THE BEAUTY OF THE ASSEMBLY

Hebrews 10:19–25 (CSB): EXHORTATIONS TO GODLINESS

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 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 in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

BIG IDEA: JESUS’ BODY & BLOOD GIVE US ACCESS...

Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. In Chicago a few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another part of the city the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way. A friend asked him why he went so far, and told him that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home. "They may be as good for others, but not for me," was his reply. "Why not?" she asked. "Because they love a fellow over there," he replied.

THE CHURCH! THE MOVEMENT THAT JESUS BEGAN, IN ORDER FOR HIS KINGDOM TO BE ESTABLISHED

- HIS GOSPEL TO BE DISPENSED - HIS LOVE TO BE SHARED

- THE CHURCH!!!

AREN’T YOU GLAD TO BE A PART OF JESUS’ CHURCH?

REGARDLESS OF THE BAD PRESS - THE CONSTANT CRITICISM

- THE UNENDING MISINFORMATION

- THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST STILL STANDS

- AND IS STRONGER THAN SHE’S EVER BEEN!

THE CHURCH IS WHERE WE GROW & GO!!

THE CHURCH EXPOSED US TO FELLOWSHIP & PARTNERSHIP!

DISCIPLESHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT!

RIGHTEOUSNESS & JUSTICE!

THE CHURCH...

THE BEAUTY OF THE ASSEMBLY WILL NEVER FADE....

AREN’T YOU GLAD TO BE A PART OF THE CHURCH?

THE ANCIENT HYMN: THE CHURCH AND ITS FOUNDATION BEGINS LIKE THIS:

The Church’s one foundation   Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation   By water and the Word: From heav’n He came and sought her   To be His holy Bride; With His own blood He bought her,   And for her life He died.

AND THIS IS OUR EMPHASIS FOR TODAY: JESUS’ BODY & BLOOD HAVE GIVEN US ACCESS...

THE HEBREW WRITER - Vs. 19 - ((((THEREFORE))) <<<<<< VERSES 19 - 25 IS ACTUALLY ONE SENTENCE IN THE GREEK….IT’S ONE VERY LONG TREND OF THOUGHT>>>>>>

THE WRITER SHIFTS FROM DOCTRINE TO DUTY: CREEDS MUST GIVE WAY TO CONDUCT - WHAT YOU BELIEVE MUST EVENTUALLY AFFECT HOW YOU BEHAVE!

THE WRITER HAS REMINDED US THAT NO MORE SACRIFICES ARE REQUIRED: JESUS’ PERFECT SACRIFICE PAID IT ALL!!! YES, JESUS PAID IT ALL - ALL TO HIM I OWE - SIN HAS LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN, BUT HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW...

AND THE WRITER’S “THEREFORE” PUSHES US TOWARDS OUR RESPONSE TO ALL THAT CHRIST HAS DONE..

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

BRUCE PARAPHRASES THIS SECTION OF SCRIPTURE IN A MOST PROFOUND MANNER: “In view of all that has been accomplished for us by Christ, he says, let us confidently approach God in worship, let us maintain our Christian confession and hope, let us help one another by meeting together regularly for mutual encouragement, because the day which we await will soon be here.”

VS. 19-21 - RESTATE THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, AND THE ACCESS THAT CHRIST’S SACRIFICE HAS GRANTED THOSE WHO BELIEVE!

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

DON’T MISS THIS BELOVED: WE ARE BOLD BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD!

THE WRITER SAYS, “WE HAVE BOLDNESS - CONFIDENCE TO COME....TO ENTER INTO THE PRENSE OF OUR LIFE-GIVER KING! NO MORE HINDRANCES - NO MORE HOOPS!

A PATH TOWARDS GOD’S PRESENCE HAS BEEN LAID BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

BLOOD OF CHRIST

When evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791) was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have something more to give you." The surprised robber paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'" The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.

Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before! "I owe it all to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend," Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!"

