Draw Near!

Andrew Slay

Hebrews Series • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

Hebrews 10:19–39

Perseverance

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Introduction

Provide brief recap of where we have been in Hebrews. . .

FCF: If God is good, if his love is better than life, if there is unending joy and pleasures forevermore in his presence. . . then

Why do we struggle to come to him?

Why do we struggle to draw near to God?

Why are we tempted instead to draw near and find our peace in other things?

Key Point: Since Christ has made a way to the Father and cleansed us of our sin through his death, we must not shrink back in our faith and reject him. For if we do, mercy no longer remains for us but only judgment. Instead, we must draw near to him, persevere in our faith, and encourage one another as we await his return.

Exhortation (v. 19-25).

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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 with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

In v. 19-21, the author gives the Hebrews and us two reasons why we can draw near to God, hold fast to our confession, and continue to meet together:

We have a way to the Father through the blood of Jesus (v. 19-20).

We have confidence to enter the holy places because Jesus has made a way for us through his perfect once and for all sacrifice.

Just as the curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, Jesus’s flesh was torn in two in his death on the cross.

It is the death of Christ that tore the temple curtain which now gives us full and free access to God through our faith in him! (Eph. 2:18; 3:12).

We have a great high priest who has atoned for our sins and intercedes for us daily (v. 21).

Through the blood of Jesus, we can enter into the presence of God because his blood has atoned for our sin, cleansed us of our guilt, and perfectly sanctified us.

Jesus is the door (John 10:9), and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

Since we have these two reasons/truths, the author then calls the Hebrews and us to do three things:

Let us draw near to God (v. 22)

We must do this sincerely (with true hearts) having full assurance through our faith in Jesus.

Faith in Christ gives us assurance because we are trusting in Jesus’s work for our salvation and not our own.

We can be assured of our standing before God because it is based on the faithful work of our great high priest who will never fail us and is the hope and anchor for our soul.

We can have confidence to draw near because the blood of Christ has. . .

Made our hearts (mind, will, emotions, conscience) clean through sprinkling, and has washed our bodies.

Both the physical and non-physical aspects of our being have been purified by the blood of Jesus and his blood has been applied by the Holy Spirit so that we can have confidence to come to the Father’s throne of grace (Ezek. 36:25; Heb. 12:24; 1 Cor. 6:11).

Let us hold fast to our confession of hope (v. 23)

“Hold fast” goes back to Heb. 4:14 and connects to one of the three truths above. . . since we have a great high priest in the heavens, we must hold fast to our confession.

We must hold fast to our confession “without wavering” in our faith. . . persevering to the end. We cannot let our faith be shaken.

If we grow up in our faith and become mature in Christ, we will no longer be children tossed to and fro by the wind and carried about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 3:13-14).

We will do this by speaking the truth in love to one another (Eph. 3:15), which points to the need for the third thing we must do in verse 24. . . stirring up one another to love and good works by meeting together regularly.

Ultimately we can remain steadfast in our faith and not waver because the one who gave us these promises is faithful (1 Cor. 1:9).

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (v. 24-25).

We are called to stir up one another. . . to provoke one another. . . to encourage one another. . . so that we will not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

This word implies provoking to the point of discomfort.

Example: If you don’t stir oatmeal, it will become hard. . . if you don’t stir up the dry ingredients, when you pour in the wet ingredients everything will clump together. . .

Thomas Watson equates stirring up with pouring oil on a lamp. When we encourage and speak the truth in love to one another the oil of our words falls into the lamp of our friend and makes their faith burn all the brighter.

However, we cannot stir up one another to love and good works or encourage one another if we do not meet together like some were currently doing in the Hebrew community.

If we are going to persevere in our faith, we must draw near to God, hold fast to our confession, and continue meeting together. . . for if we don’t. . . we are exposing ourselves to the dangers of falling into the deceitfulness of sin. . .

Warning (v. 26-31).

Hebrews 10:26–31 ESV

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This warning describes the person who knows the truth of the gospel but deliberately rejects it outright and turns back to their evil ways.

Since this person has rejected the only means of their salvation, there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins but only God’s holy and righteous judgment.

This text demonstrates the holiness of God and his hatred of evil.

