“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
that He might bring us to God,
The sacrifice of Christ brings us into permanent audience with God.
The words “bring us to” means lead into the presence of someone — to lead before, to bring into the presence of, to bring to. This carries the idea of the ceremonial sense of “presenting” at court. Since Jesus takes the initiative, this is his saving work, not ours.
At the court of kings in the first century, there was an official called the Prosagogeus (the introducer). In secular Greek life, an “introducer” would give access to the king. His function was to decide who would be admitted into the king’s presence and who was kept out. He gave access to the king. He held keys of access to the king’s presence. The person who holds the keys to go into the presence of the Father is Jesus Christ. He gives us access to the presence of God. Jesus’ suffering brings us into the King’s audience chamber (Ro 5:2; Eph 2:18; 3:12).
PRINCIPLE:
The ultimate purpose of the cross is to bring man to God.
APPLICATION:
We will never find God by ourselves. We would not know whether to go north, south, east, or west. Only Jesus knows the way. Only he can bring us to God. Someone brought us into this world; now, Someone needs to bring us into the next world. Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God (Jn. 10:16; He 2:10).
