Jim Gallagher

Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

It seems the Apostle Thomas sometimes spoke what the others were thinking. On one occasion, when Jesus spoke of where He was going, Thomas replied, “Lord we don’t know where You are going or how to get there” (John 14:5). To which Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me” (John 14:6). It was through the cross that Jesus made a way. On the cross He bore our sins and their penalty, opening a doorway, for any and all who trust in Christ, to have access to God. That access to God has two applications. First, when we die, we attain heaven. Jesus was declaring, as emphatically as possible, that heaven is awarded to those, and only those, who trust Christ for salvation. This is not the only time this truth is declared.

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is their salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

But there is a second application this doorway into heaven provides. Hebrews 4 states, while we live, we have access to the throne of God. For the Christian, this is not a throne of judgment, where we are penalized for the things we have done wrong, or things we have neglected to do. Instead, it is a throne of grace, where we are able to receive from God the things that we need while here on earth. The word grace speaks of the giving nature of God. Because of His love for us, and our relationship with Him, He desires to give good things to His children. He will not hold back anything from us that would help us to become more like Him, or assist us in making it to the end of our journey and enter glory. Notice, at the throne of grace, we receive two things. First, there is mercy provided for the failures of the past. Second, there is grace given to help us not fall into those same snares in the future.

The way has been made to a throne of magnificent grace. All that remains is that we come boldly, consistently, and expectantly. I want to encourage you to take some time right now to sit before the Throne of Grace, pouring out your heart and receiving mercy and grace to help.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Hebrews 4

1. In chapter three we find a promise of God:  if we trust Him we will enter into His rest.  Here in verse 1 there is a warning.  What is it?
2. In verses 2-8, we see of two times in the past where a rest was offered by God: in the time of Joshua, and in the time of Creation.  In each case, the rest could not be entered into because of what?
3. Read verses 9-11. What does it mean to enter into God’s rest?  Is it something that we play a part in?
4. In verse 12-13 we read that the Word of God can do surgery on our hearts, and that the eyes of God see clearly all the work that needs to be done.  Are you regularly in the word, and do you cooperate with the work that God is trying to do?
5. Consider verse 14-15.  How high is Jesus?  How low did He make Himself?
6. We should come confidently and trustingly to God’s throne.  What should we come for?  When should we come?

Old Testament:
Jeremiah 7- Should I Pray?
Jeremiah 8- Perpetual