Morning Message: Cut Off No More

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Cut Off No More"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

In Hebrews chapters 5, 6, and 7, we read of Melchizedek the High Priest, and the King of Salem; of the order of priests that had the duty of entering the Holy of Holies once each year. We are told in Chapter 5 that Jesus was of that order of High Priests. In Chapter 6, we are told that Jesus is our “fore runner,” Who goes before us in that Priesthood.

We are further told in Hebrews 10: 20 today, that Jesus entered into the veil of the Holiest by a new and living way! He became the living veil across the Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament, the veil blocked the way for all but the High Priests, and at the Crucifixion, it was torn specifically from top to bottom. (Not bottom to top, but from the top to the bottom. [Mt. 27: 51, Mk. 15: 38, Lk. 23: 45].)

This “new and living way” was by Christ Himself. During His Passion and Death, the first thing done was to place a Crown of Thorns on His head, The soldiers then plucked out His beard, The soldiers scourged Him with 39 lashings across His back, nailed His hands and then His feet to the cross… Top to Bottom, His body was pierced, torn, and Crucified, shedding His blood from top to bottom.

This is the application of our opening verse today; Christ’s broken body being the veil through which the Holy of Holies is made accessible to US! Though He knew no sin, He was made sin for us, to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world… Because He loves us.

And if that were not enough, He makes us Kings and Priests for His Heavenly Kingdom (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, and 20:6) and for those that are/were raised from the dead in the first resurrection, they shall be Priests, and we shall reign with Him during His Millennial Reign of 1,000 years (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, and 20:6). This is love, so amazing! As the Word says, “We love Him, because He first loved us !” (1 John 4:19)

“…And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." - Revelation 1:5, 6

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Hebrews 10:20-39 - "Cut Off No More"

For nine and a half chapters now, the author of Hebrews has been giving has painted a clear picture of Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.  This should encourage us to hold fast in our faith.  The author wants us to be strong in our faith and not turn back under life’s difficulties. This is what the author establishes for us in Hebrews 10:19. “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…” This introduction is a reminder of all the pictures and proofs that the author has given us so far. We can now come into the presence of God. We can now enter where others were unable to enter.

Essentially, the impossible has occurred. We have confidence to enter into God’s presence. The only reason we are able to enter with confidence is because of the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice puts us near the Father in a way that the first covenant could not. We are able to pass through the curtain that not even the priests could pass through. We have a new and living way to approach the Father. Now as we approach the Father, we do not find an impenetrable curtain standing between God and us. Rather, we find Jesus as our High Priest, and we are able to enter the curtain through him.

As you read through the first seven verses or so of this week's passage, please take note of the writers serious, but encouraging words or even commands.  “Let us . . .”  We are called to an earnest faith.  We are to be serious about truth, about obedience and spiritual disciplines, and to take the local church seriously as well.

Hebrews 10:19-39 is a passage that exhorts believers to live with confidence and endurance, based on Jesus's sacrifice, while also warning against deliberately rejecting his salvation. It begins by explaining that through Jesus, believers have a "new and living way" to enter God's presence and should draw near with a sincere heart, holding fast to their hope. It then encourages them to spur one another toward love and good works and to not forsake meeting together, especially as the end approaches. The passage concludes with a strong warning about the severe punishment for those who willfully sin and reject Christ after having received the knowledge of the truth.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

New (10:20) - In Greek, this word originally meant "newly slain," but was understood as "recent" when the epistle was written. The way is new because the covenant is new, through Jesus Christ.  It is not a way provided by the Levitical system.

Living Way (10:20) - Though it is the path of eternal life, it was not opened by Christ's sinless life; it required His death. The Hebrews were invited to embark on this way which is characterized by the eternal life of the Son of God who loved them and gave Himself for them (cf. John 14:6; Galatians 2:20). The Christian faith was known as "the Way" among the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 9:2) as well as among the Gentiles (Acts 19:23). Those receiving this epistle understood quite clearly that the writer was inviting them to become Christians - to join those who had been persecuted for their faith. True believers in their midst were even then suffering persecution, and those who had not committed themselves to the Way were asked to become targets of the same persecution.

