Hebrews 10:18-25

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

A New and Living Way

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having 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; ²⁴ and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

In this portion of scripture in Hebrews, taken from the One Year Bible daily readings, we see the writer continuing to make the case for faith in Christ compared to the tradition of the Jewish faith and the law. It begins with the encouragement that where there is forgiveness there is no longer need for sacrifice. In the law, under the old covenant, the people were required to continually make sacrifices to atone for their actions, their sin. The sacrifice was only good for what had been done up to that point. The law and it's required sacrifices did nothing to change people it merely caused an awareness of sin over and over.

In Christ, through the finished work of the cross and by His blood our sins are forgiven not merely covered for a time but washed away. Through Christ God has provided a way to remove the stain of sin from our lives. We need to release ourselves as fully as God has. There is no place for guilt and condemnation in the life of a believer. The writer has previously reminded his readers of God's declaration about sin in Hebrews 8:12    “For I will be merciful to their iniquities,  And I will remember their sins no more.” If we continually repent of things we did previously we are diminishing the power of Christ's sacrifice. When we go to God confessing something that is already forgiven He doesn't remember that sin, it is forgiven. If we still struggle with guilt and condemnation over the past, then that is what we need to bring to the cross. Paul writes in Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

The text continues to talk about our access to the holy place, through the veil. This again is an advantage that we have in Christ. Because we are cleansed of our sins by the blood of Jesus we have access to God. We can enter into His presence. As we do draw near to God we will find the assurance the writer speaks of. In Christ we come to God at the throne of grace and experience His unconditional love toward us.   

Let's briefly look at the last two verses in today's text.   ²⁴ and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

The writer encourages us to continue to gather together with other believers. This can be a difficult thing for many people because of the hurts, judgment and condemnation they have experienced at the hands of other Christians, in the church. Some have also seen and experienced the brokeness of the church in hypocrisy, legalism, even improper use or focus on money. I will not try to tell you these things are not present in the church today. Much of the church today is a dysfunctional mess, it is after all made up of people like me and you.( I know that's grammatically incorrect, it should be you and I. I'll put myself ahead of you in brokeness) Despite the flaws of the church, I join the writer in encouraging you to be connected. To gather together with other believers. God made us as social beings. In Genesis 2:18 He says:

¹⁸ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  

While I fully believe 1 John 4:19  We love, because He first loved us. and Matthew 22:37-38  ³⁷ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment.  

I also believe Matthew 22:39  The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ and  1 John 4:20  If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

We need each other, to be encouraged and to be encouragers. We need to grow in our likeness to Christ, loving and forgiving each other. Seeing others as Christ sees them. When we see the problems that exist in the church we should not criticize and complain. Nor should we forsake fellowship. Christ is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle. Part of our call as believers is to prepare the bride. We can't do that if we are judging from afar. Church doesn't have to be in a building on Sunday morning. But we need to fellowship with other believers, sharing with each other, loving, teaching and growing together in all that Christ has for us.  

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit thank You for Your plan, Your work   and Your action in my life to cleanse me and forgive my sins. Today I pray that You will help me to walk in the fullness of that forgiveness. Today I bring all guilt, condemnation and regret to the cross. I ask You to cleanse me of that as well as the sin You have already forgiven. Then I pray Lord that You would help me to both draw nearer to You and to find people to fellowship with. Help me to forgive, to love and to encourage others as You have done that for me. Show me the ways that I can be part of preparing the spotless bride You desrve.  Amen