What Will We Find at the Throne of Grace?
Context: Hebrews 4:12-16
Text: Hebrews 4:16
What can we expect to find when we go to God’s throne of Grace?
1. The Living Word (vs. 12)
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
You can expect to find the sword of God’s word probing your heart, seeking out sinful attitudes, actions, and motives. This sword is so precise that it can discern even the thoughts and intentions of the heart. These are the areas of the heart nobody sees. This is the area of the heart where sin can lurk long before it shows up on the outside. God’s Word is able to reach into to the deepest caverns of the heart and cut out every sin.
2. The knowing God (vs. 13)
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)
Every thought of your heart is open to the searchlight of God. He sees everything. There is no point in trying to harbor secret sin in the heart. God sees it. If you plan to live for God you must let him remove all sin from your heart.. If you plan to experience eternal life, every sin must be confessed, forgiven, and forsaken. A Holy God will not allow sin into His presence. You can hide from your family and friends, but you cannot hide from God.
3. The caring High Priest. (vs. 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. (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus, our High Priest, feels our temptations. He was tempted in the same ways that we are tempted. There are three basic types of temptation that we all face: bodily appetites, human relationships, and spiritual relationships. Jesus faced all of these while walking on this earth. Matthew 4 gives us the account of the temptations of Christ.
He was tempted to
1. Turn stones into bread when he was hungry. –bodily appetite temptation
2. Jump off a tall building to impress the people. –human relationships temptation involving feeling the need for acceptance of others
3. Bow down and worship the devil to gain power over the kingdoms of the world. –spiritual relationship temptation
“Self—others—God: He was tempted at all three points. By what was He to be ruled? His desire for bread? His desire for acceptance? His desire for power?—or His loyalty to God? These are pivotal questions of life, which every man must answer.” {footnote 1}
4. The Saving Mercy
Mercy is the favor of God given to those who deserve the judgment of God. The invitation is to come boldly before the throne of Grace. Jesus knows our weaknesses. He knows our temptations.
(1 John 2:1-6) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
5. The Strengthening Grace
The promise in Hebrews 4:16 is that God will give us grace to help in time of need.
You have been living the Christian life. All has been going well. A temptation arises for which you were unprepared. You stumbled and yielded to the temptation. God convicted you of your sin and invited you to come boldly to the throne of Grace. Now you have confessed your need to Him and He has forgiven you. Now you are ready for this promise of grace to help in time of need. This is that grace that keeps you from falling back into sin. God expects us to live holy lives free from willful sin, but if we stumble, he has the grace to keep us from stumbling the next time the temptation arises.
{footnote 1: Beacon Bible Commentary, vol. 10, Beacon
Hill Press, 1967, pp. 59,60}
