"Let Us Draw Near"

LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART

HEBREWS 10:19-39

At this juncture, we are leaving the Theological and going on to the teachings that involve the practical. Mostly what has been considered up to this point has been for the purpose of defining the Theology of the priesthood as it pertains to the Levitical system and also to the better system that is found in Christ Jesus. A very smooth transition is being made from one discipline of study to this one as indicated by the use of the words, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus”. This is a tremendous summary statement that tells both what we should do in this new economy and how it is made possible. The payment that permits this boldness for the believer is the blood of Jesus. The emphasis for this section of study will be on the boldness that the believer should have in approaching the Lord for both salvation and for service.

I. THE WAY THAT ONE’S BOLDNESS IS REVEALED (Vv. 19-31)

You can determine either ones timidity or boldness in worship by the way that person approaches God. The Hebrew was confused as they attempted to reconcile the old economy to the new. It was with that fear and trepidation that they approached the Lord thinking that they still had to go through and earthly priest. It was this reverting back and to that insisted upon the writing of the Book of Hebrews. Just as there was a warning not to revert back into the old economy based upon the Levitical system, there is also a warning for the believer not to mix law and grace which will bring intimidation to his worship. God wants no such fear and intimidation; He wants us to come with a holy boldness because of what was accomplished by His Son.

A. Boldness Should Be Revealed By Ones Approach (Vv. 19-21)

There is a commanded obedience as to how one should approach and enter the holiest. It is by the blood of Jesus that we are granted the right of approach. The vail was unlike the Old Testament vail that concealed worship. This vail was His flesh that revealed or granted access to worship. Until the vail was rent, no man but the high priest could have the right of approach. Even he had to meet 146 external requirements to have that right. It was a very fearful thing on the Day of Atonement for both the priest and the people as he entered into the holy place. There was great concern as to whether the priest would be accepted or refused. There was relief only after God’s wrath had been put off for one more year after the offering had been accepted. This holy dread continued until the Lord Jesus Christ came and made the one offering that ended all other offerings and with that being so, we are now permitted to come with boldness…

Verse number twenty tells us that this is a new and living way: “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the fail, that is to say, his flesh”. In the old economy, after the offerings had been made there were only the dead ashes of life that once was. But with Christ, there was an offering that was totally consumed by God’s wrath, but once the body was placed in the garden tomb something wonderful happened on that resurrection morning! The Lord came forth as our forever living High Priest who had absolutely satisfied the Holy requirements of God. He ever lives and makes intercession on our behalf. Praise be unto the Lord who reigns on high.

B. A Boldness Should Be Revealed By Ones Assurance (Vv. 22-23)

The Levitical system was incapable of offering lasting assurance. The system had no lasting security that it could offer because of its weakness. There is no such plea for one to come boldly and with assurance, as it applied to the Levitical system that’s found anywhere in the Scriptures. Such is not the case with the offering of Christ. We who are under the blood can come with much assurance. While we are in our sinful bodies, we are capable of sinning. With this being so, we absolutely must have someone interceding on our behalf. The fact that Christ continues to intercede for us grants us the assurance that we need. The Lord intercedes on our behalf to help us pray: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.” (Romans 8:26, 27).