege of accessing royalty or high-ranking officials, a right granted by someone with the authority to do so.

Restricted Access in the Old Testament

Access to the Father had been restricted since humanity’s separation from Him in the Garden of Eden. Sin introduced distance, estrangement, and exclusion. The human race could not simply enter the presence of a holy God without consequence.

Even Moses, despite his favored position, was not permitted to approach God casually or without restraint.

Exodus 3:5: “Then He said, ‘Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’”

This moment highlights the holiness of God and the separation that stood between divine holiness and human sinfulness. God’s presence was real, but free access had not yet been granted.

Christ Has Opened the Way

Through the Lord Jesus Christ, the relationship between humanity and the Father has been decisively and permanently altered. What was once closed has been opened, and what once seemed distant has been brought near. Children of the King are not just allowed to enter the Father’s presence as hesitant guests; we are warmly welcomed and encouraged to approach with confidence, assurance, and joy.

The Greek term prosagoge commonly referred to being “introduced” or “ushered into the presence of royalty.” In the New Testament, it provides a rich picture of the believer’s access to the Father through Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ does not simply point the way from a distance; He personally brings us into the presence of the King. As Barclay powerfully explains, Christ opens the door into the Father’s presence. What awaits us there is not condemnation, judgment, or vengeance, but grace, the extraordinary and undeserved kindness of the Father.

Confidence Before the Throne of Grace

Because of Christ’s finished work, children of the King now have direct access to the Father. Through Him, we have been brought into God’s presence and established in His grace. The Father’s throne room is no longer closed to us; it stands open through Christ. As a result, we may come before Him with confidence, hope, and reverence, fully assured that our welcome rests not on our own merit, but on Christ alone.

Hebrews 4:16: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

This boldness does not come from self-confidence, personal merit, or any sense of human worthiness. It is rooted entirely in the mediating work of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice has secured our access to the Father. We come with confidence not because we have earned the right to enter His presence, but because the Son has opened the way for us.

Our Future Entrance into Our Heavenly Home

One day, every child of the King will reach their heavenly home. The Savior who paved the way into grace will also ensure our ultimate entrance into glory. Our future with the Father depends on the same foundation, the finished work of Jesus Christ. Our hope is reliable and sure. Our confident expectation is rooted in the One who has already brought us close and will continue to stand for us forever.

The Security of Belonging to Christ

There is deep comfort in knowing that if our right to be in the presence of God were ever challenged, the Lord Jesus Christ would speak on our behalf. His reply will be simple and clear: “They are with Me.” This reflects the confidence of redemption and the certainty of belonging. Our acceptance before the Father doesn’t depend on our deeds but on our union with Christ.

The Joy of Assured Hope

Fanny Crosby beautifully expressed this confidence in the words, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; O what a foretaste of glory divine.” Her statement captures the joy and certainty of each child of the King who knows that access to the Father has already been secured through Christ. It reflects the profound reality that the glory still to come has already begun to break into the present through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The grace in which we now stand is not a temporary privilege, but the beginning of an eternal welcome into the presence of the Father.

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© Dr. H 2026