Grace allows sinners to worship God

When sin began to reign on earth there was a predicament as God was too holy to come and fellowship with man sinful man, on the other hand, man was to sinful to approach a holy God.

Key scriptures:

Matthew 27
50.  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.

In the above verses we see the events at the crucifixion of Jesus. We see that when he died there is mention of a veil that was torn from top to bottom.  This veil was found in the temple. The temple was made up of three subdivisions namely, outer court, inner court and holy of holies. The inner court and holy of Holie were separated by a veil.

Only the High Priest once a year was allowed to access the Holy of Holies, in other words he was the only one allowed to go beyond the veil on the day of atonement. The High Priest had to be ceremonial clean when entering the holy of holies or face death as a punishment.

We realise that when Jesus died, the veil was torn from top to bottom, this was a sign from God that from that day, all man had free access to the holy of holies where the presence of God was. Even in your sin, you now had access to God, were you were gonna receive forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 4:16 says" Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"

Lets look at the story below that illustrates the fact that the Law prevented sinners to approach and worship God while grace allows even sinners to approach and worship God.

Luke 7
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.

37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,

38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

40 And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."

And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."

41 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42 "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both.

So which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."

44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman ? I entered your house ; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 "You gave Me no kiss ; but she, since thetime I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.

46 "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.

47 "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much ; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

In the above story we realize that the Pharisees questioned Jesus' legitimacy because he as a Prophet and Messiah according to the strict religious doctrines of the law, was not supposed to be around prostitutes and sinners. But little did they know that Jesus had brought a revelation of the grace of God, were sinners can approach God and be forgiven their sins and worship God like the self righteous people. Oh what amazing grace.

In conclusion, you may be living in sin and feeling unworthy to approach God, but I want to tell you that Jesus left heaven for people like you, call upon the name of Jesus and ask him to forgive you your sins so that you may worship him.