Hebrews 10:19-22

Summary retelling of Hebrews 10:19-22

We can have confidence that we will enter into God’s holy space because of the blood of Jesus Christ.  Because of his death – the crucifixion of His flesh – he has removed the curtain that keeps the Most Holy Place separate from us.  He is our great High Priest.  Thus we draw close to God with a true heart in full assurance of our faith.  Through Him, our hearts are sprinkled clean from evil as though we are washed by pure water.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We can be in a relationship with God only because of the sacrifice of His blood.  He died so that we can know God.  When we were still consumed by our sinfulness, there was a need to keep us separate from God.  But since the blood of Jesus has made atonement for us forever, there is no need for us to be separate from God.  He is our High Priest, and He has invited us into the presence of the most holy God.

Put in these terms, how does it feel to be welcomed into a relationship with God?  Do you deserve to be in that relationship?  How does this make you feel about others who don’t deserve to be in a relationship with God?  How can this passage help us lead a life of openness, grace, and forgiveness?

Second Thought:

However, there is more.  We can not only draw near to God, we can draw near to Him in confidence and assurance in faith.  We don’t have to doubt, we can know for sure.  This is again because of Jesus Christ.  If we relied on our own work, we would always wonder if we’d done enough or lived well enough.  But since we rely completely and totally upon Christ we can be confident.  God did not send His Son to do an incomplete job.  Since we rely upon Christ, we can rely upon Him confidently.

What point does this thought make against works-righteousness?  From the perspective of this verse, why does works-righteousness only lead to despair and uncertainty?

Third Thought:

Our hearts have been sprinkled clean.  We acknowledge that our hearts are corrupt.  We acknowledge that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.  But Christ can free us.  He can remove us out of bondage.  He can sprinkle and purify our hearts so that we are no longer guilty and condemned.

How does it feel to be free?  How does it feel to be undeservedly clean before God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 10:23-25