God’s Grace

¹⁴ So then, since we have a GREAT High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours (Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find (receive) grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

One of the clear messages of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) and the Son of the living God (Hebrews 1:1-3, 5-6, 8; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 5:8; Hebrews 7:28; see also, e.g., see Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16; Mark 1:1; Mark 8:27-30; Mark 14:61-62; John 3:16; John 20:31; Acts 18:5). For the living LORD God, who is the Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them, in all His fullness was pleased to live in His Son, Jesus the Messiah (Christ) (e.g., see John 1:1-4, 14, 16, 18; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9). From Jesus Christ’s fullness, everyone who believes in Him and repents of their sins have received the living LORD God’s grace upon grace, blessings upon blessings, and an abundant life (e.g., see John 1:16; John 3:15-16; John 10:10; John 20:29, 31; Acts 14:15).

Even more, the inspired writer of Hebrews wanted everyone to know the Lord Jesus Christ is also our GREAT High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15; see also Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 5:5, 10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 8:1, 9; Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 10:21). As our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus has ascended, entered, and passed through the heavens to His Father, the living LORD God (Hebrews 4:14; see also Mark 16:19; Acts 1:2, 9-11; Ephesians 4:10). Now in the heavens, the Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of His Father, the living LORD God (Hebrews 1:3, 13; see also Psalm 110:1-2; Matthew 22:43-44; Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 22:68-69; Acts 2:33-34; Acts 5:31; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 13; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22). At His Father’s right hand, the Lord Jesus is able, once and forever, to save everyone completely and forever who wholeheartedly comes to the living God through Him (e.g., see John 14:6; Acts 4:12). The Lord Jesus lives forever interceding, mediating, and pleading in His Father’s Presence for all faithful believers (e.g., see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1).

Before ascending into the heavens, the Lord Jesus destroyed the veil or curtain that separated humanity from the living God and brought humanities’ peace and reconciliation with God through faith in Him (Hebrews 10:19-22; see also Romans 5:1-2). At Lord Jesus’ death, the massive thick curtain in the Temple was ripped in two that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (see Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). This thick curtain sealed off the Most Holy Place where the living God and His Glory resided from humanity (see Hebrews 9:2-7). No one except the Jewish high priest was allowed access to draw near God’s Presence in that Most Holy Place (see Leviticus 16:1-34). And the Jewish high priest was only permitted once a year on a special day, the annual Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur (see also Leviticus 23:26-32; 1 Chronicles 6:49). The unknown author of Hebrews looked on the miraculously torn curtain in the Temple as symbolic representing EVERYONE’S immediate free access to the living LORD God made possible by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross (Hebrews 9:11-10:22; see also Ephesians 2:15-16, 18). Therefore, the unknown author of Hebrews encourages everyone to NEVER STOP BELIEVING, OBEYING, AND TRUSTING Jesus as our Messiah and the Son of the living God (Hebrews 4:14; see also Hebrews 2:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 10:23, 36).

Furthermore, the writer of Hebrews declares that our GREAT High Priest the Lord Jesus sympathizes and understands all our human weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15; see also Hebrews 2:14). The Lord Jesus is not only God, but He also lived fully as a human while on earth, the God-Man (e.g., see John 1:1-4, 14; Philippians 2:7). Thus, the Lord Jesus was completely and fully God and fully man (e.g., see Philippians 2:6). Biblical scholars call the Lord Jesus’ visit to earth as the God-Man the “incarnation.” The incarnation means the living God became human in Jesus, the Man from Nazareth (e.g., Matthew 1:23; Matthew 21:11; John 1:1-2, 14; John 8:40; Acts 2:22; Galatians 4:4).

As He walked the earth, the Lord Jesus took the likeness and form of a human (e.g., see John 1:14; Romans 8:3). By becoming human, the Lord Jesus learned firsthand the temptations, testing, and sufferings that all people undergo. The Lord Jesus experienced and shared human weakness, infirmities, and temptations – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (Hebrews 4:15; see also, e.g., Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; Hebrews 2:17-18; 1 John 2:16). Also, Jesus attributed to Himself such normal human features as a body and soul (e.g., see Matthew 26:26, 28, 38). Also, Jesus grew and developed along the lines of normal human development (e.g., see Luke 2:40, 52). During His earthly ministry, Jesus displayed common bodily needs: fatigue and weariness (e.g., see Matthew 8:24; John 4:6); hunger and thirst (e.g., see Matthew 4:2; Matthew 21:18; John 19:28); joy and sorrow (e.g., see Matthew 26:37; John 15:11); compassion and love (e.g., see Matthew 9:36; John 11:5); and anger (e.g., see Mark 3:5). Yet, the unknown writer of Hebrews emphasizes the Lord Jesus never once yielded and gave into temptations and testing by sinning against His Father, the living LORD God (Hebrews 4:15; see also 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).

