Draw Near to the Throne

Don’t we all like to think we are close to someone? I love to know I can depend on people. That has not always been the case for me. Maybe it has not always been the case for you either. I have good news for you today.

There is someone you can always lean on.

No matter how others have let you down,

Jesus is Greater!

Hebrews 4:14–5:11 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Few things we need to learn from this set of passages. We will be moving quickly through them so that we can get to how we apply them today.

Jesus is our High Priest

Verse 14 tells us that

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

I want you to remember that verse, and particularly the word

Propitiation

This word means

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Propitiation)

Turning away of anger by the offering of a gift or sacrifice.

to propitiate v. — to appease an offended party’s wrath (for some wrongdoing) in order to regain goodwill; normally accomplished by making sacrifice to an offended deity.

The visionary aspect here is for you to picture a wrath that intends harm being turned away.

For instance, an enraged gunman prepared to shoot you and suddenly someone steps in, disarms the gunman and saves your life.

Our needed sacrifice has been paid, not by us, but by Jesus Christ our propitiation and our High Priest.

This is only part of the good news these verses hold. It is also about his ability to identify with us.

Tempted or Tested

Depending on which translation of the Bible you are using, you may have either word.

The greek word peirázō; fut. peirásō, from peíra (3984), experience, trial. To try, to prove in either a good or bad sense, tempt, test by soliciting to sin.

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

That word can either be a temptation meant to bring you down or one meant to build you up.

So, he knows what we are going through.

He is not only our high priest, our propitiation, but he understands what we are going through.

He is someone we can depend on. We draw near to the throne because He knows us, intercedes for us, and can identify with us.

He is also Appointed by God

Hebrews 5:1–4 ESV

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So, let’s begin to turn to application for today.

This is important for this weeks lesson and last weeks. Remember we were told to take care last week so that we did not become deceived by sin.

I want to start this application by asking a question.

How many of us read these passages, and many others, as God saying,

“When you fall into sin, I have been where you have been and I will pull you out”.

I want you to notice who the author makes that type of application to.

Sometimes we even apply this in our own witness.

I have fallen into that sin and can help you find the same way out that I found.

Hebrews 5:1–3 ESV

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.

The priests in the line of Aaron offered this type of sacrifice or deliverance.

Christ offers a much greater one.

Hebrews 5:5–11 ESV

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

I am praying here today that we are not dull of hearing.

The difference here between us, or the Aaronic priesthood, is that we tend to help others because we have sinned and found forgiveness.

Jesus never sinned!

so how does he help us, how does he rescue us?

He is our propitiation, He has lived as a man and does know that struggle.

However, he offers us something much more than the understanding we desire when we fall into sin.

He offers us the power to stand against sin.

Romans 8 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Why is Christ the “High Priest”?

Because He does not just rescue you from the sin you have fallen into.

He provides you strength to resist it.

He provides to confidence of God’s love when Satan tries to undo you.

If all we now have is a priest who can offer sacrifices for sins we have committed, we have no greater priest than Aaron.

Hebrews 5:9 ESV

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

That is a salvation that repeated sacrifice could not offer.

That is a salvation great enough to empower you against the sin that used to dominate your life.

I have heard people say “I am just a sinner saved by grace”

You are a sinner saved by grace, but you are not “just” a sinner saved by grace.

You are a saint saved from the power of sin and death.

You are more than a conqueror.

Do not let sin deceive you into believing you cannot resist sin. You have a high priest, a savior, who says I will stand with you. I will give you the power to resist or way to flee. I will take you through the valley of the shadow of death, you need not fear any evil. I will be there.

That is why we see passages like

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

You can stand against sin,

Draw Near to the Throne

Find your power there

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Where do you find this armor?

You Draw Near to the Throne

You stand in His power, under His promises, under His priesthood.

Jesus is Greater!