"From where do we derive the confidence to walk with God, particularly our God, who is "a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29)? Was there not such fear among His people of old that seeing God was believed to be unbearable, leading to certain death? Can anyone, without extreme horror, contemplate the dreadful appearance God made to them on Mount Sinai? Even Moses, their mediator, said, "I tremble with fear" (Hebrews 12:21), and all the people said, "Do not let God speak to us, or we will die" (Exodus 20:19). Even though individuals may have notions of God's goodness and kindness, when faced with the revelation of His glory, they tremble with fear and astonishment. Has this not been the case even with His choicest saints (Habakkuk 3:16; Isaiah 6:5; Job 42:5-6)? Where, then, do we find the audacity to walk with God? The apostle will answer this for us in Hebrews 10:19: "We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus." Similarly, Ephesians 3:12 states, "In him we have boldness and access with confidence." Rather than standing at a distance like the people during the giving of the law, we draw near to God with boldness, and this is possible because of one reason: The fear and terror of God are a result of sin. Adam did not consider hiding himself until he had sinned. The guilt of sin on our conscience and the common notion ingrained in our hearts that God is a righteous avenger cause us to dread His presence, fearing that He has come to bring our sins to remembrance. However, by His sacrifice and atonement, the Lord Jesus has removed this conscience of sin, along with the dread of God's revenge on its account. He has taken away the sword of the law that condemns us, granting us great boldness before God. He now reveals Himself not as a vengeful Judge but as a tender, merciful, and reconciled Father. Moreover, while we naturally possess a spirit of bondage that torments us with numerous fears, Jesus takes it away and grants us the Spirit of adoption. Through this Spirit, we cry out, "Abba, Father," and confidently and graciously behave as children. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17), specifically freedom from all the dread and terror associated with the administration of the law. Since there is no sin that God will more severely avenge than any audacity displayed by individuals outside of Christ, there is no grace more pleasing to Him than the boldness He grants us through the blood of Jesus."