Hearts Cleansed & Bodies Washed
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Connection:
For something to need cleansing and washing, it needs to first be dirty, filthy, or stained. Right? Such was our state, spiritually, before we were cleansed and washed by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Need:
We need to remember how we have been cleansed and washed—how this is signified and sealed in baptism—and how we ought to live in response to God’s grace through faith.
Theme:
Hearts Cleansed & Bodies Washed
Purpose:
To remind us of what our baptism signifies in Christ—and to exhort us how to live in God’s household as his cleansed and washed saints.
Text: Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV
As you’re turning there—remember that Hebrews is written to a congregation that is struggling with the temptation to return to the shadows of the OC and denying the sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus Christ over all of that which anticipated him. And so the book is filled with exhortations to Christians to persevere in the Gospel and better promises of the NC—and we’re going to see some of what this entails in our text for this morning.
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY
(1) Priestly Opening- v. 19-21.
(1) Priestly Opening- v. 19-21.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
(1) Priestly Opening- v. 19-21.
(1) Priestly Opening- v. 19-21.
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Lev. 16:2; 34 - In the OC, the high priest could only enter int the holy of holies once a year to make atonement for sins. And he is warned: do not enter the holy place unworthily lest you die! Notice how this is contrasted with the access we have in Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, who has given all believers confidence and boldness to enter the holy of holies, by his blood shed once for all!
Poole: This is vouchsafed [for] them by the blood of Jesus, [who] atoned [for sin], who sits on the throne for us, and made it accessible to us. How much greater is this gospel privilege than that under the law! Aaron alone, and not the Israelites, could enter into the holy of holiest, and that but once a year, and then with the blood of beasts sacrificed for himself and them; whereas every [repentant &] believing sinner can now by faith in Christ’s blood and prayer, enter into the holiest of all in heaven, and there converse with God every day!
Hallelujah! What once was sealed—Christ our Priest has opened for us forevermore! The gates of heaven have opened to all who come through the blood of Jesus Christ alone! And there we will find the mercy-seat, and Christ seated on it! As Hebrews says earlier in the letter, encouraging us in this reality:
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(A) Don’t fear, brothers and sisters, Christ has opened the way, and bids you come. Don’t look anywhere else for access into heaven. It’s only through the blood of Jesus that we can find mercy and grace in God’s eyes, and be welcomed into the holiest presence of God as his beloved children and redeemed servants!
God has welcomed us into the holiest:
20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
You remember how the Holy of Holiest was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick, beautiful, and glorious curtain or veil. Only this signified that no one could enter but the High Priest. But do you also remember what happened to this temple-veil when Jesus died?
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
The veil that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple, rent asunder, was torn in two! Access was opened! And the new and living way was consecrated for all who would come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ, from his body that was torn and broken and given for us. He was torn, that we might be brought through his flesh, into the presence of God, with our sins atoned for. Amazing grace.
(A) Don’t seek God apart from Christ, for it’s only through the body of Christ broken for us, that we have access to heaven. Again, the author is establishing, that it’s Christ alone! And then he adds:
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
You remember those famous words of God the Father, sworn to God the Son, from Ps. 110:4?
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus is the eternal priest of the NC, who died for us and intercedes for us! Who rules over the household of God, who leads us into the presence of God, and who ever lives to intercede for us and hold us fast in grace!
(A) There is no other priest who can atone for our sin, intercede for us, and bring us to God! So trust in Him, and cherish his household and rule over his saints.
(1) Priestly Opening- v. 19-21.
So with this new opening—the authors exhorts us to be:
(2) Purely Worshipping - v. 22.
(2) Purely Worshipping - v. 22.
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(2) Purely Worshipping - v. 22.
(2) Purely Worshipping - v. 22.
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
In the OC, the term: draw near is used over and over again to refer to offering sacrifices, to entering God’s presence, to worshipping Him according to His ordinances and statues. It’s a term of public worship, in the house of God. Leviticus teaches us that drawing near to God is the entirety of holy and reverent worship in His presence, by the blood of the Lamb of God. And so, in light of Jesus Christ, the author says: come! Don’t stay back! Come to God through Him! He invites you to come, to commune with God, to worship Him, to draw near to Him in Christ! But how?
