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The Epistle to the Hebrews. Lesson 6 Let us Boldly Approach God’s Throne Through Our Great High Priest Hebrews 4:12 – 5:10. The Challenge of Entering God’s Presence. How can sinful man approach a Holy and Majestic God? (cf. Isaiah 6:5)
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The Epistle to the Hebrews Lesson 6 Let us Boldly Approach God’s Throne Through Our Great High Priest Hebrews 4:12 – 5:10
The Challenge of Entering God’s Presence • How can sinful man approach a Holy and Majestic God? (cf. Isaiah 6:5) • How can we stand in the presence of One Who is All-Seeing? (Psalms 33:13-15; 139:1-4; Proverbs 5:21) • We may enter God’s presence through Christ, our Superior High Priest!
The Power of God’s WordHebrews 4:12 • God’s word is RELEVANT • Living and Powerful (John 1:1-3; 2 Peter 3:5-7; Romans 1:16-17). • God’s word is PIERCING • It goads the conscience (Ecclesiastes 12:11) • It cuts to the heart (Acts 2:37; 7:54) • God’s word is DISCERNING • It distinguishes between things that we see as inseparable (soul-spirit, joints-marrow) • It interprets us!
Nothing is Concealed from God’s Eyes Hebrews 4:13 • God is able to know all things (Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 23:24) • We must “give account” to One who knows all the facts (Romans 14:12; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Galatians 6:7-8)
Yet We May Enter God’s Presence With Boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16) • Since we have a “great High Priest” who has opened the way to God… Let us hold fast our confession! • Holding fast is a critical condition of salvation (3:6, 14) AND of going to God for help (4:14) • “Let Us” in Hebrews • 13 times a verb is used in this (ex)hortatory tense(Present active volitive subjunctive) • Let us “fear” (4:1), “labor” (4:11), “hold fast” (4:14, 23), “come boldly” (4:16), “go on to perfection” (6:1), “draw near” (10:22), “stir up” (10:24), “law aside” sin (12:1), “run with endurance” (12:1), “have grace” to serve with reverence (12:28), “go forth” (13:13), “offer” praise (13:15)
Yet We May Enter God’s Presence With Boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16) • Our sympathetic High Priest • He can sympathize with our weaknesses because He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (see 2:18). • When it comes to trial and temptation, Jesus has walked in our shoes! • We may come boldlyto the throne through Jesus to find mercy and obtain gracein time of need.
Christ, Our Great High Priest • The Book of Hebrews describes Christ as our “High Priest” eleven times(2:17; 3:1; 4:14, 15; 5:5, 10, 6:20; 7:26; 8:1; 9:11; 10:21) • Christ has been shown to be superior to the angels and to Moses as a spokesman. • We are now shown that Christ is also superior to Aaron as a high priest. • The position of High Priest would have been understood and appreciated by those who knew the Law.
The Significance of Being a High PriestHebrews 5:1-4 • The Old Testament High Priest served a vital function for God and the people (5:1-3; Numbers 18:1-7) • He offered gifts and sacrifices for sins (5:1) (Leviticus 16:3, 11, 15, 21, 24; Heb. 9:6-7) • He was a sympathetic representative of man to God (5:2-3; Leviticus 9:7-8) • He must be “called by God” to the office (5:4) • The High Priest was neither elected nor self-appointed (Exodus 28:1ff.)
Why Christ is a Great High Priest Hebrews 5:5-10 • Christ was ordained by God to be a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (5:5-6) • The order of Melchizedek will be dealt with more fully in Hebrews 7:4-10 (cf. Genesis 14:18-20) • In the present context, the quotations from Psalm 2:7 and 110:4 prove that God ordained His Son to this Priestly order.
Why Christ is a Great High Priest Hebrews 5:5-10 • His Sonship makes Him an ideal priest! • As a Son, Jesus’ passion, purity and reverence give Him access to the hearing of God. (5:7) • He approaches the Father as a Son (John 11:41b-42) • He approaches with fervency (Luke 22:44; James 5:16) • He approaches in purity (John 9:31; 1 Peter 3:12) • He approaches in reverence – knowing that the Father is “able to save Him from death” • His learning obedience through suffering provides us with a perfect example (5:8; 1 Peter 2:21-22) • Therefore, He is the perfect “Captain” and “Author” of salvation to all who obey Him. (5:9) • He is therefore called to be our High Priest (5:10)