Turn with me, if you would, back
to Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews chapter 4, and let's
read verses 14 to 16 again. that we have a great high priest
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us
hold fast our profession. 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. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. Let us therefore come boldly. Let us come boldly to the throne. Boldly to the throne. That's
an amazing statement. Let us come boldly to the throne. God has said in his word to his
people, you can come boldly to my throne. That's an amazing
statement. Now what makes that such an amazing
statement is Naturally, the throne of God, standing before the throne
of God, that is the last place. That thought of standing before
the throne of God, that is the last place that sinful flesh
wants to be. That's the very last place. That is what man tries to put
off as long as he can. To leave here is to go stand
before His throne. And man does everything he can
to put that off. Hold off on that as long as he
can. He tries so hard to live as long
as he can on this earth so he doesn't have to go stand before
the throne of God. It's a fearful thing to go stand
before the throne of God. Don't turn over there, but Psalm
nine, verse seven, it says, it says that the throne of God is
a throne of judgment. Everybody talks about the judgment.
It's a throne of judgment. If you look right here at Hebrews
four, verse 12, it says for the word of God is quick. meaning
living, it's lively, and it's powerful, and it's 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. 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." It's a throne of strict justice. Very, very strict justice. Therefore, it's a throne that
will by no means clear the guilty. The reason is because Psalm 47
verse eight says that throne is a throne of holiness. It's a place of holiness. It's
a throne of holiness. That very verse says, God reigneth
over the heathen. God sitteth upon the throne of
his holiness. Isaiah saw it. Isaiah saw God's
throne and he saw God's holiness. Look with me, if you would, at
Isaiah chapter six. Isaiah 6 verse 1 says, in the
year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and his train
filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims,
each one had six wings, With twain he covered his face, and
with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And
one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
of hosts. The whole earth is full of his
glory. The whole earth, it's a throne
of glory. Our Lord said in Matthew 25,
he said, you're gonna see me sitting on that very throne.
You're gonna see me sitting on the throne of my glory. I thought about Pilate and think
about this. The Lord had to stand before
the judgment throne of Pilate. Think about that. The Lord had
to stand there and be judged by Pilate. He had to endure Pilate's
judgment. Can you imagine when right after
that, Pilate had to stand before his judgment throne? He had to
stand before the judgment seat of Christ. He said, you're going
to see me sitting on my throne of glory. And here it comes. There he is. the judgment seat
of Christ. Can you imagine the horror of
seeing the glory and the holiness of His throne, that strict justice
of His throne, knowing I have to be judged for my sin against
Him. I sinned against Him. Verse one says, in the year that
King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne,
high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood
the seraphims. Each one had six wings. With
twain, He covered His face. With twain, He covered His feet.
With twain, He did fly. And one cried unto another and
said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth
is full of his glory. And the post of the door moved
at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with
smoke. Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am
a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean
lips, for mine eyes have seen the king. the Lord of Hosts. That is what happens when a sinner
sees the glory and the holiness and the judgment of the throne
of Christ, the throne of God. I pray God will reveal the throne
of Christ to us, the throne of the King. Solomon being a picture
of Christ. Solomon is a type of the Lord
Jesus Christ. When the queen of Sheba saw him,
she heard about him, heard he was great, heard he was a great
man. And she brought her things to him. But when she saw him, and I pray
that God will reveal Christ to us, I pray we might see him.
When she saw him, when she got a good look at him, it says there
was no more spirit in her. It emptied her. And that's what
it'll do to every man and woman who sees Christ. Man is so full
of himself. But the moment God reveals the
glory and the holiness and the justice and the majesty of Christ,
it empties people. It completely empties people. There was no more spirit in that
woman. That's what happened to Isaiah
right here. That's what happens to every
soul who sees the holiness and the judgment of God. It's a fearful
thing. It's a very fearful thing. Men
and women truly are afraid to stand before the judgment throne. But our God has said to us that
if we are His people, He said, you can come boldly to that very
throne. If we belong to Him, if we're
His people, we can come boldly right on up to that very throne.
