DRAWING NEAR TO GOD

DRAWING NEAR TO GOD Hebrews 10:19-39 In this passage, the author moves from the exposition of his theme to the application. How does the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and the reality of His sacrificial death apply to our present situation? What impact do these truths have on life? These are the questions the writer now addresses. Like a skilled attorney, the author has presented his case for the superiority of Christ. The word “therefore”{Hebrews 10:19} signals the beginning of the application of these facts to these first century believers. The remainder of the Hebrew epistle is primarily applicatory. For the fourth time since the beginning of the letter, he applies his message in terms of both encouragement {Hebrews 10:19-25;Hebrews 10:32-39} and warning. {Hebrews 10:26-31} The dominant thought of this entire passage {Hebrews 10:19-39} could be summarized in terms of two phrases: (1) Draw near; {Hebrews 10:22} (2) Draw back. {Hebrews 10:39} All that he has said now culminates in an urgent plea to these unstable and ambivalent Hebrew Christians to “draw closer to God”and not to shrink back in unbelief. The solution to their difficulties lay not in surrender to the pressure, but in making use of the precious resources God had supplied for believers through the Lord Jesus.

What are those resources?Hebrews 10:19-22list three. This passage falls neatly into an outline. Note the repetition of the participle “having.” Then notice the three imperatives “Let us.” It is on the basis of what we “have”that the writer encourages us to Christian responsibility. The motivation to faithfulness, in other words, is not a fear of punishment, but an awareness of God’s gracious provision in Christ. The author says, “Since God has given us these things as our possession, then let us utilize the resources at our disposal to persevere in the face of hardship.” This kind of logic that predicates a command on a promise is intrinsic to the gospel. God not only calls his people to obedient and faithful living, He also equips and qualifies them to fulfill that calling.

What then does the believer “have”or possess? (1) Unrestricted Access into the Presence of God -Hebrews 10:19-20. The privilege reserved only for the high priest under the Old Covenant is available now, through the sufficient merit of Christ, to every child of God. The word “boldness”(See SGreek: 3954. parrhesia) parrhsia (parresia) means “freedom or frankness in speaking.” It denotes the fact that we may approach God without hesitation or fear of rejection, unburdening our hearts before Him who alone is able to render His aid. (2) Invincible Representation before God-Hebrews 10:1. With the way of access opened, and the High Priest ready to stand by our side, all that is left before a sinner can apply for aid before God’s throne is the removal of his own uncleanness. The author affirms that these Hebrew Christians had been cleansed, both inwardly in regeneration (’ hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience’)and outwardly by putting on Christ in gospel baptism (’ bodies washed with pure water’).They were genuine believers. On that basis, he encourages them to do three things: (1) Draw near to GodHebrews 10:22. Come close, he urges. Spend much time in His presence in prayer. Close communion with Him is the remedy for disillusionment {Psalms 73:28} and declension. {James 4:8} How does one “draw near”? In prayer, {Hebrews 4:16} worship, {Hebrews 13:15;Hebrews 7:25} and meditation on Scripture. {Psalms 119:10} (2) Be Faithful to Christ-Hebrews 10:23. Encouragement to be faithful is the primary undertone of Hebrews. (3) Spur your Brothers and Sisters on to Faithfulness-Hebrews 10:24-25. Remember, he says, that your lives as fellow believers are inseparably bound up with one another. If one falls into apostasy, it will weaken the others. How much better, then, to remember the mutual responsibility each believer has to assist one another to fulfill their calling. Live in such a way, the author exhorts, that your tenacity and unflinching perseverance beneath the pressure of persecution would encourage others to hold fast. The word translated “provoke”is our word for paroxysm. What is a paroxysm? It is a spontaneous or sudden convulsion. A tack in a chair, for instance, goads the one who unwittingly sits on it into a sudden and almost involuntary response. Every Christian should so live, in other words, that others are compelled to react in a spontaneous paroxysm of love.