WE ARE BOLD BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD…WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN - NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS - WHAT CAN MAKE ME WHOLE AGAIN - NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS - OH PRECIOUS IS THAT FLOW THAT MAKES ME WHITE AS SNOW - NO OTHER FOUNT I KNOW....NOTHING! BUT! THE! BLOOD!

BECAUSE OF THIS ACCESS GRANTED THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, WE MUST NOTE THAT THE SANCTUARY IS NOT LIMITED TO A BUILDING!

THIS IS THE DESIGNATED GOD-ORDAINED PLACE - THE CHURCH!

WE ALSO ARE THE CHURCH WHEREVER WE GO...

NOT ONLY ARE WE BOLD BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD, SECONDLY, WE HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE OF HIS BODY!!!

20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

SCRIPTURE RECORDS IN MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE THAT UPON JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION, THE VAIL WAS TORN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM!

THE HEAVY VEIL THAT SEPARATED THE HOLY OF HOLIES...

THAT HEAVY VEIL THAT THE HIGH PRIEST ONLY WENT BEHIND ONCE PER YEAR!!

JESUS’ TORN BODY TORE THE VEIL!!!

THEY RIPPED HIM, BUT THEY COULDN’T STOP HIM…BECAUSE ON THE THIRD DAY, HE GOT UP - WITH ALL POWER - POWER TO REDEEM THE LOST - POWER TO CORRECT THE WRONG - POWER TO RELEASE THE CAPTIVE!!!

AND NOW, ACCORDING TO THE HEBREW AUTHOR, JESUS IS OUR NEW HIGH PRIEST! OUR NEW MEDIATOR! OUR NEW INTERCESSOR!!!

JESUS HAS GIVEN US A NEW AND LIVING WAY TO ACCESS GOD’S PRESENCE AND TO INTERACT WITH OUR GOD!!!

VS. 21 - WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST (WE NO LONGER NEED THE PRIEST ON EARTH AS A MEDIATOR FOR ACCESS - WE NOW HAVE ACCESS)

WE ARE BOLD BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD!

WE HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE OF HIS BODY!

BUT THE TEXT IS MOVING:

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 in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

THERE IS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FROM US, BASED UPON WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US!!!

THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXPECTED OR REQUIRED RESPONSE TO GOD’S BENEVOLENCE!

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 in pure water.

AWWWW, DRAW NEAR (HEARTS FULL)! IN OTHER WORDS, WE (BELIEVERS) ARE TO:

COME CLEAN!

WE ARE COME CLEAN - DRAW NEAR TO HIS PRESENCE IN HIS PLACE, WASHED AND READY FOR WORSHIP!!! HEARTS FULL OF ASSURANCE (YEAH, KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN REDEEMED - TRANSFORMED - DELIVERED - SAVED)!!

THERE IS SINCERITY - AUTHENTICITY, BASED UPON AN EFFECTIVE CLEANSING BY HIS BLOOD!!!

BRING GOD YOUR FIRST.

BRING GOD YOUR BEST.

BRING GOD YOURSELF!

LET’S KEEP PRESSING...

23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

NOT ONLY COME CLEAN, SECONDLY, WE ARE TO:

COME CORRECT!

THE WRITER (THROUGHOUT THIS EPISTLE) WARNS BELIEVERS OF THE “DANGER OF DRIFT!” THERE IS IMMENSE POTENTIAL IN WAVERING FROM THE FAITH!!!

SO, TO OFFSET THAT, HE EXHORTS US TO HOLD ON TO THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE!

HOLD ON…RELY UPON THE FAITHFULNESS OF JESUS’ FINISHED WORK UPON CALVARY’S CROSS!!!

NOTHING MORE.

NOTHING LESS.

NOTHING ELSE. JESUS!

((ILLUS))

FINAL MOVEMENT:

COME CLEAN!

COME CORRECT!

FINALLY: COME CONSISTENTLY

24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

VS. 24 - CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER - INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER - GATHER TOGETHER - COME CONSISTENTLY!

COME: INSPIRING - CHALLENGING - ENCOURAGING - LOVING!