Jesus is Faithful

Introduction

This week we are continuing our study of the book of Hebrews. Last week we ended with , “And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”

Now the reason we looked at verse 18, is because verse 19 begins with a therefore. And you know whenever there is a therefore, you need to stop and see what it is there for. In this case it refers us back to verse 18—because sin has been forgiven and there is no longer any need for a sacrifice—because our sin has been forgiven, we can now through, the blood of Jesus, you and I can enter the Most Holy Place.

If you have your Bibles turn with me to and we’ll begin reading at verse 19.

Hebrews 10:19–20 NIV84

Therefore, brothers, 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,

Hebrews 10:19 NIV84

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:19-

Our Confidence

The first confidence that we have is that we can enter into the Most Holy Place.

Think about this for a minute—you and I can have the confidence to enter into the very presence of God! We can do this through a very different way. Not through ritual, or repeated sacrifice but through a new and living way. Through the blood of Jesus.

The second great confidence is that we have a great priest—a wonderful High Priest that is over the entire house of God—Jesus!

Hebrews 10:22–25 NIV84

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, 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. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:22-25

Let Us

In the next several verses there are 5 things that begin with the phrase “let us.”

This phrase, tells us that this is something that we really need to do. It is NOT simply a nice suggestion, it is a command.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith—a sincere heart is a genuine heart, and that genuine heart gives us certainty of what we believe.

The author gives us the imagery of the Old Testament. The rituals of the Old Testament cleaned the outside, but now we have been cleansed on the inside. In the Old Covenant the blood of bulls and goats.

We have been cleansed not only from our sin but also from our guilty conscience.

The reference to having our bodies washed with pure water seems to be a reference to our identifying with Jesus through baptism.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. The reason we can hold unswervingly is because we know the who made the promises—we know He is faithful.

Consider how we may spur on another on toward love and good deeds. The word “spur” this word means to encourage, stimulate, provoke, to cause, or to cause a heated argument. So we are to find ways to provoke each other towards love (agape) and good deeds (moral duty).

Not give up meeting together. The author encourages believers to continue meeting together. Yet, he knows some fall into the habit of not meeting together. It is important that we continue the habit of meeting together.

Encourage one another. We are now told we need to keep encouraging each other, the reason because things are going to get worse! Notice the last phrase of verse 25. “All the more as you see the Day approaching.” This phrase “the Day” is a reference to the day when Jesus returns.

Five “let us” that really show us how we should live since we have experienced God’s forgiveness of sin.

Apostasy

Now there’s a fancy word, that we often skip over. To commit apostasy is to accept the teachings of Jesus and then to turn away from those teachings.

If we look at the life of Judas, it appears that he committed apostasy. He was, by all appearances, a devoted follower of Jesus until he betrayed the Lord—apostasy!

When we come to verse 26 the author appears to be talking about those who commit apostasy.

Hebrews 10:26–31 NIV84

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:26-31

If we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth the author says that there is no sacrifice left. It is clear from scripture that committing apostasy is a real possible (; ; ).

The key to understanding this passage is that if a person walks away from the truth (commits apostasy) there is nothing to protect him from God’s judgment (). However, this judgment seems to take place at the judgment seat of Jesus rather than at the Great White Throne Judgment. The judgment seat of Jesus is the judgment of believers ().

If we look back at , the author talks about the land of the apostate being burned up. In this example, there is no doubt that the crop is destroyed and the land is scorched—but the land itself is not destroyed.

Throughout God’s Word there are examples of people who commit apostasy. The question is whether or not apostasy leads to eternal separation from God? All I can tell you is that I’m glad it is not my call. What is clear is that unbelievers are destroyed by God’s judgment. What is unclear is whether or not God’s judgment destroys those who commit apostasy. I’m just glad I don’t have to make the call.

Look at verse 31 (don’t miss it). “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Hebrews 10:32–36 NIV84

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:32-

Back to Basics

The author encourages his readers to remember back to the time when they first came to the Lord Jesus.

Remember how they stood their ground in the face of suffering.

Remember how they were publicly exposed to insults and persecution.

Remember how you stood side by side with those who were persecuted.

Remember how you sympathized with those in prison.

And remember how you joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property.

Don’t throw away your confidence in Jesus. Here the word “confidence” means “boldness,” “outspokenness.” We need to hold onto our confidence because it will be richly rewarded.

The reader needs to persevere so that when they have done the will of God, the reader will receive what God has promised them.

Finally, Jesus is coming soon, and He will not delay. And the righteous man will live by faith.

Each of us needs to be strong and not shrink away because that does not please God. The Greek word translated “shrink back” can be translated withdraw, turn back, keep silent about. It seems like we may be back on the subject of apostasy. Those that turn back (shrink back) will be “destroyed.” It is hard to know exactly how the author was using this word. In the Greek it can also mean “to suffer loss.” The word is used in both contexts—suffer physical loss, or eternal destruction.

So What

No matter what you believe will happen to the person who commits apostasy, the emphasis of this passage is to stand firm to the end.

As we stand firm we need to follow the five “Let us.”

Let us:

Draw near to God.

Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.

Spur one another to love and good deeds.

Not give up meeting together.

Encourage one another.