The Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore

come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.

Intro: Several key words I

want to look at before we get
into verse 16.

               A. The Touch – “…

touched with the feeling of our
infirmities…”
 Psalm 78

Ÿ 38 But he, being full of

compassion, forgave their
iniquity, and destroyed
 them not: yea, many a time
turned he his anger away, and
did not stir up all his wrath.

Ÿ 39 For he remembered that

they were but flesh; a wind that
passeth away, and cometh not
again.

               B. The Temptations

– “…was in all points tempted
like as we are…” (SEE
Matthew 4)

Ÿ Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus

led up of the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted of
 the devil.

All points – meaning:

Ÿ 1 John 2:16 For all that is in

the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world.

Every sin in the world falls into

one of these two categories.

Jesus faced all points of

temptation in Matthew 4.

               C. The Throne – “…

the throne of grace…”

This phrase – the throne of

grace – has been on my mind
all day.
Why use this word in this
verse?

There is no authority or power

in a throne but in who or what
sits on the
 throne.

The book of Hebrews refers to

the throne of Jesus Christ
multiple times.

Ÿ Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son

he saith, Thy throne, O God, is
for ever and ever: a sceptre of
righteousness is the sceptre of
thy kingdom.

Ÿ Hebrews 8:1 Now of the

things which we have spoken
this is the sum: We have such
an high priest, who is set on
the right hand of the throne of
 the Majesty in the heavens;

Ÿ Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto

Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured
the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of
God.

However, in chapter 4:16 we

find the only place in the Bible
where “the throne of grace” is
mentioned.

And it happens to be my
favorite verse in the Bible on
the subject of prayer.

And it never mentions prayer.

Prayer is understood. Prayer is
implied.
But why call it “a throne of
grace?”

Let’s dissect this verse:

I. The Access to the Throne

of Grace “Let us therefore
COME…”
The picture that is painted in
these verses is of the office of
the High Priest.

In the Old Testament, the High

Priest would go behind the veil
and access the Holy of Holies.

He would enter in and sprinkle

the blood on the mercy seat –
the lid of the Ark of the
Covenant.

The presence of God would

dwell there.

Exodus 25:17-22
Ÿ 22 And there I will meet with
thee, and I will commune with
thee from above the mercy
seat, from between the two
cherubims which are upon the
ark of the testimony, of all
things
 which I will give thee in
commandment unto the
children of Israel.

The restrictions to this Holy of

Holies were so rigid that death
was imminent if they were not
met.

Exodus 28

Ÿ 33 And beneath upon the hem

of it thou shalt make
pomegranates of blue, and of
purple, and of scarlet, round
about the hem thereof; and
bells of gold between them
 round about:

Ÿ 34 A golden bell and a

pomegranate, a golden bell
and a pomegranate, upon the
hem of the robe round
 about.

Ÿ 35 And it shall be upon Aaron

to minister: and his sound shall
be heard when he goeth in
unto the holy place before the
LORD, and when he cometh
out, that he die not.

We now have access to the

presence of God.

Our High Priest is passed into

the heavens.

The veil in the temple was rent.

Ÿ Mark 15:38 And the veil of the
temple was rent in twain from
the top to the bottom.
We can now enter into the Holy
of Holies anytime, anywhere –
through the process of prayer.

II. The Approach to the

Throne of Grace – “Let us
therefore come BOLDLY…”

The access is based on the

“therefore” in the previous
verses.

This word boldly does not

mean with arrogance or
without reverence.

But rather speaks to the

freedom we have to speak
honestly and truthfully.

The word BOLDLY in verse 16

is the Greek
word parrhesia (par-rhay-see’-
ah) meaning freedom in
speaking,
 unreservedness in speech,
openly, frankly, i.e without
concealment

God is not impressed with

flowering words or religious
phrases.

He wants honesty.

Ÿ Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou

desirest truth in the inward
parts: and in the hidden part
thou shalt make me to know
wisdom.

III. The Assurance of the

Throne of Grace – “…that we
may obtain; …and find…”

We do not have to fear being

turned away.
 It doesn’t say we might obtain,
or that we will look for it but not
find it.

It says we “…may obtain…we

will find…”

I’m grateful that my Father

doesn’t turn me away.

He didn’t turn me away at the

time of my Salvation.

Ÿ John 6:37 All that the Father

giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out.
He doesn’t turn me away at the
time of my Supplication.

Luke 11
Ÿ 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and
it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you.

Ÿ 10 For every one that asketh

receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened.

IV. The Assumption of the

Throne of Grace – “…that we
may obtain MERCY…”

The unspoken assumption for

the believer at the throne of
grace is the importance of
mercy.

Just as the Old Testament

designated place for the
sprinkling of blood was the
 MERCY SEAT.

The believer today is in

constant need of the mercy of
God.

MERCY: Greek: eleos el’-eh-
os – mercy: kindness or good
will towards the miserable and
the afflicted, joined with a
desire to help them

Lamentations 3

Ÿ 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail
 not.

Ÿ 23 They are new every

morning: great is thy
faithfulness.

Ÿ 1 Peter 2:10 Which in time

past were
not a people, but are now the
people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have
obtained mercy.

V. The Awareness at the

Throne of Grace – “…to help
in time of NEED.”

The awareness of every

believer in serious, honest
prayer is universal.

If we didn’t know it before, we

do once we enter in.

You can’t approach the throne

of grace without one very
distinct awareness – we have
a need.

We have needs. Those needs

are never more evident than
when we are praying.
 There’s not a time when I don’t
have a need for God’s grace.

You can’t enter into the throne

of grace but what the
realization of your needs are
clear.

ILLUSTRATION: The church

of Laodicea “had need of
nothing” which tells me they
weren’t praying.

Isaiah 6

Ÿ 1
Ÿ 1 In the year that king Uzziah
died I saw also the Lord sitting
upon a throne, high and lifted
up, and his train filled the
temple.
Ÿ 2 Above it stood the
seraphims: each one had six
wings; with twain he covered
his face, and with twain he
covered his feet, and with
twain he did fly.

Ÿ 3 And one cried unto another,

and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the
LORD of hosts: the whole
earth is full of his glory.

Ÿ 4 And the posts of the door

moved at the voice of him that
cried, and the house was filled
with smoke.
Ÿ 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I
am undone; because I am a
man of unclean lips, and I
dwell in the midst of a people
of unclean lips: for mine eyes
have seen the King, the LORD
of
hosts.