“…since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us 1HOLD FIRMLY to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, we have one who has been tempted in EVERY WAY, just as we are—yet HE DID NOT SIN. 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. (Heb. 4:14-16) 1krateō: to seize, take control of.
We are seizing or taking control of the fact that Jesus is indeed our “High Priest” and that He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet HE DID NOT SIN!!! Jesus made us “FREE FROM SIN…” “But now having been SET FREE FROM SIN, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” (Rom. 6:22) Just a little earlier Paul said, “But God be thanked that though you WERE SLAVES OF SIN, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been SET FREE FROM SIN, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Rom. 6:17-18)
Paul went on to show us, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN and death.” (Rom. 8:1-2) So, this is what we will be, “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corin. 3:18) Then, as promised, “…we are God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that WE WILL BE LIKE HIM, FOR WE WILL SEE HIM AS HE REALLY IS.” (1 John 3:2)
-Bill Stockham