Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
It is ironical that in spite of humanity’s chronic state of weakness and failure, man has upheld a culture of criticism, judgement, and condemnation. This sort of culture when it prevails in the Christian religion goes contrary to the fundamental principle of grace in Christianity. No doubt many Christians have difficulty understanding and appreciating the availability of God’s grace to help.
For a Scriptural definition of grace we have referred to Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” Plainly, grace is God’s kindness given freely and undeservedly and not in any way as a reward of one’s works. Under the new covenant, grace is the principle by which God deals with us in our Christian walk. We read in Romans 4:16: “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” God's promise of salvation is given to us by grace only and not on the basis of our human efforts or self-righteousness. Grace is not merely pity or kindness from God regarding our need, but it is God's active and powerful help given to us according to our weakness and need.
God has set up His throne in this present age, not for judgment, but to dispense His mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. What a generous opportunity for help God gives to all! He makes help available to us to minister to our need freely and undeservedly.
What is also amazing is that God makes this help available to us from His throne. A throne is a seat of sovereignty. God’s throne is where He seats in sovereignty. Hence, God’s throne of grace is where He in sovereignty dispenses mercy and grace. Therefore, according to the Scriptures, we all are invited to come boldly to God’s throne where we will find His mercy and obtain His grace to help us when we are in need.
Note the throne is not a throne of judgment. God is not seating on this throne to dispense reward or condemnation. Such a throne may be established in the future to judge mankind. But now God operates from a throne of grace – of freely given undeserved kindness. And so when we approach Him there He will not be examining us to deal with us on the basis of our strength, worthiness, or accomplishment. He will be extending to us mercy, that is, His deep understanding and compassion for our need. And He will minister to us grace, that is, His freely given kindness. Moreover, He will minister His mercy and grace to us in our time of need - not just when we are in victory and feeling on top of the world. Therefore, God’s throne of grace is always accessible to us, just when we need it most.
But what more, lest we may think that God on His throne may not be fully sensitive to the precise problem for which we need help, we are told that God ministers to us through the High Priesthood ministry of Jesus Christ. One of the basic qualifications of a high priest is his experience in the weakness and problems of humanity that he can effectively understand human needs for which he intercedes to God. “He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness” (Hebrews 5:2).
Jesus Christ is our fully qualified High Priest at the throne of grace. “Seeing then that 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15).
The culture of criticism, judgment, and condemnation that prevails in our world and, unfortunately, even among professing Christians, may have caused you to despair in finding someone who can understand and is willing to help you. At the throne of God’s grace there is hope for you.
Whatever your need is, you may now boldly come to God at His throne of grace. However complex your need may seem to you and to others, God will understand through the High Priesthood ministry of Jesus Christ, who having experienced every human need is sensitive to what you are going through. However unworthy you may feel, at God’s throne of grace your unworthiness does not count, but your need. However, helpless you may feel, at the throne of grace you will obtain grace to help.
Isn’t that amazing?!