I have previously mentioned the importance of approaching God with an attitude of humility, similar to that of the tax collector who said,

Along with that spirit of humility comes the need for confession. Confession clears the path to God of its litter, specifically our sin. It makes our crooked paths straight so that we can enter into His presence.

What is Jesus’ role in these prayers?

You may have taken notice that most prayers offered in worship, either by Jacqueline, Emilia or myself, often end with the phrase, ‘In the name of Christ we pray’. Why are we so intentional about ending our prayers with the statement, ‘In the name of Christ or Jesus. Amen’?

It is because of the truth proclaimed in Romans 8:34

In other words, Jesus is the only way to enter the presence of God. Just like Jesus is the only way that you and I are saved. I realize that in todays cultural and even within the church there are a number differing opinions about this point, but opinions don’t negate Biblical truth.

Think of it this way. You are standing on a street corner waiting to cross the street. You see a car run the red light and collide with another vehicle. The sound of the collision draws a number of spectators. While observing the accident scene, someone states that by looking at how the cars are situated it is evident that Car B collided with Car A. This assessment seems to become the general consensus. However, you witnessed that Car A collided with Car B. Since public opinion is the opposite does that negate the truth of what you saw? No, it doesn’t. Why then, when it comes to the Bible, which has under gone and has withstood tremendous scrutiny, do we accept modern opinion and thought instead of the truth of God’s Word?

Too imply or to believe that you and I can approach God through prayer without Jesus or by some other means than Jesus is simply not true. I don’t mean to offend Roman Catholics, but praying to saints isn’t Biblical. Nowhere is this practice endorsed in the Bible. If it is I would deeply appreciate being given the right chapters and verses of scripture so I could be corrected.

Ron Susek, in his book, God Will Answer goes as far as to say that to offer prayers to God by any other name but Jesus is an insult to God. When you think of it, Ron has a point. Think how you would feel if were Christ. You died a horrible death, a death you didn’t deserve, but one that you accepted for others. You spent three days in hell destroying the power of death. You extend the gift of eternal life to the person you died for and they say, ‘No thank you’.

Personally I would not want to gain entrance to God by any other way than Jesus. Jesus does not only present me to God, but He vouches for me. He intercedes for me. In other words I come to God as a sinner deserving of being cast away. Yet Jesus presents me clean, washed by His tells God, that I amblood, clothed in His grace. He vouches for me before God. He on the guest list.

Last February when I went with Adam to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Spring Training Grounds. I got into the secure areas of the grounds because I was with Adam. Without Adam, I would not have been permitted past the guards. I would have had to stand on the other side of the fence and peer in like the other fans. Basically, Adam was my escort into the inner sanctum of the spring training grounds.

What Adam did for me in Tucson, AZ is what Jesus does for us in heaven. Jesus is our heavenly escort service. He introduces us to God, our Father. He intercepts satan’s accusations about us, as true as satan’s accusation maybe. Never-the-less Jesus becomes our advocate and presents our case to God.

As Paul proclaimed to the Romans, I proclaim to you,

Jesus intercedes for your needs and my needs. If you want your prayers to be heard, offer them to God ‘In the name of Jesus’. There is no other name in heaven or on earth that can open the door of heaven. There is no other name in heaven and on earth that can open the door for you to have commune with God. There is no other name in heaven and on earth can open the door for you to have fellowship with God.

God, by His grace and His grace alone has provided us a worthy intercessor, through whom we have complete access to both God’s throne and God’s heart.

Who is this intercessor?