Being Near to Christ

Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Being near to God is not an easy opportunity. Exodus 24:1-2 mentions about the mount of Sinai where there were stages of coming closer to God. The priests were allowed to worship God at a lengthier distance and only Moses was allowed to come closer. If we are experiencing a status of being near to God, then we are being considered to be more than priests.

Ep 2:12 says that we had no hope when we were living without Christ. It is important that we acknowledge this. There was no link for us with the covenant of promise, but we are brought near Christ now and this opportunity is given to us not as a reward, but as a free gift that was purchased by the blood of Jesus. This fact shows the importance of our status with Christ. If we are not near Him, then we are rejecting the price paid for this opportunity.

Though we do not experience this as mentioned, in churches sometimes we see elders, pastors and other ministers to be people who are near God and others as not. So, we consider ourselves to be inferior. Paul chooses to give this message not to the Jews but to the Gentiles. The reason is that even if pastors and other elders do not reject or look low upon people, the gentiles or sometimes believers who do not participate in ministry or normal Sunday Christians do so. They think that they are not expected to be close to God. We are brought near by the blood of Christ, so thinking that we are far away or just namesakes being in church means that we are rejecting the blood of Christ.

Similarly, the enmity or hostility that prevents us from being near God has been killed at the cross by the flesh of Jesus. Paul further equates all law to this enmity and Jesus has killed all law that causes this difference. As in Romans 8:1,2 the law that condemns is invalid now. Any law that makes us unworthy at Christ’s realm is nullified at the cross. We did not come near, but we are brought near. The law of condemnation makes a lot of people unworthy, like people who do not give tithes properly, people who did not bring the bible accidentally to a meeting, people who wear jewelry etc. If we still cling to those things that bring any separation in the church, then we are rejecting the blood and flesh of Christ. There is no right for us to take part in communion.

If the above approach is for gentiles (Ephesians), Paul deals the same situation differently for Jews. Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled from evil conscience and our bodies washed.” Verse 1 says that the Old Testament was just a shadow and Jesus’s sacrifice was the original. The statement nullifies the whole reverence and pride of being a Jew. Paul requests Hebrews to do the cleansing once again making circumcision invalid. The assurance of faith is about the authority we have to enter the Holiest place which was purchased by the flesh of Christ.

All our past, be it great or dull, they are invalidated with the blood of Christ so that everybody has to consider himself as a product purchased with a heavy price and just accept His Lordship.

 Interestingly, as per Acts 17:27, the fact that God is near to us does not apply only to Christians. Paul uses the phrase to the men of Athens and while introducing Christ to them. This means that Christians are just people who had acknowledged and received the God who is near everybody after the death of Christ.

Also, based on Isaiah 55:6-7, the opportunity of God being near us is temporary. And it is important for us to call upon him while He is near. We are very blessed to live in a moment where anybody, however lower his life is, still can come to God and have his life mended and fixed as God has compassion on him.

Leviticus 10:1-3, when the Lord kills the sons of Aaron, God proceeds to say that “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.” We can see a tone of God which points that there is no other thing that will happen through those who are near to God. God ensures His holiness to be maintained intact either by accepting the right offerings or by removal of evil. If we have to stay near God as we are now, we do not have any other destiny than honoring God. If we think otherwise, God will ensure His holiness kept intact. The purpose of our being near God is also this. We should honor God by receiving this opportunity.

In James 4:8, the apostle James when writing to Jewish Christians, he wants them to overcome pride, adultery, selfishness and to come near God. The method is to become humble, cleanse the body and heart and remove worldly desires. Being close to God is very different from being sinless. Close to God is being open to Him in all aspects and depending on him totally, like birds under its mother’s wings. But this is not free; we have to be ready to lose all happiness the world gives and repent totally.

James also points that double mindedness is totally against being close to Him. If we are double minded, we do not progress anywhere, neither in worldly riches nor in spiritual growth.

In psalm 119:151, we see that if the enemies are close, the solution is to come closer to God. The reason for coming closer to God is by trusting on his commandments. In the New Testament context, it would be trusting on the Holy Spirit.

In Zephaniah 3:2, taking about Jerusalem, we can see that the prophet giving us a definition of drawing near to God. That is to obey His voice, receive correction and to trust in Him.

Let us remember Jesus wanted Children to come near him and claimed that people like little children will fill the kingdom of God. (Mathew 19:14). To become like little children, we should be under a father’s wings, without pride, always listening and totally depending on Him.