Drawing Near to God and Holding Fast with Confidence

All the people that God the Father gives to Jesus, the Son (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9), will come to Christ, yet no one can come to Christ unless the Father drags (Gk. elkuse) him or her (Jn 6:44, 65). In turn, no one comes to the Father but through Christ (Jn 14:6). Drawing near to God comes with the promise that God will draw near to those who do (Jas 4:8). As we will see, it is not natural for unregenerate sinners to draw near to God. Consider the actions of Adam and Eve after they sinned against God (Gen 3:8). They hid themselves from Him.

In the transition from the central theological argument of Hebrews, to his exhortations, we find ourselves at the beginning in Hebrews 10:19–25. There are three initial exhortations for our consideration.

First, there is the exhortation to draw near to God (Heb 10:22). The natural man has no interest in drawing near to the One he hates (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25; Rom 1:30; 1 Cor 2:14). We remember that no one seeks after God (Rom 3:11). The sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2), being children of wrath (Eph 2:3), have no will nor ability to do that which is pleasing to God (Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9; Jn 1:12–13; Rom 8:7). There is only the terrifying expectation of judgment (Heb 10:27); for it is appointed once for a man to die and then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27).

Criminals do not gravitate toward their judges; and Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). Still, Jesus commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30) and “Come to Me…” (Mt 11:28). Those who belong to Christ (1 Cor 3:23) receive His Spirit so to respond in obedience to the voice of their Good Shepherd (Jn 10:3–4, 16, 27). It is the Spirit who causes us to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27).

The Spirit-filled saint has heard the Gospel of salvation, by which faith was granted as a gift (Rom 10:17; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29). It is the blood of Jesus that releases God’s elect, redeemed people from their sins (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Rev 1:5). This instills confidence in the Christian to enter the holy place (10:19), the true tabernacle in heaven (Heb 8:2). This was impossible in the old covenant system, in the tabernacle.

Jesus is the new and living way that ends the old way of dead works that never remedied the sin problem (Heb 6:1; 9:14; 10:20). Jesus put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb 9:26). He is the way to God the Father, the Forerunner (Jn 14:6; Heb 6:20). The certificate of debt we owed, and could not pay, was entirely cancelled (Col 2:14). The bill for sins was nailed to the cross…paid in full. When Jesus made purification for sins, He sat down (indicating a finished work) at the right hand of Majesty (Ps 110:1; Heb 1:3; 8:1).

Just as the veil in the Temple was rent from top to bottom, so is the circumcision of Christ (Col 2:11), wherein Jesus was pierced and shed His precious blood (Is 53:5; 1 Pet 1:19), opening the way for each Christian’s access and bold approach. Every wall of separation was removed. Jesus is our advocate with the Father (1 Jn 2:1), a great priest over the house of God (10:21), who ever lives to make intercession for His beloved, His church, the Israel of God (Heb 7:25).

With the circumcision of the heart (Rom 2:29), by the Spirit, we are freed from bondage to sin, its penalty, along with the guilt and shame. The Christian’s heart has been sprinkled clean (10:22) through the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). Faith manifests in the soul where the Word has been implanted in good soil (Mt 13:8, 23; Jas 1:21). Jesus’ blood cleanses the evil conscience (Heb 9:14; 10:22), clearing it (1 Tim 3:9; 2 Tim 1:3), resulting in a good conscience (1 Tim 1:5, 19; Heb 13:18; 1 Pet 3:16, 21).

Water is an element of cleansing; and it is also necessary for life in the biological/physical world. As a symbol of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, water depicts life through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Christians are spiritually clean in heart and body, internal and external. Faith trusts, with a sincere heart, that we are complete in Christ (Col 1:28; 2:10). Here is the victorious Christian walk, the pilgrim’s sojourn on the King’s highway to heaven (Jn 14:6; 2 Cor 2:14; 1 Jn 5:4).

Second, there is the exhortation to add hope to faith. By trusting in the finished work of Messiah, our hope is in the promises of that which is yet to come. Jesus is our blessed and only hope (Col 1:27; Titus 2:13). Christians do not waver because the indwelling Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), who gave us faith, and who bolsters our hope in better things to come through the Word of truth. Jesus is faithful and true as a covenant partner (10:23); and in Him, all the promises of God to His chosen people are “yes” and “Amen” (2 Cor 1:20).

Even when the Christian is unfaithful to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, God is faithful to do that which is right (1 Thess 5:24). The saints are to be holy (1 Pet 1:15–16); but we must use the means of grace provided by God. This introduces our third and final exhortation to love.

Finally, we must consider our service to the living God, which is our Christian walk/life. By living godly in Christ Jesus, we both exemplify and encourage others through love and good deeds (10:24). When one Christian does a good work, it inspires others to do those things prepared beforehand for them to perform (Eph 2:10).

Christians must be together by pastoral design. It is both a fallacy and a travesty for Christians to forsake the assembling of themselves together, for edification and for the worship of God in Christ. It has always been God’s plan for his people to be gathered for feasting, fellowship, and festival at His house. This is what it means to be “in Christ”, who has sent His Spirit that we might be conjoined as the church militant on earth with the church triumphant in heaven (Jn 14:26).

The Day of the Lord is drawing near (10:25). King Jesus is coming again as the dread Champion, warrior Judge (Jer 20:11; Rev 19:11–21). The day is called “terrible” and “awful” for those who are outside of Christ (Joel 2:1, 11, 31; Malachi 4:5). It is a day of God’s vengeance against all of His enemies — men and angels (Is 61:2; Jer 46:10; Lk 21:22). To fall into the hands of the angry God, who is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29), should render fear in every human heart (2 Cor 5:11; Col 3:22; Rev 15:4).

Lackadaisical Christianity is an oxymoron (1 Cor 15:10; 2 Cor 11:23). Christians must spur one another on with more love and good deeds (10:24), which demands we do life together in community. We must remind one another that our lives are but a vapor (Jas 4:14). We must redeem the time that remains (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5), before we are face-to-face with the One to whom we must give an account (Rom 14:12).

In conclusion, let us draw near together, by the blood of Jesus, into the presence of Him who has given us faith, hope, and love. Let these be our testimony and witness before Almighty God, and before all people we encounter (Acts 1:8)…and may we be found faithful on the Day of Christ Jesus, by His grace.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 5, 2024

Hebrews 10:19–25