Bible

Bible

Saturday, October 17, 2020

 

We Can Be Bold

 

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

 

When we think of coming into the presence of God, there are several things that may come to mind. We can reflect on the glory, majesty, and splendor our God possesses as deity, and images like that of Isa. 6, where the prophet declared He was lofty and exalted, and the seraphim called out to each other, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:1-3). One might think of the response Isaiah offered to this image of God, one of humility and contrition, knowing his sin and feeling his unworthiness to stand before God. “Then I said, woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts’” (Isa. 6:5).

 

While these are appropriate, as Christians there is another attitude we should have in approaching God, in our prayers to Him, and our lives for Him. The Hebrew writer says we should come before the throne of grace with boldness. The term for boldness is παρρησία (parresia), which means freedom or frankness in speaking, freedom in speaking all that one thinks or pleases. To be able to speak with such openness offers one confidence and boldness. The Hebrew writer says this is what we need to receive mercy from God, to find His grace for help, especially in those times when only the help God offers can provide us with what we need.

 

We are able to have boldness in coming before God in our prayers because of the difference the blood of Christ makes. Without it, we are lost in sin, without hope and the blessings available in Christ. In Christ, we have access to God’s grace (2 Tim. 2:1). In Christ, we have access to the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). In Christ, we have all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3), including the forgiveness of our sins (1 Pet. 1:18-19). We are able to stand justified in Christ, a new creation, as the old man of sin has been crucified and we now are pleasing to God, as we keep walking in the light so the blood of Christ can keep on cleansing us of our sins (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 John 1:7).

 

When we come to God in prayer, through the cleansing of the blood of Jesus, we are not far away from Him, but brought near (Eph. 2:13). We are children of God, and He our loving Father, who seeks to mold us in His image, that we can inherit the promises He extends through Christ, especially of eternal life. We don’t have to worry whether God will reject us if we are in Christ, as we can approach Him freely, pouring out our hearts, the needs we have for ourselves and others. We can know He hears, that He helps us in our needs. As Paul encouraged the brethren in Philippi, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

 

In times past, the pagans thought they had to multiply words upon words to get the gods attention. They would physically hurt and cut themselves, but the blood they shed could do nothing to reach imaginary deities for help, much less the one true and living God. What a difference Christ makes in our lives. We can offer any and every need, the concern of our hearts, whatever is filling our minds, and know in Christ God is there to help, provide, comfort and care, and help us mature in our walk with Him. We can boldly come to Him at any time, with any entreaty. Thank God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what He offers to us, what we can be in Him, the access He affords for what we need to live for eternity. “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him” (Eph. 3:11-12).

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Robert

No comments:

Post a Comment