Daily Bread 1/31/2023

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    Daily Bread – January 31, 2023 (The Third Day – Genesis 1:9-13) Hebrews 10:22 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. The Basis of Boldness Many times we have asked God to draw us close to Him, or to allow us to experience a greater depth of communion with Him. All of this is good, but we must understand that Father has made a way for us to come into His presence and be one with Him (John 6:56, 14:17, 20-24, 15:5, 17:21-23; and 1 John 3:24). The way God made is Jesus. His blood was poured out for us so that everything separating us from God, or condemning us, would be completely removed (Hebrews 10:17; Isaiah 59:2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). We must believe the blood has cleansed us from all of our sins and iniquities, so that we may have boldness and confidence (1 John 1:9; Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14; Revelation 1:5; 1 Timothy 6:14). We cannot draw near to God without this boldness; a boldness that only comes to us because we are absolutely convinced that the blood of Jesus has made us holy and acceptable unto God (Ephesians 3:12, 4:24; Hebrews 4:16; Romans 12:1-2). We cannot please God, nor draw near to Him, without such faith. If we try to access the presence of God based upon our own personage, we will not be allowed in. Our access into the presence of God is by the faith of Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit Who brings us in (Ephesians 2:18, 3:12; Romans 5:2; John 10:7, 9). Even as the preacher led you into the water to baptize you, and as you submitted yourself to be immersed in the water, you must also submit to the work of grace that brings us with all boldness into the presence of God. An evil conscience cannot come in. A heart that is condemned, a soul that is ashamed, has no access to the presence of the Lord. Only those who have believed what God has said about His Son, and receive the cleansing, may stand in the Holies of Holies (1 John 5:10-13; Hebrews 10:19). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen