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Text: Heb 10:19-27
Theme: Guaranteed to persevere, called to work at it.
Doctrine: Perseverance of the Saints
Image: Most Holy Place
Need: Apathy
Message: Work at your faith.
*A Call to Persevere*
Hebrews 10:19-27
*Background*
It is amazing how little we know about this letter.
We do not know who wrote it, we do not know where it was written from, and we do not know who it was written to.
All we know is that the letter is written to some Jewish Christians who seemed to be turning back to old testament practices.
In their eyes, the move was simply a more traditional form of Christianity, but for the writer of the letter, it was a very dangerous practice.
They were allowing the gospel message of Jesus Christ to be watered down by returning to the old practices of the temple and priests.
The author is pointing out that what the readers are adopting is in fact no Christianity at all (Carson, Moo, and Morris; p. 403).
Why these Christians were moving back to Judaism is only hinted at in the book.
It seems some were tired of bearing the shame of being outside their cultural heritage, while others seemed to be hiding in Judaism which was recognised by the Romans because Christianity was persecuted.
*The Old Covenant*
In the Old Covenant, the one given to the Israelites through Moses at Mt Sinai, the people had the priests, the Levites, as their intercessors before God.
There were strict limits on who could approach God and when.
Herod's temple in Jerusalem was a magnificent structure.
In the outer court, all could come to worship Yahweh.
In this court, even the Gentiles could come and serve God.
This court is where schools were held, and where business transactions were carried out.
As you passed through this court you come to an entrance with notices prominently displayed which read, “Only Jews can enter here.
All others face death to enter.”
As you passed through this barrier into the women's court you notice 13 money boxes placed throughout the courtyard.
These were shaped like upside down trumpets, and made a clink every time someone made an offering.
As you approach the gate to the Court of the Men of Israel, you have to climb the 15 steps of assent.
It was customary to chant one of the psalms of ascent as you climbed these steps, like we did this morning with Ps 126.
Upon entering this gate you came face to face with the massive altar gilded in gold.
As you turn right you can see the priests slaughtering the animals for the sacrifice.
When the priests had slaughtered the animals, and presented the sacrifice, they used the bronze laver at the other end of the court to cleanse themselves again.
This is as far as you can go.
There is no way for you to go into the temple sanctuary.
There is no way for you to approach God's presence in the Holy of Holies without taking your very life into your hands.
God killed Nadab and Abihu for not following his instructions in worship.
A common person simply does not enter into the holy places of the temple.
If you happened to arrive on the day of atonement, you might be lucky enough to see the high priest dressed in his vestments, moving into the temple sanctuary.
Once a year he was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices on behalf of the Israelites.
The priest took some of the blood of the sacrifice for his sin into the Holy of Holies, and sprinkled it seven times on the ark.
Then he sacrificed a goat as a sin offering for the people.
After all this had been done, the High Priest then confessed all the sins of the people on another live goat.
This goat was then sent out into the desert as the scape goat, carrying all the sins of the people away from them.
The High Priest was the representative of the people, and the ceremony of the day of atonement reconciled the people to God.
*Reasons for exhortations.
*
The writer of Hebrews makes is very clear that the old testament practices were just that, for an old testament, or an old covenant.
Jesus has now replaced that covenant with a new one.
The Hebrews were no longer subject to the practices of the old covenant, because they were merely a shadow of the new covenant.
The day of atonement practices and sacrifices of the high priest have been replaced with Christ's once and for all sacrifice.
The sacrifices of the old covenant were a constant reminder of sin, they did not cleanse once and for all, if they did, then they would not have to be constantly repeated.
But Christ's sacrifice was done once for all, and after his sacrifice he sat down at the right hand of God, his work done.
Christ is now the way to the living God, he is the great high priest over the house of God, and he is the one who can really cleanse us.
Since we have this new sacrifice, since we have this new high priest in Christ Jesus, the writer gives us three exhortations.
First, we are to draw near to God in faith, second we are to hold fast to our confession of hope, and third we are to stimulate each other into love and good works.
*Draw near to God in FAITH.*
The writer encourages the Hebrews to draw near to God.
He tells them that the old barriers have been broken.
The tabernacle and temple were sent up in such a way that God dwelt separate from his people.
He did this because he could not live among a people who were sinful.
The people of God, the Israelites had been set apart from the nations by God, through his promise to Abraham.
He made them a priesthood to the nations.
Within this people he placed his tabernacle, and within the tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies, was set the ark, the symbol of his dwelling with his people.
There were restrictions as to who could approach it, how they could approach it, and when they could approach it.
The Hebrews were not used to being encouraged to enter into God's presence.
They were extremely afraid of God.
They knew him to be holy and vengeful.
They knew enough to be careful around symbols of his presence.
Here the readers have someone telling them to approach God, and not just approach him, but do it boldly.
They knew God's instructions to Moses.
They thought that people were not supposed to approach God boldly.
Only some could do it, and they had to do it humbly.
No, the writer explains, you no longer have to be afraid to enter God's presence.
You are no longer recognised as a sinful people.
You have had your hearts cleansed of an evil conscience, of a bad conscience, of a guilty conscience.
Your bodies have been washed in pure water.
This is why we can enter God's presence.
This is why we can live in communion with him.
We have been washed in the pure water of baptism.
Jesus Christ has paid for our sins using his own blood.
Our liturgy every Sunday highlights this fact as well.
When we enter God's presence we praise him for his glory.
We know that we are not worthy to come into God's presence, yet he graciously invites us.
We know that our sins are forgiven, and so we gladly confess them to him.
Through the words of scripture we receive the assurance that our sins have been forgiven.
Thus, we approach God's throne boldly.
We worship him as our father, because we have been adopted as his children.
We come to him and hear a word from his throne through the scriptures.
We take his teaching to heart and commit ourselves to serve him throughout the week.
We can approach him boldly, in true faith, with full assurance of faith.
There is no longer a priestly caste to stand between us and God.
Christ is our high priest, and he has torn open the curtain of the Holy of Holies, providing direct access to God.
God has not changed.
He is still the almighty God, he is infinitely holy, he is perfectly just, and he is still to be held in honour.
We are not to be flippant to God, and speak to him how ever we choose.
We still must respect him, and give him the esteem that is due him.
But we do not have to cringe before him, fearful for our lives, because we have been forgiven.
We no longer have to go through the long cleansing process the priests did, because we are cleansed by Jesus blood.
*Hold fast to your confession of HOPE.*
So, the first thing the writer urges us to do is to draw near to God boldly, in true faith.
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