2007 Book of Hebrews Series – “The Throne of Grace”
Hebrews 4:11-16
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – March 18, 2007

Prayer Introduction: It was today’s passage – from the end of Hebrews chapter 4 – that led me into this year’s theme: “2007 – A Sabbath Year: A Year Set Apart for Holiness.” Letting God give us victory over the besetting sins in our lives – those sins which continue to plague us.

Some people make resolutions, but never keep them. Some have just given up trying, because they were never getting any better. Can God make this year any different? You’ve prayed, asking God to help; and He does seem to help for awhile, but eventually you are back to your old habits. Is there really any hope? Yes – and today’s passage shows us the way…We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!

Sermon Introduction: Hebrews chapter 4 has 5 “Therefores.” We looked at the first two – in verse 1 and 6 (in the Greek, verse 7 in the NIV) in the last sermon. This morning we will look at the 3 “Therefores” in verses 11, 14 and 16 (in the Greek, “then” in the NIV).

I. Therefore #1 (vv.11-13)

Let’s look at the three “therefores” at the end of Hebrews 4 a verse or two at a time.

A. Make Every “Already, but Not Yet” Effort

Verse 11 – Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

            This first therefore points us back to what we have seen in Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 – reminding us of the Israelites’ disobedience in the wilderness. They had experienced the miraculous work of the Lord in setting them free from the Egyptians – passing through the Red Sea – and were on their way to the Promised Land.

But how many of the million plus Israelites who escaped Egypt made it to the Promised Land? Two – Joshua and Caleb. The rest fell away in disobedience. It was the next generation of Israelites who entered the Promised Land.

Therefore, we are warned not to fall into disobedience, but to make every effort to enter “that rest.” What rest is meant by the words, “that rest?” Look back at verse 10 – “for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.” We are to make every effort to enter “God’s rest.” This effort has two realities to it – “the already, but not yet.”

            The “not yet” rest is the eternal rest that awaits us in Heaven. It is not a boring rest, where we sit around and watch Jeopardy for all eternity. It is a rest from this fallen world. Our efforts must not be understood as works trying to earn salvation. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace; but our assurance of God’s grace dwelling within us by faith is seeing the works – the effort – that we make in this life.

R. B. Kuiper has a helpful illustration for understanding the connection between God's sovereignty and human responsibility: “I liken them to two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and over a pulley above. If I wish to support myself by them, I must cling to them both. If I cling only to one and not the other, I go down. I read the many teachings of the Bible regarding God's election, predestination…I read also the many teachings…urging people to exercise their responsibility as human beings. These seeming contradictions cannot be reconciled by the puny human mind. With childlike faith, I cling to both ropes, fully confidant that in eternity I will see that both strands of truth are, after all, of one piece.”

            That is the “not yet” reality to making every effort; but there is an “already” reality as well. We can already rest in God’s grace. We can already live out His grace in our lives. We can already see the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.

This is not a once for all reality. Every day we must renew our effort. Just as a football coach would never say, “Good effort today, guys – practice is cancelled for the rest of the season.” We must never assume that our effort today will cancel any need for effort tomorrow.

Are you making “every effort” to enter the already, but not yet rest?

B. The Sword

Verses 12-13 – “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

            Doesn’t this seem like a strange thing to say right here? The author of Hebrews is talking about not falling away in disobedience and then we get two verses on God’s Word. Could it be that there is a connection between obedience to God’s Word and obedience to God? Hmmm.

If you think you can pull a fast one on God, think again. If you expect to show up at the throne of God and say, “Oh yeah I believe in Jesus and all of that stuff” then He will look straight into your soul.

What will he see there? You know already. The Word of God fleshes it out. In the sermons – in the true preaching and teaching of the Word – do you hear with faith that produces works; or do you listen without faith and see no change in your life?

            Is God’s Word cutting you to the quick? Is God’s Word performing surgery on your soul? Is it judging the thoughts and attitudes of your heart?

            Notice again the inherent command “to judge” according to God’s Word. If I tell you that sexual immorality is a sin, and you must repent; if I tell someone that failure to worship God with the church is a sin, and they must repent. It is not me who is judging; I am pronouncing God’s judgment from God’s Word.

