Access to God is the vital first step in being able to faithfully represent Him, and Abel's faith shows how it is gained. Sin severed the communion mankind had with God in Genesis 2, and Genesis 4 shows how the relationship can be restored: through the substitutionary sacrifice God required, which He accepted when Abel offered it in faith. Since faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), Abel must have been instructed about the right offering, and Cain's rejection shows that God judged by a set standard rather than by man's devising. Abel substituted the life of one of his flock for his own, and in faith he understood that the animal's life prefigured the Lamb of God who could take away sin, though animal blood itself could not (Hebrews 10:4). God accepted the offering and declared Abel righteous (Hebrews 11:4). Abel's example thus teaches, as early as Genesis 4, the way back to God for all mankind: through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as one man's sin separated mankind from God, one Man's righteousness, obedience, and voluntary self-sacrifice reunites mankind with Him (Romans 5:12, 18-19). This lesson must be grasped before Enoch's walk with God can be followed, and before Noah's witness to the world can be emulated.

Under the Old Covenant, access to God was severely restricted. God resided in the Holy of Holies, guarded by a curtain, where only the high priest could enter once a year to perform specific rituals. The holy place was accessible only to priests bearing offerings, and the courtyard was limited to male Israelites. This structure ensured that the average person could not approach God directly, highlighting a separation that pointed to a greater plan to come. In contrast, the New Covenant brings a profound change through Jesus Christ. Through His blood, the way to the holiest of all has been opened, granting full access to the Father. With Christ's Spirit dwelling in us, we have the liberty to enter into God's presence, accessing the knowledge and gifts needed to attain His glory. This freedom marks a significant departure from the veiled path of the Old Covenant, transforming our relationship with God into one of direct connection and ongoing transformation into His image.

The primary function of a priest is to assist people in accessing God, fostering union with Him. A priest serves as a mediator, reconciling between God and men, bringing them together to establish and strengthen this relationship. This mediation involves not only reconciliation but also teaching a way of life to improve upon the initial reconciliation, ensuring the bond with God grows stronger. In ancient Israel, the average Israelite's relationship with God functioned through a priest, especially at the Temple, where access was limited and required priestly intervention. Beyond a certain point, such as the Court of Women, an Israelite had to rely on a priest to represent him before God. This pattern continues today, as our relationship with God operates through our High Priest, who facilitates our connection with the Divine. A priest also builds bridges, aiding in accessing God by serving as the mediator between the two parties. Sacrifices, handled by priests, are given to God to establish or renew fellowship with Him, acknowledging that this union is not unbroken and needs continual renewal through ongoing sacrifice.

In the journey of faith, access to God has been profoundly transformed through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. We have been granted direct access to the Father at any time, a privilege not available to the children of Israel who were barred from approaching the Tabernacle. In those times, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, and any outsider nearing the sacred space faced death as a penalty, underscoring the seriousness of God's law and the sanctity of His dwelling place. This barrier has been removed through our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who, after the order of Melchizedek, has torn away the veil. He has opened the way to the Tabernacle, granting us access to the Holy of Holies whenever we seek Him. This extraordinary access is reserved for those whom God the Father has chosen, allowing them to come to Him on the authority of Jesus Christ. As our King and High Priest, He is worthy of our lives, our praise, and our every breath, calling us to uphold His name with every moment of our existence.

Through Jesus Christ, those whom God calls have access to Him. Jesus' sinless life and sacrifice enable the elect to repent and be baptized, and God then pours out His Holy Spirit on them. This justifying work and the gift of the Spirit allow believers to approach God's very throne and enter His presence at any time through the covering blood of Jesus Christ, their Savior. Christ is a merciful and faithful High Priest and the Forerunner who paved the way into this relationship. Believers also have God's written Word, preserved throughout history, through which He definitely speaks to them, and they have His Spirit. Their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, for they were bought at a price and are not their own. Jesus says that He and the Father are not merely with believers but in them (John 14:19-24), so God cannot be more involved in their lives than He is. Because God does not change, the One who appeared and spoke to people in both Old and New Testament times remains near at hand. He is not a distant, remote Deity, and He will never leave nor forsake those He has called. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, and He is ready and able to intervene as He works in His people toward the fullness of Christ.