In whom we have boldness and access
Into the holy of holies, to the throne of grace there, and to God
the Father, as seated on it: Christ is the way of access; union
to him gives right of access; through his mediation his people
have audience of God, and acceptance with him, both of person and
service: and this access is with boldness; which denotes liberty
of coming, granted by God, and a liberty in their own souls to
speak out their minds plainly and freely; and an holy courage and
intrepidity of soul, being free from servile fear, or a spirit of
bondage; which is owing to the heart being sprinkled from an evil
conscience, to an act of faith, on the person, blood, and
righteousness of Christ, and to a view of God, as a God of peace,
grace and mercy: and this access may be had
with confidence by the faith of him;
with confidence of interest in the everlasting love of God; of
relation to him, as a covenant God and Father; of his power,
faithfulness, and willingness to fulfil his promises; of his
hearing and answering prayer; of the fulness of Christ, the
prevalence of his mediation, and of the acceptance of persons and
performances through him; and of the work of grace being carried
on till the day of Christ; and of entrance at last into the
heavenly glory: and this access is not local but spiritual; it is
by faith, and so is peculiar to believers; and the confidence
with which it may be had, arises from its being by the faith of
Christ; not that faith which Christ himself had, and exercised as
man, but that of which he is both the object and author; or that
by which souls believe in him for acceptance, for righteousness,
for pardon, for every supply of grace, and for eternal life and
happiness.