Henry: They must draw near by conversion, and by taking hold of his covenant. They must draw near in all holy [conduct], like Enoch walking with God. They must draw near in humble adorations, worshipping at his footstool. They must draw near in holy dependence, and in a strict observance of the divine conduct towards them. They must draw near in conformity to God, and communion with him, living under his blessed influence, still endeavouring to get nearer and nearer, till they come to dwell in his presence; but they must see to it that they make their approach to God after a right manner.
And the right manner is by faith in Jesus—even a faith that grows into full assurance—a full confidence that we are born of the Spirit and washed in the blood. We can come to God even in our doubts—but God desires that we grow into a full assurance of faith, as we cry out: Abba, Father.
(A) So let us examine our hearts, that we might draw near to God sincerely, and reverently, and in true faith—even the assurance and certainty of faith. Let us put doubt to death by the blood of Jesus. And worship the LORD our God. The author continues:
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
The author to the Hebrews is remembering that glorious prophecy of the NC, where God promises to wash us clean and cleanse our hearts by His sovereign grace:
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Brothers and sisters, if we are believers, then we have received a new heart, sprinkled clean from our sin and defilement! We are new creatures in Christ Jesus! God has washed the filth of our sin white as snow, and has cleansed us from it’s defilement and power. We still battle it—but it no longer has dominion over us. We have the power of the Spirit to obey God.
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
(A) Let us rejoice, that our filthy and dirty hearts have been sprinkled clean, washed, cleansed, purified, and renewed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ! And this is signed and sealed to us in our baptism:
and our bodies washed with pure water.
This is glorious, brothers and sisters! n the OT, the priests needed to be sprinkled with blood, and washed with water, in order to draw near into the presence of God.
Ex. 29:4 - Priestly washing for pure worship.
You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
Acts 22:16 - Christian baptism and washing.
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
And so God has given us the sign of baptism, to assure believers, that just as surely as your body has been washed by pure water, has your soul be washed by the blood, and has been renewed in the Holy Spirit, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
RSB: The inner cleansing of conscience that makes Jesus’ death superior to the sacrifices under the law (9:13, 14) is visibly symbolized in baptism (Eph. 5:26). As the high priest washed his body with water in preparation for entering the Most Holy Place (Lev. 16:4; Ex. 29:4), so we may enter now as priests into God’s presence through our identification with Jesus, who has entered there. This identification is visibly signed and sealed in the washing of Christian baptism (Rom. 6:3, 4; 1 Pet. 3:18–22).
If we are in Christ—we are no longer who we used to be. We have been washed and cleansed from sin’s guilt, and defilement:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
(A) Let us praise God for giving us his covenant sign, to help us remember his spiritual grace and promise that is received by faith alone, in Christ alone. Praise God for the gift of baptism!
(2) Purely Worshipping - v. 22.
But the author of Hebrews doesn’t just want us to worship purely, he also wants us to be a people who profess with our lips, the Gospel of Christ. So we must also be:
(3) Promise Confessing - v. 23.
(3) Promise Confessing - v. 23.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
(3) Promise Confessing - v. 23.
(3) Promise Confessing - v. 23.
As this church was being tempted to turn back to OC ways of Jewish temple worship, denying the once for all Lamb who was slain—and denying the better nature of the NC promises and worship, he exhorts them, and so too he exhorts us:
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
The Greek word for ‘hold fast’ is: κατέχω - which means: “hold fast to, restrain, hold down, withhold, seize, grasp.” He isn’t saying to hold onto the confession of our faith like we hold on to a railing as we walk down the stairs—he’s saying to hold onto the confession of our faith like we’re seizing the only means of saving our lives. This is life or death—heaven or hell—salvation or damnation! We must hold fast to the profession of our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Confessing the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord, with our lips and hearts:
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
And thus we see the necessity of a public profession of faith and hope in Christ—we must confess Christ before men, sincerely, and persevere in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you done this? And are you doing this? Beloved:
(A) Never let loose of your profession of faith and hope! Don’t stagger, don’t shift, don’t slide. Because there is nothing else that is worthy of our profession, and there is no one else who can save us from our sins! He then adds:
for he who promised is faithful.
We are not the faithful ones who have promised—God is the faithful one who has promised. God’s promises are yes and amen. He is a faithful-covenant-keeping-God—to a thousand generations!
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Because God, who promised, can never lie—our faith can rest in His unshakeable grace!
