Remember those beautiful and so comforting words of Hebrews: “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 confession. 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.” (Hebrews 4:14-16). God the Father hears our cries through our High Priest, Jesus Christ! Notice those two beautiful and comforting words: 1) mercy and 2) grace, in the context of “to help in time of need!” Anytime we have “time of need” there is one who hears our words as they go forth through the precious blood of Jesus! Personally, I never want to be seen by God outside the precious blood of Jesus; as my sins are, as Isaiah wrote of sins: are “as scarlet” and “though they be red like crimson; (Isaiah 1:18); but when the “red” blood of Jesus covers our “scarlet” and “crimson” sins they no longer can be seen! No wonder Peter wrote of our redemption; it is not by things of this world, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
Just how much time to we give to the “precious blood of Jesus?” As we drink “the fruit of the vine” in the Lord’s Supper, do we stop long enough to think; to recall the events of Jesus’ death? It was by wicked hands that he was physically crucified; but it should be remembered by the pure, having been forgiven of our sins, saints. Who are so described by Peter: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth …’ (1 Pet. 1:22). On one side of Jesus, there are wicked “hands,” but on the other side, there are “purified” souls! You see, the “purified” souls have come through the “red” blood of Jesus and their sins are no longer seen by God; as they have been forgiven! Oh, how we should love the “precious blood of Jesus,” which is so “red” our “scarlet” and “crimson” sins no longer can be seen by him who is the God of all.
No wonder the words of Hebrews are so beautiful and comforting to the thoughtful soul: “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 confession. 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.” (Hebrews 4:14-16). No matter how many times, we have called our minds back to the cross, looked upon that “precious blood of Jesus,” it is not enough to the child of God. Here the words of Paul: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ehp. 1:7). Do you question why one of my favorite verses is Acts 20:32, where Paul is addressing the elders of the church in Ephesus: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Get this now, Paul “commended” these elders to: 1) “to God, and 2) “to the word of his grace.” Here is a question, “Can we find “grace” outside “the word of his grace?” It would also be good, just here, to recall the words of the apostle, as he was bringing the saints through God’s plan: “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Then, he wrote: “For by grace are ye saved through the faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:7-8). The word “For,” the Greek “gar” which is: “A primary particle; properly assigning a reason.” That is here, Paul is assigning the reason that verse seven reveals God plan of: “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” was to bring us to the reality that God’s grace is enjoyed only “by means of the faith!” Grace runs through the words of the gospel, which is, as Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Then, Paul continued with: “For (the reason) therein (in the gospel) is the righteousness (justification) of God revealed from faith (the once delivered faith) to faith (our personal faith): as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Get this now, our personal faith must be in or it must come from the faith! If not, there is no grace found for the lost soul!! The faith and our faith must walk step in step!
Then, comes the words: “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.” My friend, whatever you do, don’t miss out on the truth of these beautiful and comforting words!
Frank R. Williams