Why do we need a priest to approach God?

The need for a priest arises from two fundamental truths: God's absolute holiness and our inherent sinfulness. As noted in the sermon, we cannot approach God on our own due to our sinful state. Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to draw near to the throne of grace, but this is only possible through our high priest, Jesus, who represents us. His role as our mediator is emphasized in 1 Timothy 2:5, where it states that there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Therefore, our access to God is always through Him, who bridges the gap created by our sin.