A NEW AND LIVING WAY

Heb. 10:19-25         

Intro: 

The book of Hebrews is an amazing book.  It was written to Jewish converts who seemed to have been considering a return to Judaism. They were having a difficult time leaving the rituals and ceremonies of their old lives behind. 

Some of their number had walked away from Jesus and from the church and had gone back to the old life completely.

      The writer of this book has spent the bulk of Hebrews proving that Jesus and the salvation He provides is far superior to what the Jews had under the Law.  After proving that Jesus Christ and His Gospel are vastly superior to Judaism, the writer closes by challenging the Jewish believers to remain faithful to Jesus and to their faith in Him.

      This passage contains three challenges that are just as real to us today as they were to the believers in that day.  These challenges are identified by three “let us” commands.  Each of these “let us” statements tells us something we should do or avoid doing.  I want to consider these “let us” commands and preach on A new and living way. 

God has a word for each of us in these verses.

I. LET US ENTER-VS. 19-22

(Ill.The first challenge is for us to “enter in” and “draw near”.  These verses tell us how it is possible for sinners to “enter in” to the presence of God, and for us to “draw near” to Him.)

A.  Our Provisions-v. 19

– The writer makes a statement in verse 19 that must have sounded strange to his readers.  He tells them to “enter into the holiest” with “boldness”.  He also tells them that there is a “new and living way” into the presence of God.

      The old Jewish system was a closed system.  No one could approach God but the High Priest and he could only do so on the Day of Atonement and only with the blood of an innocent sacrifice to atone for his own sins.  Man was barred from the presence of Holy God! 

      When Jesus, Who is God, came in human flesh and died on the cross, He made a way that we might follow.  When the “veil” of His flesh was torn asunder on the cross, the way was opened to God for all who will enter. 

(Ill. The torn veil in the Temple – Matthew 27:50–51 “50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

When Jesus, Who is our High Priest, entered the Holy of Holies with His blood, He left the way wide open for us to follow, John 10:9 “9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

His shed blood is our ticket to enter the presence of God, Hebrews 9:22 “22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

(Ill.In His death, He paid the sin debt of all those who will believe on Him, Isa. 53:4-6; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

B.  Our Possessions-vs. 19-22

The word “having” is used three times in these verses. “Having” is a “present tense participle”.  It refers to a “present possession”.  We possess some permanent things because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

1. We Have Boldness To Enter-v. 19

The way has been opened and we are invited to come, Isa. 1:18; Rev. 22:17.

2. We Have A High Priest-v. 21

– We have a Man on the inside, praying for us and guaranteeing us that we will be accepted when we come, Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34.

3. We Have Clean Hearts And New Lives-v. 22

-  Ill. The High Priest had to cleanse himself every time he entered the tabernacle and temple.  He was never considered clean.  When a sinner comes to Jesus by faith, he is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, once for all, 1 John 1:7; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19.  When the heart is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, the outward man is also affected, Heb. 9:14; 2 Cor. 5:17.

C.  Our Profession-v. 22

Based on what Jesus did for us and what He has provided for us, people are challenged to “draw near”.  There are only two possible responses to the Gospel message: acceptance or rejection.  The call is for men to come.  They are to come with “a true heart”.  This means they are to be “sincere” when the come to Jesus; not playing games.  They are to come in “full assurance of faith”.  This means they can come believing that God will receive them and save them by His grace.

      The question that comes to mind at this point is this: What have you done with the Gospel invitation?  Have you accepted it? If you have, then you have access to God the Father.  If you haven’t the way has been opened for you, if you will come to Him, John 6:37, 47; Rom. 10:13.

II. LET US ENDURE-VS. 23

A.  The Human Side Of Our Endurance

– We are told to “hold fast the profession of our faith”.  This simply means that we claim to have hope in Jesus.  We say that we are saved and that we are headed to a place called Heaven some day.  We are to live out that hope by remaining faithful to Him.

      Some of these Jewish converts were having a hard time making a complete break from the rituals of their old religion.  They were trying to hold onto their Jewish roots and Jesus too.  The writer tells them to beware lest they turn away from Christ and go back to their old lives.

      There is a danger in that for us as well.  Most of us were not saved out of religion, but out of deep sin.  There is always the danger that we might turn back to the world.  We are challenged here to be faithful to the Lord Who saved our souls by His grace.

