“Therefore,
brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of
Yeshua, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us
through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the
house of YHWH, let us…” (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Following
that statement, the Hebrew said, “Let us” do certain things. In the
subsequent verses, we find three things we are to do now that we are a part of
the “new and living way” in Christ. In this article, we will consider
each of these.
Let
Us Draw Near with a Sincere Heart
“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).
This
statement is worded in such a way that makes it clear that we are responsible
for drawing near to YHWH. Yes, Yeshua opened up the way for us to do this. He
said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself”
(John 12:32). However, we must make the choice to come to Him.
How
do we draw near to YHWH? There are a few necessary factors mentioned in this
verse:
1. With a sincere heart
– In other words, our service to YHWH must not merely be external or done
for show. The Pharisees failed in this regard, as Yeshua described them as
being “like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but
inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too,
outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and
lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28). We must have the right motivation for
serving the Lord.
2. In full assurance of
faith – A little bit later in this letter, the Hebrew writer defined faith
as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”
(Hebrews 11:1). We must draw near to YHWH with the full assurance that “He
is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
3. Having our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil conscience – This is referring to forgiveness.
Through the blood of Christ, our conscience can be cleansed (Hebrews 9:14) as
we receive “the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7).
4. Having our bodies
washed in pure water – This is connected with the cleansing of our hearts
as we are forgiven of our sins. This “washing” is done in baptism. Paul was
told, “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name”
(Acts 22:16). Peter explained that “baptism now saves you” because it is
in this act we make “an appeal to YHWH for a good conscience” (1 Peter
3:21). Therefore, as we submit to the Lord’s will in baptism, He cleanses us of
our sins.
As
we follow this “new and living way,” let us continue to draw closer to
the Lord.
Let
Us Hold Fast the Confession of Our Hope
“Let
us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised
is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
What
is the “confession of our hope”? It begins with a belief in YHWH’s
promises found in Torah, knowing that He is faithful. The Hebrew writer
explained earlier that “it is impossible for YHWH to lie, [so] we
who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope
set before us” (Hebrews 6:18). Having this faith, we must be willing to
confess our faith regardless of how others might react. Yeshua said He would “confess”
or “deny” us before the Father based upon whether we confess or deny Him
before men (Matthew 10:32-33). We must be like the brethren in Pergamum who “did
not deny” the Lord even when one of their own was persecuted to the point
of death (Revelation 2:13).
We
are to hold fast to the hope that we have in Yeshua our Christ. Why was this
admonition necessary? They would be persecuted. They had “not yet resisted
to the point of shedding blood” (Hebrews 12:4), but that was coming. They
had already faced a degree of persecution (Hebrews 10:32-34), yet it was going
to get worse. They were warned that if they “shrink back” in the face of
such persecution, they do so “to destruction” (Hebrews 10:39).
Therefore, they were to “hold fast…without wavering.”
Yet
they were able to hold fast – just as we are – because this life is a
supplied life and “He who promised is faithful.” Earlier the Hebrew
writer (who I believe was Lazarus not Paul) described our hope in the Promises
in found in Torah as being “an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and
steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19). It was able to provide this solid foundation for
them (and for us) because it is based upon the fact that “it is impossible
for YHWH to lie” and that Yeshua is our “high priest forever”
(Hebrews 6:18, 20). Therefore, no matter what we face, we can have an
unshakable faith in Christ.
Repeatedly our Lord told his
disciples, "if you love me KEEP MY TORAH (commandments)." This is
probably the most overlooked commandment from Christ in all of scripture.
As
we follow this “new and living way,” let us always hold fast to our hope
in Christ who has supplied us "with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenlies".
Let
Us Consider How to Stimulate One Another
“And
let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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).
There
were two things to which the brethren were to “stimulate one another”:
1. Love – This is to
be a defining characteristic of YHWH’s people. John wrote, “Beloved, let us
love one another, for love is from YHWH; and everyone who loves is born of YHWH
and knows YHWH. The one who does not love does not know YHWH, for YHWH is love”
(1 John 4:7-8). Paul told the brethren in Corinth, “Let all that you do be
done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). We are to encourage one another to
grow in love.
2. Good deeds
– YHWH’s purpose for us is to be engaged in good deeds: “For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Yeshua for good works, which YHWH prepared
beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Paul told Titus
that we are to be “careful to engage in good deeds” (Titus 3:8). Because
this is so important, we need to be encouraging one another to be active in
doing what the Lord wants us to do.
They
were told to “consider” how to do this. This word means to consider
attentively and fix one’s eyes or mind upon (Thayer). This requires us to give
attention to our brethren and how we can help them. Paul wrote, “Be devoted
to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another” (Romans
12:10). How can we do this?
1. Through assembling
together – The Hebrew writer said in the next verse, “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 10:25). While we
may come together in our assemblies to worship YHWH, we also have the benefit
of giving and receiving encouragement.
2. Through daily
interactions – Earlier, the Hebrew writer said, “But encourage one
another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of
you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). We need
regular, daily encouragement from our brethren and they need the same from us.
3. Through written words
– The brethren in Jerusalem sent a letter to the church in Antioch. After
they “read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement” (Acts
15:30-31). Sometimes, when a face-to-face interaction is not possible, a note
can be sent to a brother or sister in Christ to encourage them in their
Christian walk.
4. Through awareness of
brethren in other locations – In writing to the church in Philippi, Paul
said, “But I hope in the Lord Yeshua to send Timothy to you shortly, so that
I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition” (Philippians
2:19). It can be encouraging simply to hear of brethren in other places
standing for the truth and remaining faithful to the Lord.
The
Hebrew writer emphasized the need for encouraging one another “all the more
as [they] see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). He was
looking ahead to a time of great difficulty in which they would need one
another more than ever. At the time this letter was written to these Hebrew
brethren, this “day” likely referred to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Yet there would be other challenging times of intense difficulty that brethren
from generation to generation would have to endure (our world has certainly
seen its share of this in the last couple of years). These difficult times
require each one of us to make an even greater effort to encourage our brethren
in order to help keep them from falling away.
As
we follow this “new and living way,” let us take advantage of
opportunities to encourage (and be encouraged by) our brethren.
Conclusion
Since
Christ has come, the way under the Law of Moses had become lifeless and
needed Yeshua to be it's fulfillment. We can now serve the Lord
through a new and living way. So let us draw near to Christ,
hold fast our confession, and encourage others to keep the commandments and the
faith of Yeshua.
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