And it's all because of this right here. Go with me back to
our text. Hebrews 4. Hebrews 4 verse 16 says, Let us therefore come boldly. Let us therefore come boldly. Because of that, all because of that, let us come
boldly. What is it? What's the reason? Why can we? Verse 14 says, seeing
then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Why can we boldly approach the
throne of God? It's because we have a great
high priest. We have a great high priest.
Back in the Old Testament, God's people knew something of His
judgment. They really did. They truly did. He visually showed them His wonders. And when they would sin against
Him, their comfort was in knowing that they had a high priest.
God ordained a high priest for them. They had someone who would
go appease God for them. That high priest would go into
the Holy of Holies, a place that no one was allowed into. Only
he was allowed to go in there. And he went with blood and he
would make intercession for the people. That blood was an atonement. That was a, an appeasement that
appeased God. It satisfied God and it covered
their sin. Symbolically picturing what Christ
would actually accomplish. But their comfort was in knowing
that someone had gone to God on their behalf. That was their
comfort. They knew that somebody had gone
in before we have to go. Somebody went first. God has
dealt with somebody else concerning me. before God deals with me. That high priest was their forerunner. Somebody who went in first on
their behalf. That's what the high priest was.
Well, our God has said to us in his word, you can come boldly
because you have a forerunner. Who is it? Look at chapter three,
verse one. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers
of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of
our profession Christ Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is
our forerunner. Look with me at chapter six. Chapter six, verse 19, it says, which hope we have as an anchor
of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that
within the veil. We have a hope that is already
entered into the veil. Verse 20, whither the forerunner
is for us entered, even Jesus made in high priest forever after
the order of Melchizedek. We have a forerunner who has
already gone in. Look at chapter nine, verse 11. It says, but Christ being come
and high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say not of
this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption. for us. God the Father has said
to his people, you are welcome. You're welcome. I love how when
our Lord bowed his head and gave up the ghost, God ripped the
veil that led into that Holy of Holies, ripped it wide open
and said, you're welcome to come on. You are welcome to come right
on up boldly to my throne because you have a forerunner. Somebody
has already been here on your behalf. Somebody has already
spoken to me concerning you. Somebody has already stood here
as your representative and made an atonement for your sin. It's already been taken care
of. Look back at chapter four. Verse 14 says, seeing then that
we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. That word profession means confession,
what we confess. Let us hold fast to what we confess,
our confession. What is it? What is a believer's
confession? What is a believer's confession?
If you had to stand up here and give your confession of faith,
if you had to come up here right now and tell everybody, this
is my confession of faith, what would it be? Hebrews 4 verse
15, look at it. Here it is. 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. That's our confession. That's our confession, that's
our hope. It's in the fact that our high priest, Jesus Christ
our Lord, was touched with the feeling of our infirmities. This is all I have to say. This
is all I have to say before the judgment throne of God. This
is all I have. Jesus Christ, my Lord and high
priest, my forerunner who went in before me, was touched with
the feeling of my infirmities. He was touched in every way,
shape and form in all points. all points. He was tempted in
all points with everything that we have ever been or ever could
be tempted with. He was in all points tempted
like as we are and he prevailed against every one of them. Now
that is a glorious confession. That's a glorious confession
that every sin we could ever be tempted by came to Him and
He did not fall into it. He was not taken by it. Why is
that such a glorious confession? Look at chapter 7. Verse 19 says, for the law made
nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the
which we draw nigh unto God. Verse 22 says, by so much was
Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were
many priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason
of death. There was a high priest and he
would live until he would die and then another one would come
along. And then he would die and another one would come along.
And he would die and another one would come along. Verse 23,
they truly were many priests because they were not suffered
to continue by reason of death. But this man, because he continues
forever, He has an unchangeable priesthood. He's not turning
it over to anybody. Wherefore, he is able also to
save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Verse 26 says, for
such an high priest became us. who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Why
is it so glorious that he was touched with the feeling of all
of our infirmities, all of our temptations, and he never fell
into the sin of one of them? Why is that so glorious? It's
because he became us. He made Himself to be us. Substitution is a real thing.
