A New and Living Way

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Throughout the book of Hebrews, the writer has compared the new covenant with the old covenant. In every way, the new covenant in Christ is far superior to the old covenant. Because the new way is better, we should respond in a certain way. The Hebrew writer said, “Let us” do certain things. There are three mentioned in our text.

Let Us Draw Near with a Sincere Heart (Hebrews 10:22)

  • We are responsible for drawing near to God – He opened up the way for us (John 12:32), but we must still make the choice to come to Him (John 3:14-21)
  • How to draw near to God – with a sincere heart (Colossians 3:22; Matthew 23:27-28); in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 11:1); having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience (Hebrews 9:14; Ephesians 1:7); having our bodies washed with pure water (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21)

Let Us Hold Fast the Confession of Our Hope (Hebrews 10:23)

  • What is the confession of our hope? – begins with a belief in God’s promises, knowing that He is faithful (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18); willingness to state our faith regardless of how others might react (Matthew 10:32-33; Revelation 2:13)
  • Necessary to hold fast to it because persecution would come (Hebrews 12:4; 10:32-34) – those who did not hold fast would be lost (Hebrews 10:36-39); hold fast without wavering (stand firm, Ephesians 6:11-13)
  • We are able to do this because “He who promised is faithful” – our hope is an anchor to the soul (Hebrews 6:19); this is true because our hope is based on the Lord (Hebrews 6:18, 20)

Let Us Consider How to Stimulate One Another (Hebrews 10:24)

  • Stimulate one another to what? – love, a defining characteristic of God’s people (1 John 4:7-8; 1 Corinthians 16:14); good deeds, God’s purpose for us (Ephesians 2:10; cf. Titus 3:8)
  • Consider” – “to consider attentively, fix one’s eyes or mind upon” (Thayer); give attention to our brethren (Romans 12:10)
  • How we can do this – through assembling together (Hebrews 10:25) and other ways as well (Hebrews 3:13; Acts 15:30-31; Philippians 2:19)
  • All the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25) – referring to the destruction of Jerusalem; difficult times were coming; this effort was necessary to keep brethren from falling away

Conclusion

  • Since Christ has come, the way of the Law of Moses was old and dead (Hebrews 8:13; 9:14) – we can now serve Him through a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20)
  • If we turn back to the old way, we fall from grace (Galatians 5:4)
  • If we follow any other way but Christ’s way, we will be lost (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Matthew 7:13-14)
  • Let us draw near to Christ, hold fast to our confession, and encourage others to do the same