Though we have been born again and we have the character of Christ, none of us has yet arrived. Every one of us is a good work in progress. In Phil. 1:6, Paul the apostle writes, “He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (KJV).
In the OT, the high priest was the people’s representative before God. In the NT, Jesus as our High Priest, is our representative before God. First John, 2:1 calls Him our Advocate with the Father.
About Jesus, the author of the book of Hebrews writes, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15, KJV).
Our infirmities, mentioned in the verse, refer to our weaknesses and shortcomings. Every one of us has them. The reason Jesus can relate to our struggles and weaknesses is because He was tempted in all points as we were. He knows what it is to live for God daily in an ungodly world and to be tempted on every level. He came down and did exactly that—yet without sin.
If Jesus had succumbed to temptation and had sinned, He would have been no better than the high priests of the OT. They had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. This would have disqualified Jesus from being our great High Priest.
The writer says we should come boldly to the throne of grace so we can find help in time of need. It is there that Jesus Christ our Advocate sits at the Father’s right hand. The good news is that wherever you are in life, the grace of God is available for you, and it is sufficient for you to find help in your time of need.
