Access

Greek Word Pronunciation: pros-ago-GAY
Strong’s Number: 4318
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 4643
Key Verse: “… through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand …” -- Romans 5:2

Prosagoge is a compound of pros, meaning “toward” or “facing,” and ago, meaning “to lead, to bring.” It is literally “a leading or bringing into the presence of,” associated with freedom to enter through the assistance or favor of another. Thayer says this is a “relationship with God whereby we are acceptable to Him and have assurance that He is favorably disposed towards us.” It was the act of one who secures for another an interview with a sovereign.

It is found in the Septuagint in Exodus 29:10 and several times in Leviticus in the sense of bringing or offering an animal for sacrifice.

This noun appears only three times in the New Testament. Ephesians 2:18, “we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” indicates the privilege of being brought to or introduced to God. This involves the free access which we have to God through the Holy Spirit because of Christ’s merits.

Ephesians 3:12, “we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him,” tells us that our access to God’s throne denotes liberty granted by God because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Compared to the limited access to God in the Old Testament, the free access that we have now is certainly a reason to “exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

In the key verse, ROMANS 5:2, grace here is seen as a haven or harbor. In secular usage, prosagoge referred to a place for ships to land as they “approached” a harbor. Jesus brings the believer into full favor of God. Wuest says, “God the Son provides the way into the Father's presence through the blood of His cross, God the Spirit conducts the saint in and presents him, and God the Father is the One into whose presence the believer is brought.”