Hebrews 10:19-25 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having a high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Today is the first day of the new year, what will we do with this new year? People choose January to be the month to make resolutions and decide to make changes in their lives. Diets are started, smoking is stopped, and other resolutions are made. And I agree that resolutions should be made and, when made, they should be kept. Those that are children of God should take care of their bodies because they are the temples of God. The Apostle Paul is quite explicit in his warning in 1Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. God is holy and He expects His temple to be holy. If we do not keep His temple holy, God will destroy it. Believers are to be sanctified and set apart to God and if believers choose to go in directions that do not glorify God, He will at first chastise the believer. If the chastisement fails and the believer does not respond, then God will take further action. As we make resolutions for the new year, let us keep in mind God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is coming soon as we are promised in Hebrews 10:37 For yet, a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. We have just finished celebrating His first advent here on earth and Jesus Christ has not made His return yet because it is not time yet. God has His own timetable and Jesus Christ has not tarried – He WILL return when God says that it is time.
In the meantime, there is nothing wrong with making resolutions, but let be sure to make spiritual resolutions as well as physical resolutions. Frances Havergal wrote the following as a poem in her New Years greeting cards and then it was turned into a hymn.
1) Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.
2) Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
3) Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee. (Frances Havergal)
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Believers can boldly go before the throne of God – this verse is not speaking of pride or arrogance, believers must humbly go to God, but assured that God has kept His promises in the past and will keep them in the future. But why can believers boldly enter into the holiest? Because of what was written previously in chapter 10 and truly the whole Book of Hebrews. But for today, go back to verse 14.
Hebrews 10:14-18 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
For by one offering…ONE offering was all that Jesus Christ had to offer for the remission of sin. ONE offering was all that Jesus Christ had to offer to perfect or to consecrate or to set apart those that believe on Him. ONE offering was all that Jesus Christ had to offer for the salvation of those that trust in Him and have repented of their sin. Multiple offerings are not necessary anymore. When the Tabernacle or the Temple was in place and before the first advent of Jesus Christ, then sins were only remitted through the sacrifice of animals and the sins were only temporarily taken care. The shedding of the blood of bulls and goats was necessary for payment of sin, but they were not the perfect sacrifice that Jesus Christ was and is and forever will be. The bulls and goats that were sacrificed had to be unblemished but they were still not the perfect sacrifice. If they were, then Jesus Christ would not needed to be sacrificed on the cross of Calvary. Only ONE offering was necessary when Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross, because, as God, Jesus Christ was and is and forever will be the only perfect sacrifice. That is why believers in Jesus Christ do not need to perform animal sacrifices today, because HE was the ONE offering – no more are needed. Look at verses 17 and 18:
Hebrews 10:17, 18 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
What a blessed thought for believers in Jesus Christ: when we have confessed our sins and repented of them to God, then He will not remember our sins anymore. Believers are not under the Law, they are under God’s grace, because the Law that was given to Moses never saved anyone. The Law was given so the Israelites and the Gentiles could see their desperate need for the Messiah. The Law only brings death in the end because trying to solely keep the Law will bring the person under the judgment and wrath of God. Nobody was ever able to keep the Law other than Jesus Christ and nobody will ever be able to keep the Law. It is Jesus Christ that gives life because He was willing to die for my sins and the sins of everyone else in the world past, present and future. And because of His sacrifice, as the Bible says in verse 18, there is no more need for offerings for sin. And that is why believers are to be LIVING sacrifices for God, in obedience to God, in the service of God.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
That gives us an inkling why believers can boldly enter into the holiest and go before God – because as the Bible says in verse 19: Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, – believers can only go there because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ – AND ONLY by the blood of Jesus Christ – there is no other way to Heaven. There is no other way to go before God but by His Son, Jesus Christ. We have been studying the Tabernacle for Sunday School and just as there was only one entrance into the Tabernacle, there is only one way to God – through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19, 20 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
We just finished celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but it was not His birth that saved anyone. The Bible does not tell us that we may boldly enter the holiest by the life of Jesus Christ, believer enter by the blood of Jesus Christ – because of His death, believers have a new and living way. Believers have been made sacred because of His sacrifice. The veil of the Temple was torn at the moment of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, showing people that everyone may enter the presence of God. This was only possible because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In verse 20, the Greek word “new” means “recently slain.” What does that mean for us today? That through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus Christ has opened up a new and living way to God. Animal sacrifices are no longer needed, Jesus Christ was the only sacrifice needed. And He only had to be sacrificed once.
Hebrews 10:21, 22 And having a high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The blessing in all of this is that Jesus Christ was not only the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world through His sacrifice, but He is also the High Priest who performs the sacrifice because He gave up His life on the cross. Note in verse 22 the invitation that is given, but to whom is it given to? The word “us” is used here implying born again believers in Jesus Christ, but I believe that verse can be applied to those coming to Jesus Christ for salvation as well. The writer of the Book of Hebrews is pointing to the priests of the Old Testament in verses 21 and 22and how they needed to be washed before serving God in the Tabernacle or the Temple. When they were dedicated to the service of the priesthood for God, they were washed with water (Exodus 40:12), and they were set apart for the service of God. Not just anyone could serve in the Tabernacle, just those that were set apart by God to serve. Today, all believers are set apart by God and are priests unto God. As the Apostle Peter wrote: 1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Believers are a peculiar people, people set apart and have been washed with pure water. But that water is not two parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen, but the washing by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Note in Hebrews 10:22 that the Bible says in full assurance of faith. That statement has nothing to do with the amount of faith any of us have. Think about this: if any of us had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains (Matthew 17:20) or tell a sycamore tree to plant itself in the ocean (Luke 17:6). in full assurance of faith has nothing to do with the amount of my faith – instead, it has everything to do with the object of my faith, Jesus Christ. We can place our faith in some person here on earth, but we will be disappointed in them at some point. We can place our faith in something, like entertainment, sports, school, drugs, alcohol, or intellect but they will all disappoint in the end. True faith is based on Jesus Christ, not myself, because I will ultimately disappoint in the end too. True faith means that you have truly received Jesus Christ as your Saviour. True faith trusts in Him alone.
D. L. Moody once said, “A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and children goodbye; I bid my friends and acquaintances goodbye, but I never heard of a poor backslider going down on his knees and saying, ‘I have been near you for ten years; your service has become tedious and monotonous; I have come to bid you farewell. Goodbye, Lord Jesus Christ.’I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how they go: they just run away!”
As we make resolutions this year, let us not only resolve to take care of the physical, let us also resolve to focus on the spiritual, with Jesus Christ as the focus. I am going to close today with the resolutions that Jonathan Edwards wrote back in the 1700′s.
Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), from the Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humble entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake. [I will] remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Resolved, Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, Never to do anything out of revenge.
Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.
Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
Resolved, Always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.