A New and Living Way

Hebrews 10:11–25 NIV

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Day After Day...

That’s the history. It’s also why we think this was written before AD70. Until that time there were daily sacrifices and annual atonement rituals going on in the Temple. In AD70 the experiment of compromising with Rome came to a violent end when troops invaded and destroyed the temple.

Or one possible theory I have wondered about is if this could have been written just after AD70 as an outreach to those who were blown away by the loss of the temple and wondering what it all meant.

This Priest

Jesus is that High Priest who was the perfect answer some 35 years in advance. The sacrifices weren’t needed anymore because Jesus was the ultimate high priest who made the once and for all sacrifice. His sacrifice was superior. So even before AD 70 it was no longer needed. But certainly after, nothing eternally essential was lost. Because Jesus paid it all...

He Sat Down...

Hebrews 10:17–18 NIV

Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

Jesus suffered on our behalf. He forgave our sins. No need to keep sacrificing for them.

He Waits...

How long, o, Lord? Well Jesus is also waiting… Waiting for justice to move from a possibility to a full reality. In the meantime, all who submit to him are being transformed. This is part of the ARE saved. BEING saved and WILL BE saved trifecta. Part of his plan to restore this world begins by restoring human hearts, minds and lives. We are born sinful. We can be made holy...

Being Made Holy...

God is sanctifying his people. Sanctification is the process of being made less like sin and more like Christ. It’s that “being saved” part of salvation. It’s a continual process, but it has a couple of key starting points. That key point of first believing in Jesus and professing your faith in Him. But there is a second moment. That moment when you say a deeper YES to God.

Hebrews 10:14–16 NIV

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

A New and Living Way...

Hebrews 10:20 NIV

by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

His body replaces the curtain and opens up a new and living way directly to God! We don’t need a secret handshake. We don’t need to be like anyone else.

We need to believe that Jesus is the risen messiah, confess that he is Lord, and commit to following Him from now on… That’s our part. God has already made it possible through what Jesus did.

Sin caused a separation between us and God. Jesus made atonement. His death and resurrection mean that God can now relate to us directly once we do our part of receiving the gift of faith and professing that Jesus is Lord. That means we follow his lead daily.

Once we take that stop, Jesus has opened up a new and living way… Isn’t that beautiful. It’s not just about forgiveness of sins. This salvation is new and alive! And it’s a way of life!

The Hope We Profess

Christians can be people of hope in a world of fear and anger. That’s a new and living way… The way of Jesus. Our hope is in Jesus. That means we look to Jesus first. That means we draw the strength for our lives from his well. We don’t compare ourselves to others and become smug or get down on ourselves. We look up. When other people go low, we go high… We don’t have to win every debate because Jesus has already won the overall victory. He didn’t win it by being vicious or retaliatory. Hope is finding Joy. Hope goes beyond our circumstances and finding staying power in Jesus.

Let Us Hold Unswervingly...

Hebrews 10:23–25 NIV

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The new and living way is alive and well daily. The new and living way is completely immersed in Jesus. The new and living way looks beyond our fear of death. It’s a living way afterall. The new and living way is in community. Sharing life. Sharing the good days and the bad days. Not holding back but going all in. All the more as you see the DAY approaching… Advent is almost here. Let’s pray.