BENEFITTING FROM A NEW AND LIVING

WAY

BENEFITTING FROM A NEW AND LIVING

WAY

Hebrews 10:19-23

How do you go about a new start?

• There is a futility to lists of resolutions.– Trying harder– Doing more

What if there really was a “gate”…

• And we could find a new way?– A new Hope?

– An insured success?

God’s Word recognizes our problem• Man is

– Lost, – alienated, – exiled, – separated from God.

• This disconnect from God explains man’s; – loss of spiritual life, – hopelessness; – purposelessness; and – a raft of dysfunctions.

The cure for individual and societal ills is to reconnect with God

• and be restored.– Our efforts and

world religions have failed us.

– the Good News that now, In Jesus Christ we each can reconnect with God.

It’s not what you have or what you’ve done that counts.

It’s Who you know and what you are that matters.

A CONFIDENCE TO COME

since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place ... v 19a

We easily feel unworthy.

• Who am I?– Fellowship with me?

• If anyone knew what I have done!– Evil lurks in my heart

God seems far away

• God’s presence was with Israel.

• But it was an awesome thing to enter the Holy of Holies.

The atoning work of Jesus makes it possible to come

• It’s easy to come to Him now.

AN INVITATION TO INTIMACY

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…

In the New Testament a welcome is given

• Shepherds are invited• Wise men come• The common folk

hear Jesus gladly

Revelation closes with an invitation to come

• The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. -- Rev 22:17

• Not to satisfy curiosity• But for help and hope

and Fellowship, and Eternal Life.

A MEANS OF CLEANSING by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his

body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God – vs 19b-21

Blood runs through the Bible like a scarlet thread.

• The difference in the right worship of able and the wrong worship of Cain involved blood.

• The Tabernacle and Temple worship had rituals that shed the blood of animals

In Jesus justice is satisfied, if you and I will accept it as on our behalf.

• a New and Living was is open to us.

• It wasn’t about the Temple building, but about the body of Jesus.

• It was torn wide open and God is now accessible.

I Am the Bread of Life… -- Jn 6:35

A HOPE TO HOLD

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. – v 23

We have Hope -- let’s hang on to it!

• It can be lost in one generation.

• Some of us will be tempted to turn lose when the going gets tough.