Because God is an immanent God, He does not hold us at arm’s length or, in His majesty, tower far above us. Although He is high, holy, and glorious, God still chooses to draw us close—or “draw us nigh”—to Himself in fellowship by the propitiation of His Son, the Lord Jesus.

“Drawing nigh” is a theme emphasized several times throughout the New Testament epistles. Apostles such as Paul and James wanted the new believers to know that they worshipped a God Who loved them and wanted to “draw nigh,” or near, to them.

Roman pagans considered their false gods as far removed from mankind. These pagan gods, such as Mars and Jupiter, were believed to live in remote and lofty places like Mount Olympus. These gods had no real communion with mankind.

Likewise, unbelieving Jews in the days of the apostles tried to earn favor with the Almighty God. They increasingly locked themselves in a legalistic and ritualistic religion whereby they tried to appease a remote, distant Supreme Being by good works and adherence to the Law.

By contrast, the Apostles proclaimed the “good news” that God had come down to man as Emmanuel. He could be known, trusted, and relied upon, just as one might rely upon a kind father or a faithful friend.

One word that we find in the New Testament is nigh, as in we are “made nigh” (Ephesians 2:13) by the redeeming work of our Lord Jesus. The Greek word translated “nigh” is ἐγγύς (engus). This fascinating word literally means “to hug,” “to encircle with the crook of the arms,” or “to hold close.” The word presents the image of a parent’s loving embrace of a beloved son or daughter. It is a special word that shows us the immanence of the God Whom we serve.

Let’s examine four passages in the New Testament where “drawing nigh” is highlighted.

Ephesians 2:13 – The blood of Jesus brings us nigh

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (emphasis added). In Ephesians 2:13, Paul described the Ephesians in their unconverted condition as “far off.” But the blood of Christ drew them nigh; His love embraced them and held them close.

In modern Christianity, there is an increasing hesitation to use the word blood in the description of the Gospel. Somehow, people are repelled by the idea of a bloody cross. But Paul did not apologize for the fact that it is that very blood that draws us near to God. As redeemed children, we should be grateful for the blood of Jesus shed for us and give thanks to Him that His precious blood closed the chasm between us and our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 7:19 – The New Covenant brings us nigh

“For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” In this passage, the writer of Hebrews discussed the superiority of the New Covenant (“better hope”) to the Old Covenant. The priesthood of Melchizedek was better than the priesthood of Aaron. The blood of Christ is better than the blood of bulls and goats. The eternal sacrifice is better than an ongoing and temporal sacrifice. Thus, this better hope, the New Covenant, has allowed us to draw nigh to God.

Hebrews 10:22 – A clear conscience brings us nigh

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” One of the great blessings of a clear conscience is that we have the full assurance to draw nigh to God. Whenever the Holy Spirit brings unconfessed sin to our attention, it is very important that we acknowledge our sin and forsake it immediately. Sometimes complete confession requires restitution to those we have wronged. As we endeavor to have a clear conscience before God and before man, we can boldly draw near to God and enjoy fellowship with Him.

James 4:8–10 – Humility brings us nigh

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (verse 8). This verse is closely related to the previous verse in Hebrews that we considered on the importance of a clear conscience. In his letter to believers, the early church leader James added another comment about our drawing near to God: “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (verses 9–10). In our drawing nigh to God, James pointed to the necessity of our being humble in our assessment and attitude.

We are redeemed by an immanent God Who longs to draw near to us! But our part is to cultivate humble hearts that will enable us to draw near to Him. As we do so, may we live in the delight of the close, tender relationship that our Heavenly Father desires with us. From His high and holy place, God delights to lift up His children to draw them close to His heart.