Jesus Changed Everything About How You Approach God - Mike Pickett - Charis Daily - Season 17 Ep. 18

Main Ideas

Jesus Changed How Believers Approach God

Mike Pickett contrasts the Old Testament’s mercy seat with the New Testament’s throne of grace. In his teaching, the mercy seat points to repeated sacrifices and attention to sin, while the throne of grace represents access to God through Jesus’ completed work and the righteousness believers receive through him.

The Old Covenant’s Sacrifices Covered Sin but Did Not Permanently Remove It

• The tabernacle’s mercy seat was in the Most Holy Place, which the high priest entered once a year.
• Animal sacrifices took the place of people who deserved judgment, but their blood covered sin only temporarily.
• Repeated sacrifices kept attention on sin and the need for further atonement.
• Pickett presents this system as a temporary “type and shadow” of what Jesus would accomplish.

Jesus Is the Once-for-All Sacrifice and High Priest

• Pickett emphasizes that Jesus was sinless and did not enter an earthly sanctuary. He entered heaven itself and appeared before God on humanity’s behalf.
• Unlike animal sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice is described as removing sin, not merely covering it.
• At the heart of the New Covenant is an exchange: Jesus took humanity’s sin and condemnation, while believers receive his righteousness.

Grace Is More Than Forgiveness After Failure

• In Pickett’s comparison, mercy means not receiving the judgment one deserves.
• Grace includes mercy, but it also gives believers help and power to live differently.
• He argues that grace teaches people to reject ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.

Believers Can Approach God with Confidence

Because of Jesus’ work, Christians are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in times of need.

Pickett says believers should not define themselves by their mistakes or approach God as though they must repeatedly earn acceptance. Acceptance, he explains, is given at the beginning through faith in Jesus, rather than earned at the end through a tally of good and bad deeds.

A Changed Identity Should Reshape a Believer’s Thinking and Life

Pickett encourages Christians to renew their minds so they see themselves in light of Christ’s righteousness rather than remaining focused on their failures.

By “no longer having a consciousness of sin,” he means shifting the central focus away from condemnation and toward Jesus’ work and one’s relationship with God—not that believers never make mistakes. He acknowledges that people still do.

He summarizes this idea by saying, “Grace has teeth”: grace changes people inwardly and, as a result, affects their outward conduct.

Practical Takeaways

• Trust in Jesus’ completed sacrifice rather than trying to earn acceptance through good behavior.
• Approach God confidently for mercy and help when facing difficulty or failure.
• Focus on the righteousness and new identity believers receive through Christ rather than living under ongoing condemnation.
• Renew your mind through Scripture and let grace shape your daily conduct.
• Seek prayer, support, or teaching resources when you need help understanding or living out these ideas.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Mike Pickett — host and primary teacher.
• Duane Sheriff — quoted briefly on grace.
• Andrew and Jamie — mentioned as ministry leaders who offer teaching and discipleship resources; they do not speak in the subtitles.

Biblical passages cited or discussed: Exodus 25:17–22; Leviticus 16:14–15; Hebrews 4:15–16; Hebrews 9:1–5 and 9:24; Hebrews 10:1–2; Titus 2:11–12; Ephesians 2; and 1 John 4:17.