Third Requirement for Approaching God

Today, I’m going to speak about the third requirement, which is that we must pray in the name of Jesus.

Let’s look at some scriptures in the New Testament where this is so clearly stated. In John 14, verses 13 and 14, Jesus says,

“And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

And then again, in John 16, verses 23 and 24:

“And in that day you will ask Me no question. ‘Truly, truly,’ I say to you, ‘whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.’ Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.”

In those verses, the phrase ‘in My name’ occurs four times. Three times it’s spoken of asking God in the name of Jesus. But the fourth time, it says that God will give what we ask in the name of Jesus. In other words, the relationship to God is in the name of Jesus both ways: in our asking and in God’s giving.

Now, what is implied when we pray in the name of Jesus? I suggest that there are three main things implied by coming to God in the name of Jesus. First of all, we’re coming to God on the basis of what Jesus has done on our behalf. Let me say that again. On the basis of what Jesus has done on our behalf. That’s implied when we pray in the name of Jesus.

Now, on our behalf, Jesus has paid the penalty of sin. He’s died in our place. He’s taken our guilt and our condemnation, and He’s made the way open for us to come to God without feeling guilty or ashamed.

This is what it says in 1 Peter 3:18:

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God.”

The purpose of His death on the cross, bearing our sins in our place, was that He might bring us to God, that we might have the right of access to God.

Again, in Ephesians 2:13, Paul says,

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

The blood of Christ is the visible, eternal evidence of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. When we come in the name of Jesus, we come in the merits of the blood that He shed on our behalf.

In Hebrews 12:24, it says this about the things that are in the heavenlies:

“Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

There’s a beautiful comparison there, based on an incident in the Old Testament. You remember the story of Cain and Abel? Cain murdered his brother Abel. And then God spoke to Cain and said, “What have you done?” And when Cain pleaded ignorance and innocence, God said, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground,” crying for vengeance and justice.

But here, the writer of Hebrews says the blood of Jesus is sprinkled on our behalf in the heavenlies, and it speaks better things than Abel’s blood. In other words, the blood of Jesus is speaking of reconciliation, mercy, forgiveness, atonement.

When I’m under pressure and I find it hard to pray, one of my greatest consolations is that even if I don’t know what to say, the blood of Jesus is always speaking in heaven on my behalf. And when I come in the name of Jesus, that’s included in coming in His name.

The second thing that we are entitled to when we come in the name of Jesus is we come on the basis of who Jesus Himself is. In Hebrews 10:19 and following, the writer says,

“Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”

We come with Jesus as our great Priest.

And then again, in 1 John 2:1, John says,

“My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

The word that’s translated ‘Advocate’ means literally someone called in alongside to help us and to plead our cause for us.

So, when we come in the name of Jesus, we come with Jesus as our High Priest and our Advocate. As our High Priest, He offers up our prayers to God on our behalf. And because they’re offered up by Jesus, we know that they reach God. And as our Advocate, He speaks to God on our behalf. He pleads our cause better than we could ever do ourselves.

So, when we come in the name of Jesus, it means that we’re coming because of who Jesus is, not because of what we are, but because of who He is. First of all, He’s the Priest that offers up our prayers. Secondly, He’s the Advocate that speaks directly to God on our behalf. And when we make mistakes and errors, and even sin, we don’t need to stay away from God and feel ashamed. We can come to God freely because Jesus is our Advocate. He’s pleading with God on our behalf.