Many Christians take for granted the fact that we have access to God—that we can sing about him, talk to him, hear from him, be changed by him, and offer service through him. But these are incredible and privileged realities made possible only by God’s grace. In reality, sinful humanity has no business receiving anything from he who is holy, holy, holy other than judgement (Ex 33:20; Isa 6:5; Luke 5:8). Yet, God has made perfect access to himself possible through a perfect High Priest.
God’s people do have access to God today and the author of Hebrews is encouraging us to not forget that reality, to not shrink back from that reality, and to not take for granted that reality. Instead, we are to know our high priest, and let our growing knowledge of his perfection change, excite, and fuel the way we live our lives for him.
SERMON MANUSCRIPT
This morning we’ll be celebrating the Lord’s Supper nearer the end of our time together and so, if you haven’t already, please feel free to grab a package of the emblems from the baskets near the doors at the back. To prepare our hearts and minds for that meal of thanksgiving and remembrance, please turn to Hebrews 4.
Many Christians take for granted the fact that we have access to God; that we can sing about him, talk to him, hear from him, and be led by him. We think to ourselves, “Of course he listens when I pray, forgives when I sin, desires my presence, and uses my efforts!”
Now, I’m not suggesting that these things aren’t true. Incredibly, they are! What I am suggesting is that they should astound us more than they do. That finite and fickle rebels like you and me have access to he who “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim 6:16) should buckle our knees and take our breath away. That self-worshipping and self-aggrandizing idolators like us are the objects of God’s unchanging affection should radically change the way we live.
Why? Because sinful humanity has no business receiving anything from he who is holy, holy, holy other than judgement. God told Moses: “For no man can see me and live” (Ex 33:20)! Isaiah, having a glimpse of the Lord in a vision, declared, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips … [and] my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isa 6:5). Even brash Peter, when called to follow Jesus, said, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8).
Left to ourselves, creatures have no standing before their Creator. But, in his grace, God has made a way. He always has. It was God who clothed Adam and Eve. It was God who directed and accepted offerings and sacrifices to be made by people so as to restore and maintain their relationship with himself. It was God who formalized this practice for Israel in the levitical priesthood. This nation could now approach God through these intermediaries. It was God who established the high priest as a unique conduit of divine instruction to his people (Num 27:21; John 11:49–52) and divine pardon for his people, again, graciously giving sinners undeserved access to himself.
But as needed and helpful as that priesthood was, it was also deficient and temporary. It was a God-given bandaid, but a bandaid nonetheless. Humanity needed a permanent solution, a final fix to our access problem. And we got one as it was God who sent his one and only Son to swing wide the doors of divine fellowship and invite us in.
We do have access to God—perfect access through a perfect High Priest. And, in the passage we’re studying today, the author of Hebrews encourages his readers to not shrink back from that reality. “Instead,” he says, “let it astound you. Let your understanding of the access you have to God through Christ buckle your knees, take your breathe away, and radically change the way you live.”
KNOWING OUR HIGH PRIEST
Turn to Hebrews 4. Today we’ll be considering 4:14–5:10. Most fundamentally and obviously, this section of Scripture gives us a snapshot of what Jesus Christ is doing right now on our behalf. It introduces us to, reminds us of, and helps us know our High Priest.
Perfectly Positioned
And it’s all perfection. He’s amazing, greater than all other advocates, all other go-betweens, all other intercessors. For starters, he’s perfectly positioned. [4:14a–b]
For Israel, God’s presence on earth uniquely sat in the innermost section of the tabernacle or temple, a room call the Holy of Holies that was partitioned off by a heavy curtain. Only one human was permitted to pass through that curtain and stand before God—the high priest—and only one day a year—on the Day of Atonement. On that day, after careful preparation, the high priest would represent God’s people in God’s presence, sprinkling blood on God’s seat of mercy to atone for their sins. When he was finished, he’d get out of there and the people would wait a year to do it again.
