By Chalcedony Williams
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV
A mark of true conviction in the life of a believer is the experience of the overwhelming weight of guilt and the polluting stain of sin.
In his book ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’, John Bunyan depicted this moment as the appearance of a heavy burden on the main character’s back that, no matter how hard he tried, could not be removed. Christian is determined to rid himself of the weight on his back and follows advice to visit someone called Legality in the town of Morality. However, as he makes his way, Christian finds that the weight on his back becomes heavier and heavier until he fears it will crush him. Thankfully, a character named Evangelist is there to stop him heading in this burdensome direction and point him back onto the correct path. It is only when Christian eventually sees the cross that he notices the weight is completely gone from his back.
The people of Israel, who received the Law of God through Moses, began to believe that it was by keeping the Law that they could be made righteous before God. When Jesus arrived centuries later, He revealed what the Law truly required of God’s people. The pharisees took great pride in their law-keeping, they were good at it! But Jesus told them that God’s standard is perfection and not just in external acts. He requires pure hearts – internal perfection – as well as clean hands. Because all have failed to meet this standard, the new covenant established through Christ is one of righteousness that comes through faith – faith in the spotless Lamb of God, whose sacrifice cleanses us from sin and whose resurrection promises eternal life.
The writer of Hebrews is writing to a group of people who seemed to have a tendency of falling away from faith back to works. They would have grown up with the legalistic mentality of thinking their Law-keeping and Jewish identity were what guaranteed their salvation, and this appeared to be a difficult mindset to be free of. But to return to legalism is like putting that huge weight back on and receiving the condemnation that comes because of disobedience.
How can we avoid falling into this trap? How can we trust that we are made right before God outside of our good works and our sins are forgiven? The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is not just seated with the Father in heaven, but He has taken on the role as our great High Priest. The high priest had the responsibility of representing the people before God and making sacrifices on behalf of their sins. Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins by offering Himself, once and for all. And now, seated in the very presence of God, He is our representative, an assurance that our sins are forgiven as we look to Him in faith. Our High Priest understands us: our weaknesses, our temptations and our tendency to fall into unbelief. So, we can approach the throne of God and find there is grace. He will not cast you out, but He will receive you. His grace will reassure you, cover your sins and give you the power to continue in faith and obedience until He returns, and your faith becomes sight.
Ask: Why is law-keeping unable to make us righteous?
Seek: How often do you find yourself feeling condemnation for your sins? How have you attempted to overcome this?
Knock: Heavenly Father, thank You that at Your throne I can find grace. Thank You for the invitation to rest in You as I receive salvation through faith in Your Son and not through my works. Thank you, Jesus, that You are my great High Priest. You understand my struggles. Please give me the grace to trust You and to receive again the assurance that I am made righteous by faith in You alone.
(Upper Photo by Jay Antol on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash)
