Find eternal confidence by seizing your confession!
Hebrews 4:13-16 (NIV)
13 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.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 26: The Intercession of Christ
We believe that we have no access to God
except through the one and only Mediator and Intercessor:
Jesus Christ the Righteous.
He therefore was made man,
uniting together the divine and human natures,
so that we human beings might have access to the divine Majesty.
Otherwise we would have no access.
But this Mediator,
whom the Father has appointed between himself and us,
ought not terrify us by his greatness,
so that we have to look for another one,
according to our fancy.
For neither in heaven nor among the creatures on earth
is there anyone who loves us
more than Jesus Christ does.
Although he was “in the form of God,”
he nevertheless “emptied himself,”
taking the form of “a man” and “a servant” for us;
and he made himself “completely like his brothers.”
Suppose we had to find another intercessor.
Who would love us more than he who gave his life for us,
even though “we were his enemies”?
And suppose we had to find one who has prestige and power.
Who has as much of these as he who is seated
“at the right hand of the Father,”
and who has all power
“in heaven and on earth”?
And who will be heard more readily
than God’s own dearly beloved Son?
So then, sheer unbelief has led to the practice
of dishonoring the saints,
instead of honoring them.
That was something the saints never did nor asked for,
but which in keeping with their duty,
as appears from their writings,
they consistently refused.
We should not plead here
that we are unworthy—
for it is not a question of offering our prayers
on the basis of our own dignity
but only on the basis of the excellence and dignity
of Jesus Christ,
whose righteousness is ours
by faith.
Since the apostle for good reason
wants us to get rid of this foolish fear—
or rather, this unbelief—
he says to us that Jesus Christ
was “made like his brothers in all things,”
that he might be a high priest
who is merciful and faithful
to purify the sins of the people.
For since he suffered,
being tempted,
he is also able to help those
who are tempted.
Summary
It's been awhile, but remember that we began this year and this study of the Belgic Confession by being reminded exactly who and what God is, and one of those primary characteristics we learned is that He's omniscient. Hebrews here reminds us of that fact, that nothing is hidden from God's sight, and rather is "laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
That's pretty intimidating. We can't get away with anything. Even all of those things you've been able to keep hidden from others is "uncovered" in God's sight.
But Hebrews doesn't tell you this to browbeat or frighten you. Quite the opposite, in fact. This passage ends with an invitation for you to "approach God's throne of grace with confidence!"
It's not that your guilt and the bad things you've done suddenly vanish, as if somehow Jesus helps you keep them all under wraps and out of our Father's sight. Rather, you can have this confidence before God because you have a faithful mediator - one who stands before God and represents you.
Dig Deeper
Last year we learned what it means that Jesus has been anointed as our prophet, priest and king. When you confess Jesus Christ as Lord, we're recognizing His kingship over your entire life. Prophets represent God to the people, and Jesus certainly did that not just during His life on earth, but also in His enduring Word.
A priest, on the other hand, is one who represents the people to God, and your confidence before God comes from the fact that you have a perfect priest representing you, one who is able "to empathize with your weaknesses" and "who has been tempted in every way, just as you are, yet he did not sin."
That final imperative - to "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" - is comforting and familiar for sure, but notice it's not the only imperative in this passage. For you to enjoy and live in this confidence, you must first "hold firmly to the faith you profess" - literally translated, seize your confession.
This means when you know what the Bible says and why it's so important, you can cling to its gospel promises because you know your intercessor perfectly represents you before God and reconciles you to Him.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, before whom everything is uncovered and laid bare;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need";
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Corinthians 11
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