Approach with Confidence

When I was a kid I watched a classic movie called the Wizard of Oz. There is one scene where Dorothy, Toto, the cowardly Lion, the brainless Scarecrow and heartless Tin Man finally make it to the fabled city and now stand before the Wizard. Well at least a huge light show and image of what the man behind the curtain wanted the to think was the GREAT OZ. When they didn’t agree with his thoughts he make this big intimidating speech about approaching the GREAT OZ and questioning his judgments. At first glance, one would think that this would be how THE GREAT I AM would act as we approach Him but that is not what the Scripture says. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross we have been given access to the Holy One.

In Ephesians 3:12 (NIV), we have that kind of invitation to come before God’s presence with boldness

12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.



This thought is also found in Hebrew 10 (NIV)as well

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

The Greek word that describes our new found access

Strong’s Greek #3954

3954 parrhesia { par-rhay-see’-ah}

From 3956 and a derivative of 4483; TDNT – 5:871,794; n f

AV – boldness 8, confidence 6, openly 4, plainly 4, openly + 1722 2, boldly + 1722 1, misc 6; 31

GK – 4244 { παρρησία }

1) Freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech

1a) Openly, frankly, i.e without concealment

1b) Without ambiguity or circumlocution

1c) Without the use of figures and comparisons

2) Free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance

3) The deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity

In the early 70’s a band called America penned a line to a song that is pretty cool “Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man That he didn’t, didn’t already have”. They imply that the Tin Man had a heart he just needed a place of confidence to express it and discover what was bottled up inside of him. But God did give us something that we didn’t have before Jesus… access with confidence (parrhesia) before Him. Do we really even appreciate what a big deal that is? I don’t think so! Do we even understand what that means? I don’t think so! Are we glad we now have access? We should be!