We're not talking backing into God's presence, crawling into God's presence, wringing our hands and trembling with uncertainty into God's presence.

We're talking, I can come and I'm coming into God's presence with zeal and passion.

Should a Christian ever lack confidence in approaching God? In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper opens Hebrews 10, 19 to 22 to explore the unshakable basis of our boldness in drawing near to God.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on March 23, 1997.

I invite you to take a Bible and turn to Hebrews chapter 10, verses 19 to 22.

Now, before we read it, let me tell you about the match that the Lord put in my hand and struck so that when I put it to this tender, it inflamed.

Because I didn't come to this text out of a vacuum.

Last Sunday, and you may have read it as well, if you're reading through the Bible in the discipleship reading plan,

we read Romans 10, 1, and 2, which go like this.

Paul says concerning the Jewish kinsman, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved,

for they have a zeal for God, but it is not according to knowledge.

Now, I've read that hundreds of times, but this time the juxtaposition of these two ideas jolted me.

I pray that they might be saved, for they have a zeal for God.

You can have a zeal for God and be lost.

That's jolting.

It jolted me.

One of the reasons it jolted me is because I love the word zeal.

I use the word passion.

It's on the banner up there.

See that?

Spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples.

I love the word passion.

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