The book of Hebrews was more than likely a sermon preached, and then written down to be distributed among churches. We don’t know who the author is, but the book is a word of exhortation (13:22), which is what a sermon is. The main argument the preacher is making is for the supremacy of Jesus Christ, in his sacrifice, his priesthood, and the New Covenant he inaugurates. Like all good preachers, he applies these glorious theological truths to the realities we live with each and every day.
In Hebrews chapter 10 conclusions are drawn which are based upon the argument of the book. If Jesus is a better sacrifice, priest and brings a new and better covenant, that has massive implications for how we approach God, how we are sustained by God, and how we relate to one another. These conclusions drawn by the writer of Hebrews have very practical applications for our personal worship, our gathered worship and our life in the local assembly.
“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,let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:19–25)
You’ll notice that there are three let us statements in this passage. These admonitions are made because of two key truths found in verses 19-21. Christians have confident access to God, because our sins have been forgiven through the blood of Christ. Therefore, we no longer need a human mediator, for we have a great High Priest. So, let us draw near, hold fast and consider one another.
Let us draw near (v. 22). In the gospels, the same word describes those who came to Jesus to hear him and to be healed. They drew near with a true heart in full assurance of faith in Jesus. Our hearts can draw near to Jesus in full assurance, because they have been cleansed. “…with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Through faith in Jesus, we’re brought into the New Covenant. One of the blessings of that covenant is an internal washing of the heart (Ezek. 36:25; Heb. 8:8-12). The Old Covenant had symbolic washings that had to be done over and over again (Heb. 9:9-10), but not so the cleansing that Jesus brings.
Jesus says, “come to me all who are weary and heavy laden.” There is not a moment in your life when you cannot and should not draw near to Jesus. Has sin or suffering discouraged you? Do you feel unworthy to gather with the saints because of your sin? The writer of Hebrews reminds us that because of Jesus, you can have confidence and can draw near to him in full assurance.
Let us hold fast (v. 23). This week we’ll sing, When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast. When the tempter would prevail, he will hold me fast. The call to hold fast can seem impossible amidst the sin and suffering of life. But what we see here, and the two other times the call to hold fast is made in the book of Hebrews (3:6; 14), is that the focus is not us, it’s Christ. We hold fast and keep professing the truth of the gospel, not because we are able to maintain our grip, but because God who has promised all these things to us in Christ is faithful to do what he has said.
Is your faith faltering? Do you feel like you disbelieve more than believe? Then can I encourage you, focus not on your wavering, focus on the Christ who is right in front of your eyes on the pages of scripture. After he had been raised, Jesus encouraged the disciples to believe what they’re seeing. They literally couldn’t believe their eyes (Luke 24:36-43). As he stood in front of Thomas, Jesus said, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” As we turn to the Lord, we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6).
And let us consider (v. 24). Christianity is not a privatized religion. Just as you have confidence that your sins are forgiven and have access to God through Christ, so does everyone else who trusts Christ. We’re a body, a family, inseparably connected to one another through our head, Christ. This reality then deserves careful consideration. How can I help invigorate other parts of the body to love and good works? The author of Hebrews doesn’t give us a list of things we can do to stir up one another, he gives us one simple starting place: don’t forsake gathering together. Why this admonition? Because you can’t stir up to love and good works those who you never see or interact with.
Has the gathering of the saints become optional for you? Many Christians seek to divorce their relationship with Jesus from their relationship with other Christians. As long as they have some sort of relationship with Jesus in their lives, then the meeting together of the saints isn’t quite as important. However, that understanding completely misses what the writer of Hebrews has been arguing for. It is precisely because of our relationship with Jesus that we must gather together.
There is one other reason given for our meeting together: our protection and perseverance. All of world history is moving towards the consummation of all things in the Day of the Lord, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. That day is always drawing nearer, and so the urgency and necessity for Christians to be together is to be seen as more and more essential. The return of Christ encourages us toward lives of holiness, not spiritual slumber (1 John 2:28; 3:2-3).
As we prepare to gather together this Sunday, let us consider Christ, draw near to him, hold fast to him, and consider the others for whom Christ died.