He traded places with us and went to God as us. And because His perfection was
transferred to us, when our sin was transferred to Him and His
perfection was transferred to us, God has already accepted
us. We are already accepted in Him. Just like John Jasper said, I'm
not here on my right, I'm here on the right of another. We're already accepted in Him. He was holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners. He was in all points tempted
like as we are, never fell into one sin, took that and gave it
to us. And because of Him, we're already
accepted. Already accepted in the beloved. There are no background
checks that need to be done. Aren't you so glad? There's no probation period.
No time of waiting before it becomes official. In Christ, we right now have
full access to the throne and glory of God. So verse 16 says
in our text, let us therefore, because of
that, let us therefore come boldly. Knowing that we will not be denied. Knowing that if we come, it means
the Father has drawn us. If we come, The Father has drawn
us to come. And if the Father has drawn us,
the Son will in no wise cast us out. Boldness does not mean
arrogance. People say, well, that's pretty
bold. Boldness does not mean arrogance, not at all. It means
unreservedness, no hesitation. without hesitation, it means
free confidence. It means cheerful courage, happy
assurance. Look at these scriptures with
me. Turn over to Ephesians 3. The end of verse 11 says, Christ
Jesus, our Lord. Verse 12 says, in whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. Our boldness is in Him. Our unreservedness, our cheerful
courage, that amazing, cheerful, happy courage that He gives to
His people to come when He says, come. It's in Him. Look with me at Hebrews 10. Hebrews 10 verse 15. Whereof
the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us, for after that he said
before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after
those days, saith the Lord. I will put my laws into their
hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins
and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission
of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore
brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through
the veil, that is to say his flesh, and having an high priest
over the house of God, Let us draw near with a true heart in
full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, the blood
of Christ and the water of His Word. That's our boldness. That is our boldness. Look with
me at Hebrews 13. Verse six, it says, so that we
may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what
man shall do unto me. That cheerful courage, that humble,
happy assurance comes running, crying, if God be for me, who
can be against me? That's our boldness. That is
our boldness. Our text says back in chapter
four, if you look back at Hebrews four again, verse 14, seeing then that we
have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus,
the son of God, let us hold fast our profession For we have not
in 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. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. When is our time of need? Always. Always. It is always a time of need for
us. Always. And because of His grace,
because of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, because He's so
giving, because of His grace, because He's so giving, and because
He is so forgiving, how often do we need His forgiveness? He
is so forgiving because of His grace and because of His mercy. He's so gracious and He's so
merciful because of who it is that is seated on the throne.
Because it's Him, that's what we're getting to. Because it's
Him. we can have free, cheerful courage
to come running to him anytime we want, anytime we need. In Revelation 1, when the apostle
John saw the Lord Jesus Christ, John fell at his feet as a dead
man. And it says, the Lord laid his
right hand on him and said, fear not. I'm the first and the last. I'm the one who holds the keys
of hell and death. I'm the one who died for you.
Because it's me. Because it's me. Because I'm
the one who sits on the throne. Fear not. Fear not, be of good
cheer, be of good courage, be of good confidence. On that note,
I wanna close this message in 1 Kings 10. 1 Kings 10. Verse 1, it says, And when the queen of
Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, and we've already said He's a
type of Christ. When the queen of Sheba heard
of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came
to prove Him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with
a very great train, with camels that bear spices and very much
gold and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon,
she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon
told her all her questions. There was not anything hid from
the king which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had
seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants,
and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers,
and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord,
there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, it
was a true report that I heard in my own land of thy acts and
of thy wisdom. How be it I believed not the
words until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the
half was not told me. Thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth
the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men. Happy are
these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and
that hear thy wisdom. Now watch verse 9. This is what
the Queen of Sheba said to him. She said, Blessed be the Lord
thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on the throne of
Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel
forever. Therefore made he the king to
do judgment and justice because God loved Israel. Because He
loved His people so much, she said, He made you king. After she saw everything He had
done, everything that He provided, all of His greatness, she said,
because God loved Israel, He made you king. Because it's Him,
because it's Him, and no one else, because it's Him, Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need. All right, Brother
Eddie, you come and lead us in a closing hymn.