“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Hebrews 10:35
Where does confidence before God come from? How does one have confidence, an overcoming assurance, that we are in the presence of God, accepted before the throne of God? And how does one pray with confidence, which is the evidence of faith?
In the fourth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, the author lays the basis for having confidence. He lays out certain truths that must be recognized, if one is to plant one’s feet on holy ground, believing that access to God is provided, but also, that one is received in peace before Him. The first truth has to do with the matter of Jesus being our High Priest, who has gone before us into the heavens. This Son of God, sole Mediator between God and man, has gone before all of mankind into the very presence of the Father, having accomplished a perfect work of redemption and salvation by the shedding, and presentation, of His precious blood. Christ, as our High Priest is not only that mediator between God and man, He is also that intercessor, that one who pleads the power and the preciousness of His blood before the Father. In essence, having presented the perfect offering of Himself to the Father for us, He ever stands to make intercession for us. He claims us for His own, and forever will be that One who not only claims that we are righteous by His blood, but also, have been quickened, made alive by the Spirit, now to appear with Him in glory. The first great truth that we need to grasp is that the relationship between the saved sinner and the Eternal Father, is assured, because of this High Priest, forever in the heavens, interceding for us, present in the presence of the Father, presenting us spotless, blameless before Him. Thus, we are accepted by the Father IN Christ, and have peace with God. It is because this High Priest has gone through the rent veil, there to present to the Father, the sacrifice in His blood, that we, belonging to Him, have access also. This is the beginning of the basis for our confidence.
The second reason, which should truly help us understand why we should be confident before the Father is that this High Priest is perfectly knowledgeable with regard to our infirmities, our weaknesses, failures, and faults, limitations, even our sins. He knows perfectly what it is to be tempted by the enemy. He also knows what it means to be without sin in the temptation, so that He is able to lift us up, cleanse our hearts, strengthen our hands, and encourage us in our approach to the Father. Christ’s blood, and its application to the spirit, soul, and body of the believer, cleanses from ALL sin. Thus, the believer can come to the Father, by Christ, knowing that he is accepted in Christ, being made complete in Him. He knows also that provision has been made for him to be cleansed from all sin, in order to come. (1 Jn. 1:7,9)
There is a third, and very important reason for which a person can have assurance before God. It is the result of praying in a certain way, also according to a certain truth. Paul writes in Ephesians 3:16, “…that He (the Father) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” To the Colossians he would include in one of his prayers, “…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience, and longsuffering, with joyfulness.” (1:11) The strength to come to God, and to know the assurance of Christ, is the result of asking God for it, in Jesus’ name. Power is of God, for He IS our power. If we would have bold assurance, then we must ask and receive.
With the basis of truths believed and embraced, one then is to come “boldly unto the throne of Grace.” (Heb. 4:16) We are called upon to “draw near” with full assurance of faith to God.
Dear Father, Enable us to receive confidently Thy mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.