THE UNAPPROACHABLE GOD

TEXT: I Tim.6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

I. Man cannot, in his natural condition, come before God.
A. He can't serve God even if he desires to do so.
Josh.24:16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17 For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
18 And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

B. Natural man cannot approach God. (The failure of the Tower of Babel)
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

C. Even Moses could not look upon His face.
Ex.33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

D. He is unapproachable because of the brightness of His Glory.
Consider the following;
a. Sound can be pleasing or harmful.
I Sam:2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
b. Coolness and heat can be either pleasant or deadly
c. Light is essential to life but can be deadly.
II Thes.2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
d. In man's natural state, he is even averse to holiness.
(Aren't we all ill at ease in the presence of someone who is closer to the Lord than we? How could this frail flesh stand in the divine presence of the Holy One?)

II. Who, then can dwell there?
A. Christ is in the Father's bosom as the Son.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

B. Christ is in the Holy of Holies as our High Priest.
Heb.6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

C. He is at the right hand of the Father as our mediator.
I Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Rom.8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

III. We can come into His presence ONLY in Christ.
Rom.8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Heb.4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

A. IN Christ we are made a new creature.
II Cor.5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. The sinner can approach God ONLY through Christ.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

C. The effectual prayer must be through Christ. If Christ doesn't authorize it, we have no right to ask it!
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

D. The effectual LIFE must be in Christ.
Rom.6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What is your relationship with Christ? This alone, determines your relationship with God the Father.