“Hold Fast Our Confession” (Heb 4:14-5:14)

“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. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (vs14-16)

This message is, “Hold Fast Our Confession”, but you may find it strange that the way to “hold on” to Jesus Christ is to keep believing that He has EARNED mercy and grace.

First, we may be unworthy, repeated sinners, tempted and discouraged, but He'll help us (vs14-16). We read, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Lean on Him, rather than rejecting His love.  Grace is for the unworthy, mercy is for those deserving of misery, and your High Priest brings you to God by the same blood that brought Him near.  You're accepted because He is, and your needs are continually met for this reason!

Secondly, Christ was born to do the job only He could do, which is bring sinners to God by the willing offering of Himself (Heb 5:1-6). We read, “And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: You are My Son, today I have begotten You”. As appointed, He laid down His life for ours, giving God satisfaction and the right to pardon sins. He who is God's eternal Son is worthy of our faith amidst trials and temptations because He willingly became so low, and ascended, to bring us to God.

Thirdly, suffering made Christ worthy of saving power, and therefore we must believe Him (Heb 5:8-10).  He's earned the title, “Savior”, with His own death agonies, wherein He drank the full cup of wrath for all who believe. Scripture says, “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered”.
When hopeless and helpless, when weary with resisting sin and ready to return to death, remember, so great a Savior as God in the flesh, appointed by God, who suffered the fullness of wrath is sufficient for your every need. We read again, “And having been perfected (by suffering death), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”.  Surely, HE brings us to God.  Surely, the Father is gracious to help, having given the SON for us! 

Finally, if we don't trust Jesus for mercy to help in time of need, if we're not devoted to the gospel by the gracious help that God continually gives, then we are babes, at best, swung about with the winds of reason, rather than resting in revelation (vs11-14).  We read, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God”. Knowing the saving power of Christ leads to singular devotion.