Access (Romans 5:2)

I can get a bit excited when I find out that one of my favourite bands will be playing in Adelaide.

Usually when I jump online to buy tickets, I find that different tickets cost different amounts, depending on how close to the stage they are, whether they are seating or standing, or whether they have a clear view of the stage or are slightly obstructed. Some bands even offer a VIP ticket at a higher price so a limited number of fans can meet the band before the gig, maybe hang out with them for a while, or take some selfies with them.

The ultimate ticket for any performance is an Access All Areas pass. This ticket gives the holder the ability to go places other ticketholders can’t, watch the gig from the side of the stage, and even hang out with the band after the show. You can’t buy these passes because they are reserved only for very special guests or people with a close connection with the band.

There are a lot of places in the world where we are denied access because we don’t know the right people, have enough money, or just aren’t important enough. However, the Apostle Paul tells us that we can all have access to a place much greater than backstage at a concert. He writes that through Jesus ‘we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand’ (Romans 5:2 NIV). This ‘grace’ to which we have access is God’s unconditional love and favour. We don’t have to try to buy it, earn it, or somehow try to scam it from God. God pays the full price to give us access to his grace through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He offers this grace to us as a free gift and asks us to receive it in faith.

This faith means trusting that it’s ours because Jesus has already paid for it in full. It’s kind of like being outside a concert, trying to buy a ticket into the venue, when someone comes up and offers us an Access All Areas pass for free! Faith is receiving the pass, saying thanks for the gift, then putting it to good use by going backstage and hanging out with the band, just because we can.

How might we put our access to God’s grace through faith in Jesus to good use in our lives and our relationships with others?