A Throne of Grace

“Let us therefore come boldy unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

We are coming, not to a throne of law nor to a throne of strict justice, but to a THRONE OF GRACE. The words; “throne,” “majesty,” “power,” and “omnipotence,” all leave me awed and frightened; but the soft, gentle word “GRACE” stirs my spirit and heart to venture nigh in sincerity, humility, and hope!

For though there are a thousand defects in my prayers, it is a throne of GRACE. Though there are many defects in my knowledge, it is a throne of GRACE. Though there are so many weaknesses in my spirit, it is a throne of GRACE. Though my faith is so weak and dishonoring to the King, it is a throne of GRACE. Grace loves, grace forgives, grace abounds, grace is sufficient; and His grace is greater than all my sins. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1990)

The same man who said: “I be nothing” (2 Cor. 12:11)said: “Christ is all!” (Col. 3:11)Every true child of God enters in to what the apostle said, and totally agrees! I am the chief sinner; He is the Chief Shepherd and Savior of sinners! I am vile and wicked; He is Holy and Just! I am absolute weakness; He is infinite strength! I must decrease; He must increase! I am worthless vanity; He is unsearchable riches! I deserve wrath; He deserves Honor! I deserve DEATH; He deserves GLORY! I AM NOTHING; and CHRIST IS ALL!

But do you know what the glory of the gospel is? He traded places with me. Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

“It is Christ that died”

Rom. 8:34

Who Christ died for is an issue because Christ makes it an issue. “I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” “I lay down My life for the sheep.” “Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” “I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me.” That being said, the greater issue is WHO died? The One who died is incapable of failure. What He intended to do, that is precisely what He did! To think of the atonement of Christ in any other way than absolute success is to fail to believe who He is! We are not ashamed to say He died only for the elect. But the most important aspect of His atoning death is ….Who died? “It is Christ that died.” Because of who He is, all that He died for must be saved. To say that He can pay for somebody’s sins and they can still go to hell is degrading to and falsely presenting the Person of Christ and is a denial of the justice of God. If Christ paid the debt, the sinner He died for will never have to pay it again!

Pastor Todd Nibert

OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

In order for sinners to come unto God, they need to have a High Priest to encourage and enable them to do so. Not only is a High Priest necessary, but he must be one also that meets the demands of a Holy God. The only High Priest fitted and able to minister before God on the behalf of desperately wicked and guilty sinners is the Lord Jesus Christ. None other could put away sin (Heb. 9:26), purchase eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12), produce perfect righteousness for us (Heb. 13:21), and intercede eternally for us (Heb. 7:25). This verse describes the believers glorious Great High Priest.

1). He is HOLY! In His divine nature, for He is God, but also in humanity He was holy before God and perfectly obeyed His holy Law (Isa. 42:21). Had his nature and character been unholy, He could not have been our High Priest. For unholy sinners, stand in need of a Holy Priest, with a holy sacrifice to stand before a holy God (Heb. 9:24), to make a holy atonement for sin!

2). He is HARMLESS! Without guile in His mouth or malice in His heart. He is holy in His nature and harmless in His life. He went about doing good. He was the Lamb in the midst of wolves. Although He was tempted in all points, yet He was without sin (Heb. 4:15). He had no sin! He did no sin! He knew no sin (1 John 3:5)!

3). He is UNDEFILED! He was in this evil world, yet not defiled with its guilt nor tainted with its sin. He was unsoiled and uncontaminated from the curse of the fall and the guilt of Adam’s transgression (Rom. 5:12). The only way He is guilty of sin is by imputation (I Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21).

4). He is SEPARATE FROM SINNERS! He took on Him the likeness of a sinful nature (Rom. 8:3), but not a sinful nature. He was often found in the company of sinners, but no sin found company in Him. He had communion with sinners, but no communion with sin.

5). He is MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS! He was for a season made lower than the angels (Heb. 2:7), but now, crowned with all glory and honor, seated at the right hand of God (Heb. 1:3). Our Lord has been exalted as our GREAT HIGH PRIEST (Heb. 8:1).