Some Thoughts from Hebrews 10

Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Jesus came to do the will of God through being sacrificed on the cross.  Hebrews 10:10 says, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  In the old sacrificial system, people would bring bulls and goats to be sacrificed at the temple for their sins.  However, Hebrews 10:4 says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”  Those sacrifices pointed to the ultimate sacrifice—the one that would count.  Hebrews 10:18 tells us that there is no longer any need for a sacrifice because Christ was and remains our sacrifice.

Then we come to Hebrews 10:19-25.

“Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another; all the more, as you see the day drawing near” (NASB).

Because Christ paid the price for our sins and made the way for a relationship with God, we are invited into the very Holy of Holies, so to speak, to develop that relationship through prayer and worship of God almighty.  When we come together for worship, we are told to “draw near with a sincere heart.”  Oops!  Do we always do that?  Do we go to church with sincere hearts?

We’re told in Hebrews 10:23 to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”  “Hold fast” means whatever you do, don’t let go!  Our hope is in Christ, and He is faithful.  The “confession” includes our word, for sure, but it is mainly about your life.  What are you confessing with your life or lifestyle?  Are you wavering in your walk with Christ?

What do we do if we are?  We encourage one another, not with a false assurance, but with the truth assurance that even when we are unfaithful, Christ remains faithful (see 2 Timothy 2:13).  We are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  Don’t give up!

And let us not forsake “our own assembling together, as is the habit of some.”  Church attendance is not a new problem.  The early church had to deal with it, too.  If we truly believe that Christ is Lord, I can’t imagine why we would approach Him in worship so flippantly, even to the point of not worshiping with fellow believers.  Now, I know sickness (the serious or contagious kinds) and other special travels come up, and you simply can’t be with your home church, but we shouldn’t ever look for reasons or excuses to miss church.  Church attendance is important to your spiritual health and the health of the church.  The fact is we need each other.

Be certain of this: if you haven’t been attending church regularly, you certainly have been missed.  Church is where we get encouragement and stimulation “to love and good deeds.”  Won’t you bless God and the church by going to a Bible-teaching church this Sunday?  You’ll be glad you did!