Let Us Draw Near (10:22) - Through the New Covenant established by Jesus' sacrifice, believers can now come into God's presence with sincerity and confidence, free from the guilt of their past sins.  This is the heart of the invitation to those in the assembly who had not come to Christ. This verse describes the prerequisites for entering the presence of God:  sincerity, security, salvation, and sanctification.

True Heart (10:22) - The Greek term behind true carries the ideas of being sincere, genuine, and without ulterior motive.  The one thing these particular Hebrews lacked was genuine commitment to Christ.

Full Assurance of Faith (10:22) - Utter confidence in the promises of God.

Hearts Sprinkled (10:22) - The imagery in this verse is taken from the sacrificial ceremonies of the Old Covenant, where blood was sprinkled as a sign of cleansing, and the priests were continually washing themselves and the sacred vessels in basins of clear water.  The "washing with pure water" does not refer to Christian baptism, but to the Holy Spirit's purifying one's life by means of the Word of God (cf. Ephesians 5:25, 26; Titus 3:5).  This is purely a New Covenant picture.

Hold Fast (10:23) - A metaphor seen in many verses of the Bible is the term hold fast or holding fast, meaning “be diligent,” “cling to,” or “take a firm grasp of.”

Profession of Our Faith (10:23) - A steadfast commitment to Jesus that is demonstrated through both words and actions. This involves holding fast to the confession of hope without wavering, believing in Jesus' sacrifice, and living in a way that is faithful to God. A true profession is not just a verbal statement but is also evidenced by a changed life and a commitment to good works and community.

Without Wavering (10:23) - Not following any inclination that leads back to the Old Covenant. 

Consider (10:24) - The same verb is used about Jesus in 3:1. The invitation must be responded to individually, but the response also has a corporate side.  They are members of a community of Hebrews whose initial attraction to Christ is in danger of eroding.  They have been considering a return to the Levitical system of Judaism to avoid the persecution.  Mutual encouragement to make full commitment is crucial.

Provoke (10:24) - Meaning to stir up - stimulating or inciting someone to do something.

Love and Good Works (10:24) - An example of mutual effort in the midst of persecution was to be found at Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:1-7).

Not Forsaking the Assembling (10:25) - Collective and corporate worship is a vital part of spiritual life.  The warning here is against apostasy in an eschatological context (2 Thessalonians 2:1).  The reference is to the approaching "day" (the Second Coming of Christ). 

Exhorting (10:25) - Exhortation takes the form of encouragement, comfort, warning, or strengthening.  There is an eschatological urgency to the exhortation which requires an increased activity as the coming of Christ approaches.

Sin Willfully (10:26) - Deliberate willful intention that is habitual. The sin is rejecting Christ deliberately.  

Knowledge (10:26) - The language here denotes a specific knowledge, not general spiritual knowledge.  A knowledge that is flawed in application, a lack of faith.

No More (10:26) - The apostate is beyond salvation because he has rejected the only sacrifice that can cleanse him from sin and bring him into God's presence.  To turn away from that sacrifice leaves him with no saving alternative. 

Fearful Looking (10:27) - A fearful expectation of judgment. The judgment is certain to happen, so it gives rise to fear.

Adversaries (10:27) - Actual opposition against God and toward the program of God in salvation.

Blood of the Covenant (10:29) - Christ's death ratified the New Covenant.

Cast Not Away (10:35) - Because of persecution, they were tempted to run away from their outward identification with Christ and Christians and to apostatize. 

Reward (10:35) - They are closer than ever to the eternal reward.  It is not time to turn back.

Done the Will of God (10:36) - To trust Christ fully by living daily in the will of the Father.

Just Shall Live By Faith (10:38) - The opposite of apostasy is faith.  This is a preview of the subsequent chapter.  It is faith which pleases God.  The person who draws back from the knowledge of the gospel and faith will prove his apostasy.

Draw Back to Perdition (10:39) - The writer expresses confidence that believing readers ("we") will not be counted among "those" who fall away to destruction.  Apostates will draw back from Christ, but there are some who are near to believing who can be pulled "out of the fire" (cf. Jude 23).  Perdition is commonly used in the New Testament of the everlasting punishment or judgment of unbelievers.