Title length is open! (Hebrews 10:19-25)
Contents
Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah God. We praised and worshiped the risen Lord last week. Christian Easter is not a one-day feast. It is to live each day enjoying the joy and thrill of the resurrection. Among the many blessings that the Lord of Resurrection has granted us, the most precious is that he has opened the way to eternal life. Paths are absolutely necessary to promote relationships with each other. No matter how close the distance is, if the road is blocked, a relationship cannot be established. The opening of highways in Korea brought about a truly remarkable change in economic development and society in the 1970s.
In that sense, Jesus Christ broke down the barriers between us and God by carrying the cross and opened up a new mountain road, but also opened a perfect highway. Jesus Christ sanctified us once for all (10:10). He has perfected us forever (10:11-14). Therefore, the Bible emphasizes that we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, which is a new and living way that he has opened for us through the veil (verses 19, 20).
1. This road is a highway opened by the blood of Jesus Himself.
Verse 19 says, “Therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus.”
Here, “sanctuary” refers to “the throne of God’s grace,” and “courage” means “boldness” and “freedom of speech.” Therefore, the Old Testament high priest who was in the Old Covenant entered the Most Holy with the blood of cattle and sheep and, in fear, barely called on the name of “God”. However, believers in the New Testament who are in Christ can freely come to the throne of God's grace and communicate freely with God. I was able to fulfill the wishes of my heart. He was able to confess his sins and transgressions. It's not about going out of fear and panic. We move forward with freedom, courage and confidence. He became a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:8) who could come before the throne of grace without any hindrance or restriction.
The blood of Jesus made atonement and broke down the barrier in the middle. 『Blood of Jesus』 gives freedom to the soul of the believer. He gives you peace. It gives you courage. It frees us from fear and fear of God.
The blood that Jesus shed on the cross was the culmination of God's love for sinners and satisfied God's justice. Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy through His blood and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). The road that was impossible even with the blood of tens of thousands of sheep and cattle was opened at once by the blood of Jesus.
2. This road is the highway of life that Jesus Himself opened for us.
Verse 20 says, “That way is a new and living way that he opened for us through the veil, and the veil is his flesh.” Here, “we” are those who have received the blood of Jesus. Those who believe in the blood. They are those whose hearts have been sown with blood. Simply put, it refers to believers who believe in the cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the way into the sanctuary is for believers only. The “veil” in the text was an obstacle that separated the sanctuary from the most holy place and blocked the way for the people to come to God. But when Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).
Now Jesus tore the veil so that anyone could come to God and meet God. This path is a newly opened path to life. The word “new” here is because ① a way that did not exist before in time was created through Christ, and ② something that could not be fulfilled in the old covenant qualitatively was fulfilled in the new covenant. The road that leads to The road to the sanctuary is a newly opened road for life.
This road opened by Jesus is the way of life, the way of eternal life, and the way of blessing and prosperity in life. It is the way of revival and the way of God's blessing.
Dear saints, We must become saints who praise and give thanks to Jesus Christ, who was crucified and gave and sacrificed everything to open this way.
3. This road must be run in perfect faith, hope, and love.
Verse 22 says, “Now that we have been sown in our hearts, having realized the evil of our conscience, and have washed our bodies with pure water, let us come to God with a true heart and complete faith.”
The first privilege of a saved believer is access to God. And the duty of a saved believer is to come to God with a clear conscience and a whole heart.
So, the writer of Hebrews repented of his sins by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus and confessed his faith in God, so the baptized believers said, "Let's come to God with a true heart and complete faith."
The literal translation of the phrase “let’s approach God with a true heart and complete faith” means, “Let’s approach God with a true heart in perfect faith.”
Here, “complete faith” means “full faith, full of conviction”. And the “true heart” is the “heart of truth” and the “heart of God”. Therefore, the way into the sanctuary where the throne of God's grace is located is the way to go with a true heart that comes from the assurance of faith.
Therefore, we must all hold fast to the hope of believing and run vigorously along this highway. No matter what trials and tribulations there may be, do not become discouraged and do not be shaken and run vigorously. And we must become believers who strive to gather together by encouraging them with love and good deeds. This road is not alone. You must go with all the saints.
In verses 24-25 of the text, it says, “Let us look out for one another, encourage love and good deeds, and do not forsake meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encourage each other, and more so as we see the day drawing near.”
“Look at each other” here means to look out for each other carefully, think about it, and encourage each other. It is a message that members of the church should care for each other, think deeply, encourage each other, and help each other. The closer they see the day of the Lord, the more people hate to gather. Individualism expands, thinking only of oneself. However, our members are to think deeply about each other, stimulate each other, and do our best to have a meeting for the practice of love.
The glorious heaven that God has given us is wide open like a highway. It means that the highways of Zion are wide open. The Lord Himself broke down all barriers and opened this road. Jesus said in John 14:1 and below, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places... I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one will come to you. I pray in the name of the Lord that we will all become saints of the Holy Heaven who run vigorously while looking after each other with faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.