The necessity of a theanthropic confession!

One should never put an unfamiliar word in a title unless it is to grab readers’ attention. I hope you will read on and see how important is the word theanthropic. It is a descriptive word of our Savior, a part of our confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrew 4:14-16 is a reminder to hold fast our confession. Warren Wiersbe, These Hebrew Christians were tempted to give up their confession of faith in Christ and their confidence in Him . . . This kind of unbelief would only bring reproach to Christ’s name. May we who claim Christ be mindful of our confession with reverence and boldness. Raymond Brown, This is not merely an appeal for endurance but an exhortation to fearless witness. Don’t be robbed of your faith; advertise it. Hold it fast and hold it forth.

In these three verses, we have a confession of faith on which we can stand despite life’s trials and tribulations. Certainly, our confession is built on a solid foundation, Jesus Christ, our great high priest! Raymond Brown, He far surpasses all of his priestly predecessors. Their priestly work cannot possibly be compared with his in its range, nature, cost and efficacy. He alone is truly ‘great.’ In these verses, we will be reminded that our superior confession is a declaration that who Jesus is determines what He can do.

First, the writer gives the human name of our great high priest, Jesus. Hebrews 2:17, Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Douglas Mangum, The author makes the logical point that the Son had to be made like humanity in every way in order to serve as the faithful high priest who makes atonement for their sins.

Next, our confession proclaims that our great high priest is the Son of God. Charles Spurgeon, There is His deity. He is the Only-begotten of the Father: as glorious in His Godhead as He is gracious in His manhood. Human high priests can’t compare with a high priest who is God incarnate. Warren Wiersbe, How much better is it to have a High Priest who ministers in a heavenly tabernacle than in an earthly one!

Then, the writer of Hebrews declares that our great high priest has passed through the heavens. Here, we can picture the descriptive word theanthropic. It means one person with two natures. We confess Jesus Christ as fully man and fully God! Donald Hagner, This indeed is no ordinary high priest. He is the man Jesus, but also the unique Son of God, the one who has gone through the heavens. Because Jesus is theanthropic, He can meet our every need.

Again, who He is determines what He can do. He can sympathize with our weaknesses. Raymond Brown, No-one on earth, before or since, has ever been through such spiritual desolation and human anguish. For this reason he can help us in our moments of temptation. He is aware of our needs because he has experienced to the full the pressures and testings of life in this godless world. He was fully tempted like us yet sinless. C. S. Lewis, We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means . . .

Our confession declares we can confidently draw near the throne of grace. Thomas Constable, The high priests of Judaism could only approach God at His earthly throne, in the holy of holies in the tabernacle or temple, once a year. God’s throne of judgment has become a throne of grace (undeserved help) for us now. We have access to His mercy which is not receiving what we deserve. We have access to His grace which is receiving what we do not deserve. Warren Wiersbe, No trial is too great, no temptation is too strong, but that Jesus Christ can give us the mercy and grace that we need, when we need it.

We have quite a confession. It is definitely the Good News. I pray each of us will hold fast our confession. R. Kent Hughes, Some in that beleaguered little house-church of the first century had allowed the mounting hardships to draw them away from God, rather than closer by prayer. Their confidence was gone. What about you? Has life made you draw away from the throne of grace or draw near?

Join the study of Hebrews 4:14-16 which may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. Our confession is a reminder of our great High Priest who is worthy to be served and proclaimed in this desperately needy world.