“ The Divine

Invitation ”Hebrews 10:19-25

The Invitation…•Over the years, I’ve spent many hours in hospitals, and interestingly, have come to know some of the procedures they practice•The most extremely controlled place in a hospital is the operating room (O.R.)•There are some interesting parallels…•One must be “scrubbed” clean to enter the O.R., and the Holy of Holies was similar…

The Invitation…•This passage is divided into three sub- sections•It is a Three-fold invitation to enter the Holy of Holies, based upon our own boldness•The boldness we have to enter, solely depends on the finished work of Jesus Christ•Which takes us to the first point, a new way of entering into the “Holy of Holies”

“19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another

to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:19-25, NASB

A. Enter in a New, and Living Way…•Vs 19-21,

“19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God…”

Hebrews 10:19-21, NASB

“19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God…”

Hebrews 10:19-21, NASB

A. Enter in a New, and Living Way…•Vs 19-21, the illustration of the O.R. And the Holy of Holies have 2 things in common

1. The person who wants to enter in must be cleansed and scrubbed by the cleansing agent

•You cannot enter into the presence of God without the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ

2. The person must be authorized by the One who is in charge

A. Enter in a New, and Living Way…1. The person who wants to enter in

must be cleansed and scrubbed by the “cleansing agent”

2. The person must be authorized by the One who is in charge•God now invites all mankind, not just the high priest, to enter into the most sacred place in the universe

Anyone who accepts can enter

A. Enter in a New, and Living Way…•First, this open way into God’s presence is, “NEW” (not the Old Covenant, because it was superseded)• Second, it is “LIVING” because our Lord Jesus forever lives to make intercession for us•One last thing– this boldness top enter is in complete contrast to the way the High Priest used to enter, in fear and trembling•Now the three-fold invitation…

B. First Fold– Draw near to Him…•Vs 22,

“… 22 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.”

Hebrews 10:22, NASB

B. First Fold– Draw near to Him…•Vs 22, OT priests had to go through the washing at the laver that contained water before they started to perform their daily duties in the tabernacle and the temple•Though we have full access, it doesn’t mean we can come in arrogance•Eternal Security does NOT mean sin whenever you want– we should see our sin the way God does

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Romans 6:1-2 , NIVFellowship demands purity…

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practicethe truth.” 1 John 1:5b-6, NIV

C. Second Fold– Hold Fast…•Vs 23,

“23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…”

Hebrews 10:23, NASB

C. Second Fold– Hold Fast…•Vs 23, Throughout this study I’ve reminded you of the terrific hardship these Hebrew believers were under, being tempted to return to Judaism•The author is not encouraging them to hold on in their own strength, but in the strength and hope they found in Christ •Hope is another theme in Hebrews; when your hope is fixed on Jesus, you will not waiver

D. Third Fold– Consider each other…•Vs 24-25,

“24 …and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:24-25, NASB

D. Third Fold– Consider each other…•Vs 24-25, the first two “folds” of this invitation are about a relationship with the Lord•This last one is about our relationships with each other•You can’t love God and not love His people– but you’ll hear these two arguments against •Organized Religion, and the necessity thereof

D. Third Fold– Consider each other…•The Greek word for ‘consider’ in v24 is “ka-tano-’eo”•It is not just casually thinking about someone, rather it is putting that person in higher priority than yourself•And it inevitably leads us to Vs 25’s command to “stimulate” one another to good deeds

D. Third Fold– Consider each other…•“Not forsaking our own assembling together”, means “church”•The important point of these two verses is also Greek context—•It’s NOT about what you get from going to church, it IS about what you contribute in going!•It’s a COMMAND!

D. Third Fold– Consider each other…•How can I make this happen?1. Encourage Others2. Make yourself available•Go back to Vs 25 for a second-- Greek word for ‘encouraging’ •Para-kleo– it means to “to call to one’s side, to admonish, to strengthen”•Easiest way to do that is being available

Take Home…

•Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you!•Encourage someone today