Setting – Our new life under the new covenant
Content – Now because of Christ’s sacrifice (v. 19 NLT) “we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.” And since Christ is our high priest (v. 21b-22a NLT) “since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him” But how can we enter the presence of holy God? It’s because, (v. 22b NLT) “our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
But living our Christian life can be tough how should we now live? (v. 23a NLT) “Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have”? We do this though (v. 24 NLT) “ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds” We can only do this when we (v. 25 NLT) “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.”
For those who are who continue in sin, (v. 26 NLT) “if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.” For those who follow this path (v. 27 NLT) “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.” Under the old covenant, someone was put to death for a transgression based upon two or three witnesses (v. 29 NLT) “how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy” God (v. 30 NLT) “will take vengeance. I will repay those who deserve it." He also said, "The Lord will judge his own people” And we know that (v. 31 NLT) “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
Recounting their life in Christ (v. 32a NLT) “Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ” and (v. 32b NLT) “Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering” They were thrown in jail, their possessions were taken from them and they accepted this with joy because (v. 34b NLT) “You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity”
We need to (v. 35 NLT) “not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you!” and (v. 36a NLT) “Patient endurance is what you need now” Because (v. 37 NLT) “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay” And we know that (v. 38 NLT) “a righteous person will live by faith” We need to be not (v. 39a NLT) “like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate” instead (v. 39b NLT) “We have faith that assures our salvation.”
Application – Now that we have full access to God, due to our sins being removed due to Christ’s sacrifice, we need to live our faith with assurance. We have no reason to continue in sin. God vengeance will be executed on those who shame the sacrifice of the cross. Instead, as a community of believers, we need to encourage each other to live a life worthy of our new found access to our Holy God. With the reminder that our reward will be great, we need to remain faithful, because a righteous person lives by faith.
Simply stated, as a community of believers we need to stimulate one-another to good deeds. We need to remind each other of our future rewards. We need to encourage each other as we face trials. But this can only happen when we come together as the church as a body, as a local body of believers. Those who neglect to assemble with other believers are fooling themselves into believing they can do it on their own.
Prov. 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” In order to sharpen iron, it must come in contact with iron. In order for believers to sharpen one-another, they must come in contact with each other.
Content – Now because of Christ’s sacrifice (v. 19 NLT) “we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.” And since Christ is our high priest (v. 21b-22a NLT) “since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him” But how can we enter the presence of holy God? It’s because, (v. 22b NLT) “our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
But living our Christian life can be tough how should we now live? (v. 23a NLT) “Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have”? We do this though (v. 24 NLT) “ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds” We can only do this when we (v. 25 NLT) “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.”
For those who are who continue in sin, (v. 26 NLT) “if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.” For those who follow this path (v. 27 NLT) “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.” Under the old covenant, someone was put to death for a transgression based upon two or three witnesses (v. 29 NLT) “how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy” God (v. 30 NLT) “will take vengeance. I will repay those who deserve it." He also said, "The Lord will judge his own people” And we know that (v. 31 NLT) “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
Recounting their life in Christ (v. 32a NLT) “Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ” and (v. 32b NLT) “Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering” They were thrown in jail, their possessions were taken from them and they accepted this with joy because (v. 34b NLT) “You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity”
We need to (v. 35 NLT) “not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you!” and (v. 36a NLT) “Patient endurance is what you need now” Because (v. 37 NLT) “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay” And we know that (v. 38 NLT) “a righteous person will live by faith” We need to be not (v. 39a NLT) “like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate” instead (v. 39b NLT) “We have faith that assures our salvation.”
Application – Now that we have full access to God, due to our sins being removed due to Christ’s sacrifice, we need to live our faith with assurance. We have no reason to continue in sin. God vengeance will be executed on those who shame the sacrifice of the cross. Instead, as a community of believers, we need to encourage each other to live a life worthy of our new found access to our Holy God. With the reminder that our reward will be great, we need to remain faithful, because a righteous person lives by faith.
Simply stated, as a community of believers we need to stimulate one-another to good deeds. We need to remind each other of our future rewards. We need to encourage each other as we face trials. But this can only happen when we come together as the church as a body, as a local body of believers. Those who neglect to assemble with other believers are fooling themselves into believing they can do it on their own.
Prov. 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” In order to sharpen iron, it must come in contact with iron. In order for believers to sharpen one-another, they must come in contact with each other.
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