Christ Is Our High Priest

[Note: This is part one of a two part series]

In my previous blog entry I mentioned that it crucial for us to go beyond just the academic knowledge of God and learn to grow into relational and experiential knowledge. Below I have listed some verses from the book of Hebrews, chapter four, verses 14 -16. I have included several different translations for verse 16 in order to help the reader approach the process of turning this theological truth into an experiential knowledge. This is how I have learned to grow in relationship with the Father through the Son.

Jesus made it possible for us to be in relationship with our heavenly Father this side of heaven; it is not some “pie in the sky” or “when the circle is unbroken…in the sky, in the sky” kind of relationship. While those may have been fun songs for their day and encouraged those folks, I believe that Jesus tells and shows us throughout the gospels how we can have access to the kingdom of heaven, while we are still here on the earth. This is one of the central messages in “The Sermon on the Mount,” and in particular, “The Beatitudes.”

So, what I would ask you to do is read these selections and then practice applying them using the questions below the verses.

Christ Is Our High Priest: Hebrews 4:14 – 16:

New King James Version:
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. 15- 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.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.
Hebrews 4:14-16

New Living Translation:
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16

Amplified Bible:
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Hebrews 4:16

Young's Literal Translation:
We may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of the grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace -- for seasonable help.
Hebrews 4:16

Contemporary English Bible:
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.
Hebrews 4:16

New Life Version:
Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.
Hebrews 4:16

Okay, now take a few moments to stop and ask yourself: “How would my life be different if I actually practiced what I have read and not just memorized the words, or mused over the idea of them?” Actually, think about behaving them out, practicing truth and experiencing relationship.

What would it look like when: the boss [or your: spouse, parent, sibling] is unfair to you, or someone treats you with contempt, or you are accused falsely, or you go unnoticed when you have tried very hard to be noticed? I could go on and on and on with different scenarios, but I believe you get the point. It is not enough to read the words and develop right and accurate – even spiritual sounding answers, these will not get us through the bad, hard or even good times.

It is by learning to cultivate our relationship with the Father that we turn our head knowledge into relationship knowledge. Our Sunday school answers are the right place to start, but to grow, to be transformed and experience the peace of the Father here on earth we need to learn to go further than our heads. So please take some time, and ask God to show you how your daily life might look different if you were to practice running to His throne of mercy when you need help and then write down what comes to mind. That is where experience begins, by talking and then listening.

How can we know God?

Answering the question from my previous post, “How can we know God?” I want to first talk about four different dimensions of knowledge. According to R.C. Sproul, in God's Will and the Christian, there are four dimensions of knowledge and they are listed below with a few scripture verses and are not exhaustive, as there are too many to list on this site and I only list two per dimension as to not overwhelm the reader.

The Dimensions of Knowledge:

1. Intellectual: Knowing the truth about God:

a. Deuteronomy 7:9

b. Psalms 100:3

2. Volitional: Trusting, Obeying and Worshiping God:

a. Psalms 95: 6

b. Proverbs 3:5 & 6

3. Moral: Practicing justice and love:

a. Jeremiah 22:16

b. I John 4:7&8

4. Relational: Reciprocal love (Relationship)

a. John 10:14

b. Galatians 4:9

c. II Timothy 2:19

We can to learn how to experience interaction between intellectual knowledge (truth) and relational knowledge (authenticity) as we develop and grow in relationship with the Father. Volitional knowledge and moral knowledge will flow naturally out of the other two.

In the second book of Peter chapter 1, verses 1-12, the Apostle Peter uses different Greek words for the word, “knowledge.” As he is writing in the Greek language, the recipients of his letter read and understand in that same language and the meanings are not lost in translation. As we read and understand the word “knowledge” in our 21^st century context, we do not fully understand the import and weight of this word. It is an important distinction as many of us will read “knowledge” and define it as an awareness of and/or academically acquired information about God.

So, what is the difference of those Greek words and why does it matter? In the Greek, one word is “epignosis” [*1922] which means, “to recognize or become fully acquainted with,” which implies relationship. The other is “gnosis” [*1108], which means to “understand, to be resolved, growing knowledge, seeking after, active knowledge.”

If you look in verses 2, 3 and 8 of II Peter, the Greek word for “knowledge” there is, “epignosis” [*1922] and in verses 5 and 6 is “gnosis” [*1108]. Try reading these passages with these literal definitions and see if it doesn’t change your perception and understanding. Peter knows that we can learn to know God, through Christ, but that it is a knowing that will be based on relationship and not through religious ideas and/or acts. Actions will flow out of our relationship, because we will become an extension of His heart in real, experiential and practical ways. We do not “do” to receive His love, stuff will happen in and through us because we are in relationship with Him…because He loves us and we are learning to live in that relational knowledge.

Scripture speaks of “knowing God” as the knowledge of God’s covenant agreement with us as reciprocal, with affection on both sides.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

We know God as ours because He knows us as HIS!

*Represents index numbers for these words in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

What is the chief aim of man?

Why are we here on this earth? That is a question that has been asked more times than I can possibly know and there have probably been as many answers as there have been questions. According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which is considered by many to be one of the grandest doctrinal statements to come out of the English Reformation, this question is restated and answered as follows:” What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

Author and Pastor, John Piper said that he thinks the Bible translators got this line wrong by one word and that it should say, “We are here to love God by enjoying Him forever.” Delighting in Him is our privilege.

How could we delight in someone we do not know? We cannot. Therefore, it is reasonable that we will have to spend time with Him, if we want to get to know Him. This statement then brings about the question "How can we know God?" The answer to this question greater minds than mine have tried to answer, some more successfully than others. Over time on this blog I will attempt to give answers to that question that are theologically sound, academically accurate, and experientially applicable.

The key here is that on this side of heaven we are in the continual process of "learning." There is more to knowing God than simple head knowledge. In the New Testament Jesus tells us to learn to live in Him and he does not ask us to live for Him. There is a world of difference in how those two small words are lived out.