A New and Living Way
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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· 320 viewsTo teach God’s people the importance of being confident with a clean heart and strong convictions when we enter the presence of the Lord.
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A NEW AND LIVING WAY
A NEW AND LIVING WAY
ACTS 10:19-25
19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.
AIM
To teach God’s people the importance of being confident with a clean heart and strong convictions when we enter the presence of the Lord.
INTRODUCTION
The remainder of this chapter helps us with our endurance in Christ Jesus. We often find ourselves discouraged and disheartened by a lot of things and people while we travel this Christian journey through life. It is doubtful most people realize when their actions, or lack thereof, and when their comments lead us down into the valley of despair. Then there are those times we experience neglect or persecution by others when we are really trying to do the right things and serve the Lord with all of our hearts. What are we to do when we hit the low points in our lives? More often than not, many simply step aside from their responsibilities or totally quit attending the church altogether. But, is this really the best thing we can do when we are down and discouraged? The answer is most definitely, No. The best thing we can do is get on our knees, talk with Jesus and spend time searching for answers in God’s Word through a new and living way.
A NEW AND LIVING WAY GIVES US SURE CONFIDENCE FOR ENDURANCE
19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
Confidence gives us the boldness we need “to enter the holy place.” Confidence comes through our relationship with Jesus. The most holy place was in the part of the temple which symbolized the presence of God. We have literally enter into the presence of God “by the blood of Jesus.” This privilege is no longer limited to the priesthood.
20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”
20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Today, every believer has the privilege to enter into the presence of God “by a new and living way.”
Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 1. An Appeal to Experience Christ’s Power (vv. 19–25)
We have the boldness to enter into the holiest place because Jesus has opened for us a new and living way. He serves as our great priest to encourage us to enter God’s presence. Christ’s way to the Father is new because he opened it by his death. The resurrection of the sacrificed One has made the way living, or effective and enduring. This stands in contrast with the weak, ineffective rituals of the priests with slain animals who remained dead. We don’t walk up to God in halfhearted weakness but with the power of the risen, living Christ.
When the Bible speaks of “the veil,” also known as the curtain, it speaks of the division between the holy place and the most holy place. In this instance, we are talking about the crucified body of Jesus on the cross.
21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?”
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 1. An Appeal to Experience Christ’s Power (vv. 19–25)
Jesus’ human life and sacrificial death have made the Most Holy Place wide open so believers can enter directly into God’s presence. This was part of Jesus’ high priestly service.
A NEW AND LIVING WAY GIVES US CLEANSING FOR ENDURANCE
A NEW AND LIVING WAY GIVES US CLEANSING FOR ENDURANCE
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Hebrews 10:
Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 1. An Appeal to Experience Christ’s Power (vv. 19–25)
Jesus’ human life and sacrificial death have made the Most Holy Place wide open so believers can enter directly into God’s presence. This was part of Jesus’ high priestly service.
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”
22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
We are encouraged to draw near to God and express our personal devotion to Him. God has promised to draw near to us when we draw near to Him.
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:
The writer of Hebrews gives three conditions for drawing near to God. First, we must “draw near with a sincere heart.” This means our devotion must be genuine rather than manufactured. Second, we must approach God “in full assurance of faith.” This means we are confident God has provided a way of full access into His presence through the Lord Jesus Christ. Third, we must be sure “our hearts” are “sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” This means we are honest with the Lord in confessing our sins and being cleansed through the blood of Jesus.
A NEW AND LIVING WAY GIVES US STRONG CONVICTIONS FOR ENDURANCE
23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
We are exhorted to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:3-
24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
A person who wavers in his belief about Jesus will always be unstable and never dependable. We should never waver because Jesus “who promised is faithful.”
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
The Bible teaches us we have a responsibility to each other. We should find ways to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Paul taught the Corinthian church love never fails.
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Finally, we are encouraged to be faithful in “assembling together” with other believers. Some have “the habit” of staying away from church which is always discouraging to other believers. We need to be together to encourage “one another” in the Lord. We need the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially in our generation. The “assembling together” with the church is important as we “see the day” of the Lord’s coming “drawing near.” The people living when Hebrews was written believed the coming of the Lord was near. How much closer do you think we are in our generation?
CONCLUSION
Do you have confidence when you enter the presence of God in Jesus Name? Are you entering the Lord’s presence with a clean heart? Do you have strong convictions about Jesus and the importance being consistently faithful to His church?
Prepared for First Baptist Church Oakdale - August 13, 2017