Our High Priest is better. Not only is he “the Son of God” but he’s passed, not through an earthly curtain into a earthly shadow of God’s presence, but through the heavenly veil and into the actual presence of God. And he doesn’t go once a year because, as 5:9 says, he’s “the source of eternal salvation.” Hebrews 10 adds that, after entering God’s presence on behalf of God’s people, Jesus “sat down at the right hand of God.” His work is done.
If we think of ourselves, being sinners, as cosmic criminals, divine law-breakers, it makes sense that we need a good lawyer and we need him all the time. The author of Hebrews is explaining that, not only do we have God’s Son—the author of the law—on retainer, but that he lives in the courtroom, tirelessly pleading our case. Our High Priest is better than any other because he’s perfectly positioned in God’s presence.
Perfectly Sinless
He’s also perfectly sinless. [4:15] We’ll consider this more fully in a moment but notice that Jesus understands what it feels like to battle temptation. He didn’t fight it from within like we do, but the pressure from without was far beyond what we’ll ever have to endure: the corrupted cosmos conspiring against him, fallen humanity hating him, and Satan himself opposing him. Yet he was “without sin.”
When the high priests of old entered God’s presence they had to atone for their own sins as well, sins that rolled out of them as often as they do us. They prepared themselves, did their advocating work, and got out of there as quick as possible lest they be struck dead.
Our High Priest is better. He’s righteous. He has perfect standing before God because he is the Son of God and the only human ever fit to enter the presence of God. [7:26–27] Not only is our legal aid on retainer and living in the courtroom, but his win record is eternally undefeated. Our High Priest is perfectly sinless.
Perfectly Qualified
Finally, Jesus is perfectly qualified for the role of High Priest. The author opens chapter 5 by acknowledging two things that must be true of all high priests: they must represent humanity and they must be appointed by divinity.
[5:1–3] A high priest must come from humanity and be familiar with the weakness of humanity to represent humanity for the sins of humanity. An elephant can’t be high priest because elephants haven’t been told to be holy like God, haven’t been invited into intimacy with God, and don’t wrestle with sins against God. A high priest must be able to knowingly and sympathetically represent humanity.
Now, does that mean any human can do the job? No, because, as the author points out, a high priest must also be appointed by divinity. [5:4]
One cannot elect themselves president, appoint themselves team captain, or assert themselves as valedictorian. These are titles and positions bestowed upon someone and entrusted to someone.
So too with the high priesthood. And, in this case, the one doing the electing, appointing, and asserting is God himself. A high priest must not only represent humanity but be appointed by divinity.
Now, does Jesus qualify? Yes, and the author says he does so perfectly, starting with his divine appointment. [5:5–6]
The author smashes two messianic psalms together to prove that Jesus, the person to whom they apply, didn’t take the position, lobby for the position, or get voted in to the position. No! The same God who called Jesus his “Son“ made him “priest forever.” We’ll return to mysterious Melchizedek later in Hebrews but, for now, just note Christ’s divine appointment, a shout that echoes through the rest of the letter. [5:10; 6:20; 7:17, 21, 28] So, check. Jesus was appointed by divinity.
But can he represent humanity? That’s the second criteria here, isn’t it? And, let’s be honest: how can God’s Son—“through whom [God] made the world. … the radiance of [God’s] glory and the exact representation of his nature” (1:2–3)—how can a being like that knowingly and sympathetically advocate for humanity? We have more in common with elephants than with him!
But this is the beauty of the incarnation. [5:7–8] Does Christ know what it’s like to suffer? Has he felt the suffocating walls of temptation pushing in upon him? Does he know desperation, neediness, grief, and mortality? Yes! In what he endured during “the days of his flesh,” Jesus learned to obey the Father’s will as a human being, submissively calling out to God in distress and having his prayers heard as his resurrection makes clear.
[5:9–10] God’s Son was “made perfect” in that he was perfectly prepared for his role as High Priest by taking on flesh. So, check. Because of all he experienced in his humanity, Jesus can represent humanity in the presence of the God who appointed him to that role. He’s perfectly qualified.