Poole: all is sure on God’s side, Numb. 23:19, and his power is irresistible. He hath promised to reward those who persevere and continue to the end true to the Redeemer, and to give them grace and assistance that they may so continue.
(A) Don’t rest your faith in your faith—rest your faith in God’s trustworthy promise—clinging to His word which is yes and amen in Jesus, and which is sealed to us in our baptism by God’s goodness!
(3) Promise Confessing - v. 23.
And this leads us to our last point before our conclusion. Not only must we we be a promise confessing church—we must also be:
(4) People Encouraging - v. 24-25.
(4) People Encouraging - v. 24-25.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(4) People Encouraging - v. 24-25.
(4) People Encouraging - v. 24-25.
Notice, that those of us who are members of God’s household have duties to one another. And if you are outside of the household of God, not united to a local congregation in membership—you need to do so! The author of Hebrews has nothing good to say to you, unless you are joined to the church of Jesus Christ. And so he exhorts those saints gathered together:
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
This is fascinating. The Greek word for ‘stir up’ is παροξυσμός - which literally means: ‘sharp disagreement, irritation, or exasperation’. Thus, the author to the Hebrews is saying that we need to consider and contemplate how to irritate each other! Not unto wickedness, but unto righteousness. We need to rub shoulders with one another, which can be painful at times, but we need to say and do hard things for one another, in order to stir us up to love and good works.
Christian obedience, requires Christian fellowship, and true Christian fellowship is no easy thing. Christian love can hurt at times! But we need it, and we need each other, to fulfill our calling:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
(A) When was the last time you contemplated how you could sharply but sweetly exhort one of your brothers or sisters in their faith and love? Rather than talking behind someone’s back. How can you encourage them in the Lord. A searching question for us indeed. He then adds:
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
Oh church family, we need to be like the Apostle John in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, as the temple of God, as the house of God (Rev. 1:10)! To withdraw yourself from the gathering of the saints is to commit spiritual suicide—for it’s here that God has promised his richest blessing upon the means of grace, in the Word, ordinances, and prayer—it’s here that we find the sustaining power we need to persevere in the faith.
Gill: It is the duty of saints to assemble together for public worship [on the Lord’s Day], on the account of God, who has appointed it, who approves of it, and whose glory is concerned in it; and on the account of the saints themselves, that they may be delighted, refreshed, comforted, instructed, edified, and perfected; and on account of others, that they may be convinced, converted, and brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ.
(A) The church is the nursery of the saints, the household of God, the temple of the LORD, the kingdom of priests, and the green pastures of God’s grace. To cut yourself off from the church is to cut yourself off from Christ, who is the head of the church! Oh let us always gather on the Lord’s Day (and beyond), to worship and serve our faithful God of glory! And as we do so, we must be:
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
There is a day coming, a day of judgment for the wicked, and a day of salvation for the righteous. There is a day coming, that dreadful day of the Lord—when all shall stand before the tribunal of Jesus Christ—and only those who have trusted in His blood, been joined to His household, and have persevered in love and good works—only such saints will enter into Glory.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(A) And so, with our presence in the church, as a member of the household of God, along with all the saints of Jesus Christ—we can find the encouragement we need to press on! So don’t lose heart, Christ is coming again to bring us to our eternal home! With this knowledge, let us be:
(4) People Encouraging - v. 24-25.
And so, as we’ve walked through our text this AM, let us hear our final conclusion, as we have reflected upon baptism, and our Christian duties:
(C) Jesus Cleanses us by His Blood and Washes us with Water—So Let’s Enter In, Draw Near, Hold Fast, and Stir Up.
(C) Jesus Cleanses us by His Blood and Washes us with Water—So Let’s Enter In, Draw Near, Hold Fast, and Stir Up.
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish
(C) Jesus Cleanses us by His Blood and Washes us with Water—So Let’s Enter In, Draw Near, Hold Fast, and Stir Up.
(C) Jesus Cleanses us by His Blood and Washes us with Water—So Let’s Enter In, Draw Near, Hold Fast, and Stir Up.
Kevin and Faye, may you cherish this day forever—remember who you are in Christ—and serve the Lord as faithful members of the household of God.
And may all of us do the same, remembering our baptisms—that we have been cleansed by Christ’s blood, and washed with pure water, so we can serve our God and each other, as we wait for the final day.
Amen? Let’s pray.
