Three Blessings We Have in Christ

Hebrews 10:19-27 NIV  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  (21)  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  (22)  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  (24)  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  (25)  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  (26)  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,  (27)  but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

 Three blessings that we enjoy through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(19)  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  (21)  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  (22)  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Through Jesus Christ we have the confidence to enter the Most Holy Place, the very presence of God, and commune with Him.

Moses had the tent of meeting, where he met with God and inquired of Him.  He was the only one who enjoyed that privilege.

In the temple this was where the presence of God was, and only the high priest was allowed to enter, only after he offered a sacrifice for himself, and then for the nation.

Today, through Jesus Christ, true believers have access to our Heavenly Father’s presence and commune with Him.  Because Jesus is the sacrifice offered to cover our sins, and because He Himself is our High Priest, we have been given this gracious access to God and inquire of Him.  and we don’t need to go to a tent or temple for this.  We just come to Him in our hearts.

This, basically, is the reason why a believer has a “prayer time”.  Prayer is not just about requests and petitions.  It’s about enjoying a great blessing and privilege that we have in Jesus Christ – to be able to draw near to God and enjoy Him.

 

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

 Then, we have the eternal hope, the living hope, that we have in Jesus Christ.  This is the hope of eternal life, of being in eternity with Him.

Eternal life was taken from us because of sin.  But because Jesus Christ has paid the penalty of our sin, the blessing of spending eternity with God is opened for us again.  This is the hope that we profess, and we know that He is faithful to fulfil this promise!

To hope in eternal life reminds us that our life here on earth is just temporary, and we live knowing we have been granted this living hope through the blood of Jesus!

We do not just live for today, but for eternity.

 

(24)  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  (25)  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  (26)  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,  (27)  but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

 Then there is the life we live while still here in this world.

The blood of Jesus Christ has set us free from sin.  Not only has it paid for the penalty of sin that grants us eternal life, but it also sets us free from the hold of sin, that enables us to live holy lives.

This life is described in this passage as love and good deeds.  We are to love one another as Jesus loved us, and we are to do the good deeds that God desires for us to do, to live.

A true believer does not deliberately continue to sin.  The struggle is there, but the blood of Jesus has granted us freedom from the hold of sin, and we are now able to live the righteous life God desires for us.

And we need one another for this.  God uses each one of us to build each other up to live this righteous life.

We are to SPUR ONE ANOTHER on toward love and good deeds.

We are to ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER to live the righteous life.  This is why the writer exhorts his readers not to GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER.

Every time we gather, whether it is on a Sunday, or any day that we are with fellow believers, God uses each one to encourage one another to live as He desires for us to live.  This is the blessing of fellowship.

The presence of God.

The hope of eternal life.

The life of love and good deeds.

May we enjoy these blessings that we have in Jesus Christ!