Let us…
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
“Let us”…there are many in Hebrews….for the writer is including himself in these exhortations. “Let us” shows the heart of the writer….for though he is writing them….he is with them in heart and will…..”Come on, let us, keep after the Lord our Shepherd….and turn away from all that would hinder this.”
The writer had just spoken concerning unbelief…
Hebrews 4:1 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it”
(And we should fear not only for ourselves, but for others….who seem to come short of it.)
Fear here is not terror, but the attitude of working to stay away from something’s and holding onto other things.
Unbelief will keep us from every blessing God has for us.
Every promise in the Word, and every promise given to us personally is nothing until entered into by faith….
….first, we should have the hope of these things, by the assurance of the Holy Spirit.
(You may be called to an altar, or receive a promise in the Bible in answer to prayer…..but then you need to know the confident assurance that God will do it….in your spirit, by the Holy Spirit.)
Then,
Hebrews 4:2-3, 9 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
For we, which have believed do enter into rest, as He has said…..
There remained therefore a rest for the people of God.”
Without the element of faith, there is nothing….for faith makes them real….
….first within….
….then by obedience, in our lives…..we have these promises.
(I’m going to take us on a journey….the Israelites were “preached” to by Moses, often.
…..but also in the Red Sea crossing! That should have shouted at them what a wonderful God they had….that would deliver them in such a way.
The tree sweetening the waters should have “preached” that no matter the outward circumstances….God will provide.
And so the preaching continued….with manna, with water from a Rock, with Sinai, with the Ark and Tabernacle. If they had “heard” the preaching of these….and learned to deny themselves in these smaller lessons….trusting God…
….then, When they were presented with the land of their promise….
….they would have denied their lives, rather than deny their God.
Their “rest” would have been in God…..till He had given them their “rest” in Canaan.
It is the same with us…..our “rest” is the promise He gives us now. How do we enter into that rest? Have faith in God….for this…..and He will lead us into future “rest”…..till our lives are full of faith in God.)
Therefore, the writer, ends this chapter with:
“Let us” come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
What is mercy? It is God’s kindness to sinners.
Spiritual mercy are those kindnesses which come to us as HIs born again ones. Forgiveness, that gentle nudging of our spirits when we are going the wrong way, help to pray aright….a lifting of our hearts when sad, a touch of peace when weary. How many mercies we receive.
What is grace? It is the unmerited favor of power….this is power to believe and do.
This sounds great! But what is “in time of need”?
Every time we hesitate to believe. Every time we want to “see” instead of walk by faith. Every time we want to complain about the lessons along the way….
…”let us” come boldly to the throne of grace to get mercy…and grace to help us.
It is to the throne of grace we come…..God’s Throne made a throne of grace by Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then we have a great High Priest, that is past into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
He knows our infirmities and has therefore a throne of grace where we may obtain mercy….and find grace.
He understands what we are and how we are,….having made full provision for us….
So come boldly to His throne to receive what you need.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 