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Boldly Unto The Throne
March 10, 2013
Some believers feel so weak because of the battle between spirit and mind, and the flesh, that they cannot see how that they can be Christians, or children of God. What we must understand is that the salvation is not of ourselves, but through Jesus Christ. Once we understand that we are the adopted children of God and that God wants to hear from His children, then we see that we must walk as Jesus walked, and work to put sin from our lives. However, if we do sin, Jesus is there as our advocate. We can view Him as our bigger brother, who speaks to our Father on our behalf. The knowledge that our brother, Jesus, intercedes on our behalf, with God, who has adopted us as His children, gives us confidence to boldly approach the throne of God with our requests.
Bernie Parsons
Boldly Unto The Throne
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Load church of Christ on 03-10-2013
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 03-17-2013
The last time, I took a look with you at the battle that takes place within
us. Some are so frightened of that battle of flesh versus mind and spirit,
it seems so intense.
Some get so perturbed by it that they cannot see how a Christian can ever be
saved! Yet, the writer of Hebrews says that we can boldly approach the
throne of God! How can this be?
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any twoedged 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.
13 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.
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.
15 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.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
The writer says that God knows all of our thoughts and intentions, even
those that we do not pronounce out loud. Because of this knowledge, God, in
His wisdom, provided us a sinless high priest who knows all about our
troubles. It is this representation that allows us to approach the throne of
God boldly.
Hebrews 10:15 "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after
that he had said before,
16 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;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 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 remission of sins comes through our Lord, Jesus Christ, and His
sacrifice for us.
1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin
not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:
hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he
walked."
Our responsibility is to shun sin. As we studied last time, as the spirit
feeds upon the word of God and grows toward maturity, we reign in the
out-of-control lust of the flesh. But, if we do sin, Jesus is our advocate
and intercedes on our behalf with the heavenly Father.
Jesus is our propitiation – that is, He regains us for God. He appeals to
God on our behalf, and He brings us back into God’s favor. This obligates us
to follow His lead, to follow Jesus.
Believers enjoy a unique relationship with God. We are more than servants.
Galatians 4:1 "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth
nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of
the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of
a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption
of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an
heir of God through Christ."
As adopted children of God, we are elevated in status to share in the
inheritance of Christ.
Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Since we call upon God as Father, as children beseeching and petitioning
Him, we have a boldness to approach our Father. Rather than being too afraid
to draw near to Him, we confidently approach the throne of God with our
requests.
Ephesians 3:10 "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."
The boldness and confidence do not come from us, but from our faith in Jesus
Christ. It is He who provides access to God.
1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts
before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth
all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his
Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And
hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
We must never be arrogant, but we must have confidence – not
self-confidence, as many wrongly pronounce, but confidence in God and His
son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Knowing that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sins; knowing that God
has adopted us as His children; knowing that Jesus sits at the right hand of
God as our advocate, to make things right between us and God, we have
confidence to boldly approach God with our requests.