            When someone points out my sinful anxiety, fits of rage, arrogance, pride, greed, gluttony, etc. It may hurt a bit – like a sword penetrating deep into my heart – but that’s because it is true. Better to hear it from a friend now, so that one day I may hear from my Heavenly Father, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

II. Therefore #2 – The High Priest (vv.14-15)

Verses 14-15 – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are –  yet was without sin.”

            This second therefore points us to the good news of the gospel. The holy God who created us to live a holy life – the God against whom we rebel in our sin – this God sent His Son, Jesus, to be the high priest and face every temptation that we face, but never cave in to sin.

            In our Old Testament reading earlier in the service, we saw some background on the work of the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). And we saw that Jesus is the new and living way into the most holy place – the very presence of God; because Jesus is our eternal high priest.

            And in our Gospel reading, we saw the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:1-11), going into heaven in order to intercede on our behalf at the right hand of God the Father.

            Here, in verses 14-15, Jesus is expressly called the great high priest who has gone through the heavens – and it serves as a call for us to hold firmly to our faith in Him. The gospel of God’s grace does not affect you unless you respond to it.

            Receive God’s grace to help you in your times of suffering and temptation – that is why Jesus came – to help you. 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Jesus knows the way out, because HE IS the way out.

III. Therefore #3 – The Throne of Grace (v.16)

Verse 16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

            This third therefore (cleverly disguised as the word “then” in the NIV, but it is the Greek “oun”), is where the rubber meets the road. This is the call to respond to the gospel of grace in faith. When we say that we are saved by grace, through faith – and that we must walk by faith – it isn’t just talk. We must approach the throne of grace for the mercy and grace that helps us in our time of need.

            What is your need? What is your temptation? What is your weakness? What is your failed resolution? What is the failure that you see in your life that you cannot seem to change? Stop trying to change it yourself. Cry out to Jesus and ask him

            But know it is all of grace. You don’t deserve help. You don’t deserve anything from God. He isn’t going to help you because you deserve it. He helps you because He loves you.

            “Go to the throne of grace with confidence” is a bit of a paradox; but that’s because it isn’t talking about self-confidence. We don’t go to the throne of grace confident in ourselves, but confident in Christ.

            The throne of grace is not only the place to go when you feel like a failure; it is especially the place to go when you are feeling too self-confident.

            This world that tells us to feel better about ourselves. This world that teaches us hollow self-esteem. We walk around feeling good about ourselves or sorry for ourselves. Those feelings lead us away from the throne of grace.

            When you have failed – again – is your first inclination to enter God’s presence or do you simply feel sorry for yourself? Me too. In fact, failure in one area often causes me to give up trying in lots of other areas. Instead of receiving mercy and grace to help me in my time of need I throw a pity party.

            When you are successful – you keep the resolution, you avoid the temptation – is your first inclination to enter God’s presence or do you simply feel good about yourself? Me too. This is why we crash and burn so quickly. At noon I am resisting temptation – feeling good about myself – and within an hour something has happened and the rest of the day I surrender to all temptation.

            What happened?! I sat on my throne of self-confidence; instead of approaching the throne of grace in Christ-confidence.

            “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…” What’s especially amazing is how wretched we are by feeling good about ourselves. The gospel of grace says, “Cheer up, you’re a lot worse than you think you are; and cheer up, God’s grace is a lot greater than you think it is.”

            Paul Tripp writes: “What we need to be rescued from the most is us! We need to be freed from our hold on us. We need to be freed from our desire to dominate us. We need to be liberated from imprisonment to our agenda for us. We need a Redeemer because our greatest struggle in life exists inside of us and not outside of us. So once more today I confess to my allegiance to me. Once more I confess to my desire for self-sovereignty. Once more I pry open my hands and let go of the tight grip I have on my life. Once more I entrust my day, my schedule, my plans, my life into the hands of the One who is sovereign. Once more I rest in his power, wisdom, grace, faithfulness, and love.”

            Go to the throne of grace in your failures and in your victories. Go to the throne of grace morning, noon and night. Go to the throne of grace before you face a temptation, in the midst of a temptation, and after the temptation has subsided.

            Let God’s grace grab a hold of you heart and respond to it. Do not leave today feeling sorry for yourself, or feeling good about yourself. Go to him confessing your sin Go to him confessing your self-confidence. Go to him.

MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!