The last couple of days have just been a tremendous blessing after what seems like months of heat and humidity. I am sure we will have a return of the heat soon … but Fall will be here before you know it.
We had a really good sermon Sunday morning. Here is the text of the sermon:
Hebrews 10:19-25 - English Standard Version (ESV)
The Full Assurance of Faith
19 Therefore, brothers,[a] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 10:19 Or brothers and sisters
Point 1: We have access to the Holy places by the blood of Jesus. In the Temple tabernacle there was a curtain that separated the people from the Holy of Holies … the place where God “abided”. No one was permitted to enter except the High Priest. And he was limited to coming one time a year to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat. But in the “tabernacle of God” (our bodies) we have full access to God through Jesus Christ – who is our great priest and is over the house of God.
Point 2: Because of our ability to access God we should do the following:
1. “Let us draw near …” What good is having access if we don’t go in? God welcomes us into His holy presence. So how do we do so? We come with a “true heart” – no place for plastic religion here – our love for God must be sincere and from the heart. We come in “full assurance of faith”. Later on, the writer of Hebrews will tell us that without faith it is impossible to please God. We come with “our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” How can that be? “What can wash away my sin … nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
2. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering …” Holding fast to the Christian faith in the time of the writing of Hebrews was tough – not only from the threat of persecution by the Romans but also because of being shunned by your fellow Hebrews. Holding fast isn’t that much easier in the 21st century either because of the negative pressures that we feel from those around us. But the promise is clear: “for he who promised is faithful”.
3. “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,…” I believe the times we get together with fellow believers should be a time where we are encouraging each other – sharing the blessing God has given us – telling about the situations God has led us through – and just loving one another as people. And, yes, it does involve getting together regularly.
A pretty good sermon for Sunday … and today, too.
Agape’
Mr. Jim
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