Bible Dictionary
ACCESS
Access is the acceptable approach to God and admission into His favor. Through Christ’s blood, by faith and through the Holy Spirit, believers have access to the Father.
Definition
Access is the acceptable approach to God and admission into his favor. It is described as a way of approach made possible through Christ, the cross, the Holy Spirit, and faith.
Biblical Usage
Through Christ’s blood and by faith believers have access to grace and to the Father. Through Christ and one Spirit they approach God with confidence and enter abiding fellowship with him.
Historical Background
The supplied material summarizes the process as access to the Father through Christ, by the Spirit, and by faith.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ak'-ses (prosagoge, "a leading to or toward," "approach"): Thrice used in the New Testament to indicate the acceptable way of approach to God and of admission to His favor. Jesus said, "I am the way" (Joh 14:6). His blood is the "new and living way" (Heb 10:20). Only through Him have we "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" (Ro 5:2); "Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph 2:18 the King James Version); "in whom we have .... access in confidence, through our faith in him" (Eph 3:12).</p><p>The goal of redemption is life in God, "unto the Father." The means of redemption is the cross of Christ, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood" (Eph 1:7). The agent in redemption is the Holy Spirit, "by one Spirit," "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph 1:13). The human instrumentality, faith. The whole process of approach to, and abiding fellowship with, God is summed up in this brief sentence Access to the Father, through Christ, by the Spirit, by faith.</p><p>Dwight M. Pratt</p>