Holding Fast IS Drawing Near
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
We stay Christians when we keep coming to Christ.
#Christ
#drawingNear
#OurConfession
Published January 25th, 2017
Devotional
Main point summary
Arc
Devotional
Holding fast our confession is drawing near to the throne of grace. Let's break it down. The verse is Hebrews 4:14, and it reads like this: “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.” So first off, what is meant by “our confession”? It is our recognition, acceptance and testimony, whose object is gospel hope—that is, Jesus himself. We recognize that Jesus has paid for our sins with his own blood. We accept the good news of promised eternal life to be consummated at the second coming of Christ. And we testify before all that Jesus is our high priest and our hope. This is our confession and we are called to hold it fast. But how do we do this? How do we hold fast our confession? Certainly we keep recognizing and accepting and testifying to Jesus, but the writer of Hebrews helps us further by framing this call in a second way. He does it in chapter 4 and he does it again in chapter 10. Holding fast our confession is a drawing near to the throne of grace. We stay Christians when we keep coming to Christ. So in our hearts today, and even in this moment, let us cling to our confession by going to God and his grace in King Jesus!
notes
Main point summary
The eternal Son who sits at the right hand of God became weak and dependent in order that he might be appointed our Savior-High Priest by God. Therefore, let us confidently draw near to him for grace from one who understands your neediness.
Arc
NT
Hebrews 4:14-16
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Since then we have d a great high priest e who has passed through the heavens,
Ἔχοντες οὖν ἀρχιερέα μέγαν διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς,
וְכֵיוָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ כֺּהֵן גָּדוֹל עֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר עָבַר דֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁמַיִם,
Jesus, the Son of God,
Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ,
הֲלֹא הוּא יֵשׁוּעַ בֶּן־הָאֱלֹהִים,
ideaexplanation
f let us hold fast our confession.
κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας.
נַחֲזִיקָה בְּהַכְרָזַת אֱמוּנָתֵנוּ.
inference
For we do not have a high priest g who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν,
כִּי אֵין לָנוּ כֺּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לָחוּשׁ עִמָּנוּ אֶת חֻלְשׁוֹתֵינוּ,
but one who in every respect has been d tempted as we are,
πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθʼ ὁμοιότητα
אֶלָּא אֶחָד שֶׁהִתְנַסָּה בַּכֺּל כָּמוֹנוּ
h yet without sin.
χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας.
מִבְּלִי חֵטְא.
concessive
negativepositive
ground
i Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,
προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος,
עַל כֵּן נִקְרְבָה בְּבִטָּחוֹן אֶל כֵּס הַחֶסֶד
that we may receive mercy
ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεος
לְקַבֵּל רַחֲמִים
and find grace
καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν
וְלִמְצֺא חֶסֶד
series
to help in time of need.
εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν.
לְעֶזְרָה בְּעִתָּהּ.
actionpurpose
This command is indeed closely in parallel to the command in 14c. This is clear from 10:19-23.
Here we find further explanation for the Ground of 14a-b and 15.
The common thread in these two quotes is the fact we find God the Father declaring Jesus to be High Priest (Son=High, priest=Priest). A study of these psalms reveals both to speak in the grandest of terms about the power, authority and honor of the Messiah Priest-King. However, in both of them it is also strikingly clear that this is not a position that is gained by this Person's own doing, but given to Him by God the Father.
I did not do a BL for 14 + 15 + 16 since in 16 we see "throne of grace." The "throne" portion seems to rest upon 14, whereas the "grace" portion rests upon 15.
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Comments
Mildred Queenie CS
Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.