12/18/13 STEP RIGHT UP
Wow, here is great news for the sinner and the follower of Christ.
Hebrews 4:16
(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.
We are invited by the sovereign King of the universe to come before His throne, His throne of grace (not His throne of judgment), for two things.
1- To obtain mercy. The guilty man needs the mercy of the Holy and Just God. Judgment would separate us forever. No matter what we have done and no matter how long we have done it, God is merciful and He will forgive and cleanse the repentant sinner who comes to God.
2- To receive grace to help in time of need. While mercy provides forgiveness, grace provides help, whatever help we need, such as deliverance, power, wisdom, courage. Grace provides everything we need to live victoriously in obedience to God. His help is not assistance, it is deliverance. Deliverance is available to the one who comes to God. Deliverance comes when we need it; not too late.
Sinning religionists only believe the first part of this verse; that we can obtain mercy. They do not believe they can find grace to help (deliver, strengthen) when help is needed.
God's help should be understood as when Peter was sinking in the sea and cried out for help, rather than the idea that God adds to our self saving ability.
Sinning religionists do not boldly come to God in time of need. They simply surrender to defeat, not believing God or obeying God, but rather presuming on God to accept moral and spiritual failure, distrust, disobedience in the place of faith and grace. Sinning religion is defeatist religion; it is presumption, not faith.
