- The central teaching of Hebrews is about our prayer lives—drawing near to God with confidence.
- This chapter is a key building block as it lays out the way to intimacy with such power and clarity.
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Structure of Hebrews
✓✓ Jesus! his throne is forever and ever 1:5–14
Pay attention to what you hear, don’t drift away 2:1–4
Brothers & sisters of Jesus, living in his victory 2:5–18
Therefore: fix your thoughts on Jesus 3:1 O.T. warning—don’t follow negative examples 3:2–4:13
Approach God’s throne with confidence—find grace 4:14–16
New High Priest after order of Melchizedek 5–7:28 The point of what we’re saying: New Covenant 8 A New way to God and a New sacrifice 9:1-10-18 Draw near to God with sincere heart, full assurance 10:19–25 O.T. —be inspired by positive examples 10:26–39,11 Therefore: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus 12:1–2 God’s sons and daughters! live in New Covenant 12:3–24 Don’t refuse him who’s speaking and turn away 12:25✓✓ Jesus! The same yesterday, today and forever 13:1–20
Structure of Hebrews
4:14–10:25
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace 4:14–16 New High Priest after order of Melchizedek 5–7:28 The point of what we’re saying: New Covenant 8 A New way to come in to God’s presenceand a New sacrifice that completely cleanses from sin. 9:1-10-18
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith: hearts cleansed and bodies washed 10:19–25Summary of New Covenant
2. The Old and New places to meet with God
Hebrews 9
- Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.
- For a tent was prepared, the outer room, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves; this is called the “holy place”.
- Behind the second curtain there was a tent called the “holy of holies”.
- It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
- And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.
- So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their duties.
- But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner room, and never without blood which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
- The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed as long as the old tabernacle was standing.
- This was a symbol for that time, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.
- They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the new order came.
- But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things that have come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, (that is, not of this creation),
- and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.
- For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity,
- how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God!
- And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.
… - For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, according to the law,
- and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”
- And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood.
- Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
- So it was necessary for the copies of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these.
- For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (a representation of the true sanctuary) but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.
- And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own.
- Otherwise he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,
- so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Chapter 10
- Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,
- by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
- and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
- let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from a condemning conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
- And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.
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9:1–10 |
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9:11–14 |
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9:15–20 |
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9:21–24 |
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3. How we can live this out in our prayer lives
2. You don’t need a “special” place to pray
- Sanctuary “holy place” —even some Christian groups...
- Some religions require you pray in particular postures or at special times
- What 9:1 calls “regulations”
- Even some Christians will make a special place in their house for prayer
- Nothing wrong in and of itself, as long as you don’t make regulations for yourself—I have to go there to pray.
3. You can walk in just as you are!
- What holds me back
- My imperfections—God, I did that wrong, I should have done this...
- Worse are spiritual to-do lists—I forgot to have a time of devotions with you this morning
- Don’t get me wrong, I am 100% for having regular times of Bible reading and prayer
- But it is so dangerous if you start making them what 9:1 calls “regulations” which you believe can give you better access to God
- Jesus has already done all the work to give you perfect access
- 9:14 “purify our consciences from dead works” – we feel we can’t come empty handed to God.
- We have to bring something to make ourselves acceptable
- The Lord’s Prayer does not even begin with asking for forgiveness!
- Praise & thanksgiving, requests, forgiveness
- What would you think if you had a child, and every time they spoke to you they began “I’m sorry I am not your perfect child”
- Let’s pray right now.
- Think of ways you have been imperfect and flawed this week
- Now think of a prayer you would like God to answer
- Now walk into his presence, knowing you are cleansed, and ask!