Approaching God with Freedom and Confidence
Approaching God with Freedom and Confidence
Ephesians 3:12 says, "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (see also Hebrews 4:16)
For several years as a believer, I did not relate to God in freedom and confidence.
I related to God through formulas and confession of sin.
For example...
In a Christian organization, the formula I was taught to use when I prayed was ACTS.
Adoration - tell God how good he is
Confession - tell God all the sins I have committed so he can forgive me and my fellowship with him (closeness to God) can be restored
Thanksgiving - tell God how thankful I am
Supplication - talk to God about what is on my heart
Only by going through these steps could I talk to God about what was on my heart.
This is not freedom...this is bondage.
This is not confidence...this is doubt.
Take a look at the verse above once more.
It says we approach God (relate to God) through Jesus - through faith in Jesus.
Our freedom and confidence is established in Jesus not formulas and continual confession of sin.
And what is it Jesus has done to secure our freedom and confidence in our relationship with God?
Take a look at Ephesians 1, 2, and 3.
Through Jesus, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing.
What are these blessings?
Through the grace of Jesus...through his blood...his death...and his resurrection we are...
...loved sons and daughters of God
...holy (cleansed from all sin) before God
...blameless before God (no charge of sin can be made against us - Jesus was charged with our sin)
...forgiven of all sins
...made alive with Christ
...raised with Christ
...brought close to God through the blood of Jesus
...seated with Christ in the heavenlies
...saved by grace through faith in Jesus, apart from works
...indwelt by Christ, the one who loves us and gave himself for us
Jesus and what he has done for us through grace (unmerited kindness) is the source of our freedom and confidence as we relate to God.
We can now be open and honest with God about whatever is on our hearts...
...our hopes and hurts
...our joys and sorrows
...our successes and failures
...our pleasures and problems
and
...our delights and discouragements.
No more formulas.
No more constant confession of sins to be forgiven and in fellowship with (close to God) God.
Only freedom.
Only confidence.
Only grace.
Only Jesus.