We are all sinners, separated from God and in need of a Saviour. But God sent his Son who died for our sins paying the penalty we owe, rose from the dead, and offers everlasting life to all who, in childlike faith, believe in him alone for it. If that describes you, you have perfect access to God. You can sing about him, talk to him, hear from him, and be led by him. You can celebrate that he listens when you pray, forgives when you sin, desires your presence, and uses your efforts.
And why is that? It’s because you have a perfect High Priest. The same Jesus who took the whips for you, hung on that cross for you, died brutally for you, and rose victoriously before you, now represents you in the presence of the Almighty One.
Know your High Priest. He’s perfectly positioned, perfectly sinless, and perfectly qualified. He understands you, advocates for you, prays for you, and has paid for you. There is no where else we can turn, no place else we can go, no body else to whom we can run where we will receive the freedom and security and grace he alone offers.
RESPONDING TO OUR HIGH PRIEST
So, now that we better know our High Priest, how are we to respond to our High Priest? How does our growing understanding of who Jesus is and what he’s doing for us alter the way we live our lives? For that, we go back to the beginning of our text and find two connected admonitions: Cling tightly and approach constantly!
[4:14] Our confession is our testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. Is he the Son of God and long awaited Messiah? Did he die for your sins? Was he raised from the dead? Has he promised life everlasting? Does he have authority to make that promise and the power to keep that promise? Have you placed your faith in him for it? Are you going to be with him for eternity? Do you belong to him and not the world? Are you kept by his grace? Yes? Is that your confession? Then cling tightly to that, brother! Cling tightly to it, sister!
Notice that holding fast our confession is not automatic. While salvation is secure, living a life of faithfulness for the Lord characterized by maturity in doctrine, holiness in character, and usefulness in service is not inevitable. It takes intentionality and work, repentance and suffering. We must cling tightly to our confession!
And the reason we can do this is that we have a great High Priest! A perfect High Priest perfectly qualified to perfectly represent us forever in the presence of our perfect God. Knowing that I’m rock-solid safe and totally covered by my Lord does not cause me to loosen my grip on my confession but tighten it. He’s the best!
But that’s not the only response here. We’re also invited to approach constantly. [4:16] What a wonderful compliment to the first admonition because, if you’re like me, my grip does loosen sometimes. I lose sight of my Saviour and my Priest. I wax and wane. I slip and stumble.
And when that inevitably happens, it’s wonderful to know that I can still boldly approach my God. Not limp and slink into his presence, saying “woe is me, I am undone.” But in my weakness, in my dire need of grace and mercy, I can draw near with confidence to the God of the Universe, the God I’ve offended. I can stand before him in prayer like I belong there. How? Because of my High Priest! Because of his perfection, imperfect-but-redeemed people like us have access to he who is holy. Brothers and sisters, cling tightly and approach constantly!
To those new to the faith, know this: you will never not have a perfect High Priest representing you … ever! Commit now to knowing him and responding to him. Dedicate yourself, not to a passive and pathetic life of faith, but one of learning, growing, and clinging to that which your God has revealed and constantly running to him in times of need which, spoiler alert, is all the time.
To those slipping from the faith, know this: you’re headed toward disaster, restlessness, insecurity, and loss. But also know that your High Priest has not moved an inch from the first day he became your perfect representative. It’s never too late to return and, like the Father of the Prodigal Son, he’s looking for your arrival and waiting to party. Turn now. Repent of your unbelief, and re-cling to the faith, to the truths you knew at first. Rekindle your first love. And boldly, even in your sin, approach the throne of grace because, like all of us, you need mercy and grace.
To those plodding along in the faith, know this: slow and steady pleases the Lord and that, until you cross that river to the celestial city of glory, you are never free from the danger of slipping. So tighten your grip today by looking to your High Priest, his perfection and perpetuity. Be reinvigorated, today. And run to him for help.
We take now the bread representing the body of Christ given for us and the cup representing the blood of Christ spilled for us. For those who belong to the household of God by faith in Christ, this is our family meal, and meal that reminds us of our Lord Jesus, his person, work, and promise. Today we remember that, as the high priests of old passed through the curtain to represent Israel and Jesus passed through the heavens to represent us so we, by faith, pass through the veil of his body into the presence of God. [10:19–21]
Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/