      We have all known those people who were in the church for a while and have departed for the world.  We must be on guard that the same thing does not happen to us. (Ill.There is nothing back there but pain, suffering, heartache and death.  Ill.Lot’s wife – Gen. 19:26.  Ill.Heb. 10:38)

B.  The Heavenly Side Of Our Endurance

– We can endure faithfully with the sure knowledge that Jesus will keep His end of the bargain.  When He saved us and called us out of our sins; He promised us a new life and a home in Heaven when this life is over. 

He will not fail to deliver everything He has promised the children of God.  We will come short in our commitment to Him, but He will never fail us, ever, Heb. 6:18!  Every promise He made to us is an ironclad promise and it will be fulfilled.

      The knowledge that He will always be faithful to us should serve to make us desire to be faithful to Him in return!

I. Let us enter

II. Let us endure

III. LET US ENCOURAGE-VS. 24-25

These verses have told us that we can have access to God through the blood of Jesus.  They have also told us that we are expected to live out faithful, dedicated lives to the glory of God. 

Verses 24-25 teach us that we are to help one another along the way of life. 

The challenge here is for us to “consider one another”.  The word “consider” means “to set the mind on”. 

We are to set our minds on our fellow believers in an effort to “provoke” them.  The word “provoke” is usually used in a negative manner.  It means “to incite”.  It has the idea of causing a crowd to “riot”.  In this verse the word means “to stir up”. 

Another significant word in these verses is the word “exhort” in verse 25.  This word means “to encourage”.  T

aken together, these words are a challenge for the saints to look out for one another and to encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.  Notice the four ways we are to do this.

A.  We Are To Love Together

– Love is to be the calling card of the church, John 13:35.  Our love for God is to be the supreme love of our lives, Matt. 22:37-38.  Second only to that love is the love we are to have for our brothers in Christ, Matt. 22:39-40.  Genuine, godly love one for another is one of the sure marks of real salvation, 1 John 3:14.  The absence of this love reveals the absence of true salvation, 1 John 4:7-8; 4:20-21.  (Ill.The church house is to be a place where people feel loved!  It is sad when people receive a warmer greeting at Wal-Mart than they do at the house of God!)  We are to love!  Don’t wait to be love, start loving others and love will come your way!

B.  We Are To Labor Together

– We are to help our brothers and sisters in their work for the Lord.  We are to encourage them in the work they do.  Instead of finding fault with everyone and everything, we should take the time to notice the positive things people are doing and encourage them in their work for Jesus.  We are in this thing together and we are to be in the “building up” business, not the tearing down business, Rom. 14:19; Eph. 4:29.  (Ill.I appreciate you!)

C.  We Are To Linger Together

– Some of the Jewish converts had abandoned the public gatherings of the believers.  We are to seek out the fellowship of the saints and not find ways to avoid it.  Church attendance is far more vital than many people realize.  Just as a hot coal becomes cold when it is separated from the fire; a believer will also become cold when he or she fails to join other believers for fellowship and worship.

      We need the excitement, the teaching, the preaching, the worship, the fellowship and the sense of family that is available when we go to church.  Many of the saints need to reexamine their commitment to the public worship of the Savior.  Nothing will keep you closer to the Lord than regular, faithful attendance to the services at the House of God!

D.  We Are To Look Together

– As we see the coming of the Lord draw closer each day, we are to encourage one another to faithfulness and holy living.  The idea here is this: as the end of this evil age draws near, and the coming of Christ draws nearer; it is going to become increasingly harder to remain holy and separated from this world.  We are going to need the fellowship of the church more than we ever have.  We have a duty to one another to encourage, challenge and help one another along the way of life.

Conclusion:

When you see the phrase “Let us” in the Bible, it is usually a command.  The three “let us” phrases in these verses are no different. 

We are commanded to “Enter” to “Endure” and to “Encourage”. 

How does this message find you?

      Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior and entered into the presence of God? Are you saved?  Would you like to be?

      Are you living a life of faithfulness and patient endurance?  Or, have you wandered from the straight path and gone back to the world?

      Are you busily engaged in the encouragement of your brethren by helping them be all they can be for the glory of God?

      If the Lord has spoken to you through these verses, you come to Him as He leads you.