Only Grace at the Throne

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Only Grace at the Throne

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.

Throne of Grace

Grace is a safe place, a place free from judgement and shame. As we approach loved ones with our failings we approach cautiously with hope that grace will be offered in greater proportion to any judgement; we approach in the hope we will be loved. Grace in the world is often a mixture of grace and judgement: ‘I forgive you, but make sure you don’t do it again…’ as if an imaginary finger is waved in our face to ‘balance’ any grace extended. Such mixture we may find even in our own hearts towards ourselves, but God says at His throne there is absolutely no judgement to be found. He promises that only grace, and grace alone, will be extended to us in our time of need.

Isaiah 54: 4, 8-10

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame…with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the Lord, your Redeemer. For this is like the waters of Noah to me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed.

The best grace we could ever receive from another human being will only ever be but a tiny shadow of the pure grace, un-tainted by any shame, we can receive from God today through Jesus Christ. In the gospel of John, it says that Jesus came to us FULL of grace and truth – He didn’t come to us in partial grace and partial law, but in pure grace.1 All law and shame was removed by God Himself, when He made His Son, Jesus Christ to be our sin at the Cross.2 There is only grace to be found when we come to God’s throne today.

Knowing this might be hard for us to believe, God actually swears, making an oath, in Isaiah that He will never show us anger or rebuke us when we come to Him. God declares in His Word that He doesn’t want us to be even the slightest bit afraid that He’ll rebuke us or make us feel ashamed or disgraced in His presence.3 He wants us to come boldly to His throne! Someone who is bold is void of any fear of punishment. 4 If God wanted to punish us today, He would not have punished Jesus for the sins of the world. 5

Jesus hands

The law which was contrary to us and against us, God took it out of the way nailing it to the cross as Jesus bore the punishment that we deserved. 6 Because God loves us and is also a just God, He made the payment for sin so we would never have to pay. 7 Today in Christ, there is no punishment for any sin.8

At the throne of God we will find Jesus. He sits at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. 9 He is the representation of God’s love for us; He is God’s provision for our every need.10 For our anxiety and depression, Jesus is our true peace; for our inabilities, He is our every ability.11 For all our failings, He is our success; for every hunger and thirst in our souls, He is our food and drink. 12For every deathly thought, He is our life-giving thinking. 13 Jesus is Grace. Grace sits at the right hand of the Father. Come, there is no judgment to be found. 14 Amen.

 

References:

  1. John 1:14
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 10:4
  3. Isaiah 54:4, 8-10
  4. 1 John 4:17-19
  5. John 3:16-17
  6. Colossians 2:14
  7. 1 John 4:10
  8. Romans 8:1
  9. Hebrews 8:1
  10. Romans 8:32
  11. Ephesians 2:14, John 15:5
  12. John 6:51
  13. 1 Corinthians 2:16
  14. John 1:17, Hebrews 4:16