Believers of Jesus are called upon to imitate God and His Son Jesus and not yield to sin, temptations, and testing (e.g., see Romans 6:1-2, 11-13; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 13:14; Ephesians 5:1; Colossians 3:10; Hebrews 10:21-25). Instead, believers of Jesus are commanded to use our lives as God’s instruments of righteousness and produce good fruit and deeds in the world for God’s glory and honor (e.g., see Matthew 5:14-16; Romans 6:13; Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Titus 2:12; 1 Peter 2:12, 24). The living God and His Son Jesus have given all believers through faith and obedience in Him the Holy Spirit – the Helper – with power to overcome testing and temptations (e.g., see John 14:15-18, 21, 23-24, 27; Acts 5:32; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 2:18; 2 Peter 2:9). Even if one yields to temptations, testing, and sin, the living God also calls that one to repent, confess their sins, and turn to Him (e.g., see 1 John 1:9). The living God wants all people to know that His love, acceptances, and peace is available to all people through faith and obedience in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ stands ready to give immediate and sympathetic help when believers are tempted (see Hebrews 4:15-16).

Therefore, the unknown writer of Hebrews encourages EVERYONE to come boldly, without fear, and with full confidence to God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16; see also Romans 5:2; Hebrews 10:19). ALL PEOPLE can now boldly and confidently come into God’s Presence with freedom but also reverence to find God’s grace and mercy through our faith and obedience to His Son Jesus, our GREAT High Priest (Hebrews 10:19, 35; see also John 14:6; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 3:12). Our faith in God’s Son Jesus gives us our heart peace, friendship, and free access to the living LORD God of heaven and earth (e.g., see Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:14; John 14:27; Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Ephesians 2:14-15, 18; Colossians 3:15). At the throne of God’s grace, the writer of Hebrews declares we will find and receive God’s unending mercy for our failures and grace to help in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, the unknown author of Hebrews welcomes ALL PEOPLE to come to boldly yet reverently to God’s throne to find His grace and mercy!

What is grace? In the Holy Scriptures, God’s grace relates to God’s mercy, kindness, favor, and love for ALL PEOPLE (e.g., see John 3:16; Hebrews 4:16). The living LORD God’s very nature is grace, goodness, love, faithfulness, and mercy (e.g., see Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). Believers of Jesus are called upon to imitate God’s nature through the fruit of the Spirit and walk in love, mercy, and forgiveness (e.g., see Matthew 5:7, 48; Luke 6:36; Galatians 5:22; 23; Ephesians 4:24, 32; Ephesians 5:1).  

In the New Testament, God’s grace is virtually equated with the Gospel message about His Son Jesus – the Good News. God’s grace is received by faith in what God has done in His Jesus (e.g., see Ephesians 2:5, 8-9). This is the Good News: the living God accepts, loves, and offers His salvation (restoration, healing, and refreshment) to ALL PEOPLE who genuinely REPENTS of their sins and wholeheartedly TURNS to Him by FAITH in His only begotten and unique Son the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior (e.g., see Luke 24:27; Acts 3:16-21; Acts 5:29-32; Acts 9:20, 22; Acts 10:34-43; Acts 11:18, 23; Acts 13:38-39; Acts 14:15; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:30-31, 34, Acts 18:24-26, 30-31; Acts 20:21, 24; Romans 3:23-25;). However, some wicked workers of evil have taken God’s grace and turned God’s grace into a corrupt gospel promising freedom to sin without judgment (e.g., see Jude 1:4). Even worse, some people have rejected God’s grace found in His Son Jesus and continued the pathway of sin, wickedness, and evil (e.g., Hebrew 10:26-29; Hebrews 12:14-15)

Yet, God’s true grace through faith in His Son Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin (e.g., see Luke 4:18; Romans 3:24-31; Romans 6:18, 20, 22-23)! Even more, God’s grace is His power which strengthens our lives (e.g., see Hebrews 13:9) and brings God’s gifts for serving others (e.g., see Acts 6:8; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Furthermore, grace means thanks, as in the thanksgiving over a meal (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 10:30), in songs of praise (e.g., see Colossians 3:16), and an expression of “thanks to God” (e.g., see Romans 6:17, Romans 7:25; 1 Corinthians 15:57). The living LORD God of heaven and earth (Yahweh) searches the whole earth to strengthen and empower those whose hearts are blameless and fully committed to Him (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 16:9; Zechariah 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 3:12).

References

Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).

Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Butler, Trent C. Holman Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1991).