A New Way of Life

A New Way of Life

Hebrews 10:19-25

“Therefore, brethren, since we have the confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus…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.”

                  The book of Hebrews is centered on the redemptive work of Christ and how His sacrifice is sufficient for paying the penalty of our sins so that we now have free access to God.   By comparing the Old Testament sacrificial system and the sacrifice on the day of atonement with the sacrifice of Christ, the writer points out that the Old Testament sacrificial system and the Day of the Atonement provided only temporary and partial forgiveness for our sins.  Every year, the High Priest would take the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement and enter into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood on the Mercy Seat to obtain the forgiveness of their sins.  However, it was only temporary and not permanent, for they had to repeat the sacrifice every year.  Does that mean that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were pointless?  Not at all.  They provided the context for understanding Christ’s work on the cross.  The sacrificial system of the Old Testament revealed the severity of sin.  Sin not only alienates us from God, but it requires a just punishment, which is the death of the sinner. The purpose of the sacrifice was to provide a substitute.  The death of the animal served as a substitute for paying the penalty of death for sin so that the one who offered the sacrifice might go free. This was to illustrate and highlight the nature and importance of Christ’s death on the cross.  Jesus was the final sacrifice to pay the complete price to obtain our judicial freedom from sin.  His death was entirely sufficient, for after He offered His sacrifice, He sat down at the right hand of God. This act symbolized the sufficiency of His sacrifice for all sins of all people of all times (Hebrews 10:11-18).  

                  This brings us to the critical question, So What?!  In other words, what are the implications for us today?  In Hebrews 10:19-25, we find the answer as the writer gives us three exhortations to fully embrace the cross's significance.  First, we are to draw near to God.  In the Old Testament, the Jews were prohibited from coming into the presence of God.  But now we can do so.  Because of what Christ has done, not only can we draw near we are encouraged to draw near to God continually.  We can have confidence to enter into the presence of God in worship and prayer because our sins are fully forgiven.  God invites us into a personal relationship in which we live in the presence of God.

                  The second appeal is given in verse 23.  In light of our salvation, we are to hold fast to our confession of faith without wavering.  In other words, we must be resolute and determined to live out our faith. We are not to be swayed by the allure of false doctrines and teachings but hold fast to the truth of our salvation and our confession of our hope. We are not to be swayed by false doctrines or discouraged by adverse circumstances.    We are not to waver because God is faithful to His word, and the promises He has given us are never false.

                  Last, we are to respond by living out our faith in the community of God’s people, where we mutually encourage one another.  Contrary to the popular myth that sees church attendance as optional, we are reminded that part of our expression of our faith is living in the community of God’s people, where we mutually encourage one another in our faith.  To neglect being a part of the church is to fail to fully embrace the hope and life Christ has called us to live.  There is an urgency to our fellowship, for the return of Christ is imminent.

                  Christ gives us salvation to change and transform our lives and our priorities.  If our salvation does not have practical implications for our lives today, then we do not fully understand or embrace what Christ has done for us.  The measure of our faith is not revealed in what we confess to be accurate but in how we live by that truth in our daily thoughts and actions.  Is Christ making a difference in your life today?

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