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THE THRONE OF GRACE

January 18, 2009

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have [present active part] a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [present active subjunctive] our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

A future throne

Revelation 20:11 And I [John] saw a great white throne, and him [Jesus Christ] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

A judgment seat

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat [bema] of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Bema = a throne

Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne [bema], and made an oration unto them.

Be blameless in the day

1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Consider the…high priest

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling [to enter into the kingdom, 2Pet.1:10-11], consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

He is in the presence of God on our behalf

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ [“high priest of good things to come,” v.11] has not entered the holy places made with hands [on the earth], which arecopies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

The opposite of confessing is denying

Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Only the house of God has a high priest

Hebrews 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

The local church

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Be blameless in the midst of a crooked and perverse world

Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

The kingdom is yours church

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock [the church Acts 20:28]; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Before the warning of Hebrew 3:6-4:13 – Consider the High Priest!

Hebrews 2:17-18 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid [help, assist, support, or deliver from difficulty] those who are tempted. 3:1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

After the warning of Hebrews 3:6-4:13 – The High Priest is again mentioned

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have [present active part] a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [present active subjunctive] our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come [Let us draw near] boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hold fast means do not waver

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering; for he is faithful that promised;

He is the rock that is higher than I

Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Mercy that forgives us of our sins

Numbers 14:18 'The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Nehemiah 9:17 they refused to obey, and were not mindful of the wonders which thou didst perform among them; but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But thou art a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and didst not forsake them.

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Grace to serve God acceptably

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Jesus had grace in doing His Father’s will

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Grace is always available

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Our High Priest is able to continually save us if we come to Him

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he [our great high priest] is able to save [present tense] completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

He has the power to make you stand blameless

Jude 24 Now to Him [our high priest] who is able to keep you from stumbling [“falling away” KJV], and to make you stand [approved] in the presence of His glory [at His coming] blameless with great joy,