Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
In this passage, “hold fast our confession” does not refer to the confession of our sins when we have succumbed to the flesh or temptation. Instead, it means we are speaking in agreement with the Word of God when we make confession, and we are holding fast to what we profess to believe in His Deity, His work of atonement and the redemption. First, we need to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Second, He has dealt with the sin issue that separated us from God at the cross. Third, He is our great High Priest, and lastly, He has been raised from the dead, and because He is alive, He is able to help us. Let the righteous say what they believe through the words of their mouth!
During the time of the Old Testament, nobody would have dared to come into the presence of God. In fact, the High Priest would have died in the presence of God if he had not carried out the proper sacrifice and cleansing because God is holy and cannot and will not condone sin in His presence. The blood of the animals could only cover the sin of mankind temporarily, plus the rituals had to be done correctly. However, due to Jesus’ finished the work on the cross, the veil in the temple which separated God and man has been torn into two, making it possible for us to fellowship with God and be in His presence today. He has given us an open invitation to proceed boldly to the throne of grace whenever we have a need.
The devil will accuse, condemn, and deceive us into thinking that we are not worthy to be in God’s presence, that God is angry at us, and He is the instigator and source of all our challenges in life. He will remind us of our past and all the wrongs we have done, playing them back in great detail to torment, accuse, and condemn us, in order to discourage us from approaching God. Therefore, it is important for us to understand our new identity in Christ and to remember the new creation realities because they will help us to be bold in coming to the throne of grace.
Boldness comes when we know that God does not look at us based on our self-righteousness, but He looks at us, accept us and shows favour towards us because He sees us in Christ.
Sermon Series: Go to the Throne of Grace
勇气来自于自知的新身份
希伯来书4:14-16 我们既然有一位已经升入高天尊荣的大祭司，就是上帝的儿子耶稣，便当持定所承认的道。因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱。他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。
这段经文中“持定所承认的道”指的不是我们屈服于血气和试探之后的认罪悔改。而是指当我们认罪时就是出声同意上帝的话语，就是在持守我们口中宣告相信的神性，以及祂赎罪和拯救的工作。首先，我们要承认耶稣是神的儿子。第二，祂已经在十字架上处理那使我们与神隔绝的罪的问题。第三，祂是我们的大祭司。最后，祂从死里复活，因为祂活着所以能够帮助我们。让义人以他们自己口中的言语说出他们所相信的！
在旧约时代，没有人胆敢来到神面前。事实上，即便是大祭司，如果没有进行彻底的洁净，没有按规定献祭，也有可能死在神的彰显之中，因为神是圣洁的，祂所在之处不会容忍罪的存在。动物的血只能暂时掩盖人的罪，并且要严格遵照献祭的仪式。然而，因着耶稣在十字架上完成了救赎工作，圣殿里将人和神分割的幔子被撕成了两半，今天我们才能与神团契，进入祂的同在。祂已经公开地邀请我们，使我们在需要的时候随时都可以坦然无惧地来到施恩宝座前。
魔鬼会控告，定罪和欺骗你，让你觉得自己不配在神的面前。牠会告诉你神对你动怒，让你认为神是我们生命中所有挑战的始作俑者和煽动者。为了打消我们亲近上帝的意愿，魔鬼会提醒你想起过去，以及曾经做过错事。他会详细回放你过去的行为和言语来折磨，控告和谴责你。所以我们必须明白自己在基督里新身份的意义，以及我们是新造的人这个既成事实，因为这能帮助我们坦然无惧的来到施恩座前。
当我们知道神并不是以我们自己的义来看待我们，而是在基督里看待、接纳和施恩于我们时，勇气便在我们心中油然而生。
讲章系列：来到施恩宝座前
Image Source: pixabay.com