In v. 28-29, The author uses an argument from lesser to greater like he did in Heb. 2:1-4; 9:14, and argues that if those who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy, how much more will those who have trampled the Son of God underfoot face God’s holy wrath towards their transgressions without mercy?

The descriptions listed in verse 29 describe one who has “blasphemed the Holy Spirit,” in associating the works and means of grace with the works of the devil.

There is no hope for this person and their remains no more offering for the forgiveness of sins (Matt. 12:31-32).

The author shows in v. 30-31, that because God is holy and hates evil, those who pursue evil and repudiate his means of grace should be greatly afraid of what God will do to them on judgment day if they persist in their disobedience.

Isaiah 33:14 ESV

The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”

God is a consuming fire and will righteously pour out his wrath on those who reject his offering of grace through his Son.

However, the author has hope for the Hebrews and ends this section by reassuring them and calling them to persevere. . .

Reassurance/Call to Persevere (v. 32-39).

In verses 32-36 the author says that Based on their previous endurance and obedience in the face of the persecution, the Hebrews do not appear to be those who will reject Christ.

In light of their previous faithfulness, why would they give up their confidence now as they continue to face hardships?

Instead, the Hebrews should continue in their confidence, firm unto the end, knowing that they will receive the reward.

I want to focus now on v. 37-39. . . and I want you to hear the call to persevere. . .

Hebrews 10:37–39 ESV

For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

The author closes this section with an affirmation from the OT on the need for the Hebrews to endure by reminding them that “in a little while” Jesus will come again deliver them from their enemies and judge the wicked.

In quoting from Habakkuk 2:3-4, the author wants the Hebrews to continue to put their faith in Christ even though it seems like there is no hope and that the enemy is winning.

Habakkuk had these same feelings when he saw Babylon destroying and plundering Israel, yet the Lord exhorted him to remain faithful to him and that God would soon punish the Babylonians for their wickedness and restore Israel.

Habakkuk ends his book with a prayer of trust in God despite the destruction that is happening around him. . .

Habakkuk 3:17–19 ESV

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

In verse 39, the author expresses confidence in his audience that they are not those who shrink back amidst the persecution and hopelessness swirling about them. Instead, they are those who maintain their faith and will preserve their life through drawing near to Jesus and holding fast to their confession.

Response

The only way we will fall into sin and begin to reject the truth and sin deliberately is if we do not hear, practice, and persevere in the exhortations given in v. 22-25.

Therefore, there are four ways we need to respond to God’s word tonight in light of Jesus being our great high priest and once-for-all sacrifice that has cleansed us of our sins. . .

Draw Near to God with Our Whole heart.

Worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth.

In confession and prayer.

Don’t be corrupted with thoughts and desires of the world. . . lay them aside.

Hold Fast to Our Hope in Christ.

Remember that Christ is the anchor of your soul.

Meditate on the work Christ has completed for you through his life, death, and resurrection.

Know that you are not just holding onto him, but he is holding onto you and he will not let you stumble (Jude).

Regularly Meet Together.

Don’t neglect corporate worship, Sunday morning bible study, Wednesday night worship, and D-Groups.

Encourage one another to love God and love others.

Encourage one another by holding each other accountable.

These practices will keep our hearts soft and warm towards God. . . and not allow them to become hard and dry.

Remember that God is Faithful.

Our inheritance is based on the unchangeable promises of God.

God is eternal, which means his promises are eternal. If God is eternal, that means he does not change. . . which means his promises and purposes do not change.

Know that you are not just holding onto him, but he is holding onto you and he will not let you stumble (Jude).

These are the responses for the Christian. . . but if you are not in Christ tonight. . . you need to know two things. . .

First, God is the holy and righteous creator and we have all broken his law, turned away from him, and sinned. . . and if we continue in our sin and rejection of God. . . we have no hope and will face God’s holy judgment in hell.

But. . . the second thing you need to know is that God is also merciful and gracious. . . and has provided a way for you to be forgiven of all your sins through the perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has made a complete offering for sins and all who turn away from their sin and place their trust in him will be cleansed and completely forgiven. . . as far as the east is from the west. . . and be able to enter God’s presence and enjoy him for eternity.

So tonight, the call for all of us is to leave our sin behind and draw near to God through faith in Christ. . . whether it be for the first time or the millionth time. . . so that we will not be those who shrink back and are destroyed but are those who have faith and persevere.