Come to Jesus… (4 points)

• 1^st – Come BOLDLY… vs. 19-21
  • 1^st – THEREFORE… vs. 19
    • After TEN chapters – we see Jesus is BETTER than EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!
    • Now the Author changes course – and begins to APPLY that message to us practically…
    • WHAT does Jesus being BETTER – mean for us on a DAILY basis…
    • HOW should this impact our lives – HOW should we live our lives!
    • Hebrews 10:19 – through the end of the Book – the Author will instruct us!
    • He will begin by giving us FOUR points – on how to COME to Jesus!
  • 2^nd – New and Living way… vs. 19-20
    • Brethren…
      • BRETHREN – [ἀδελφός] – we would say BROTHERS…
      • I had someone ask me the other day – why does the Bible not include women…
      • The term BROTHERS – is NOT gender specific – it refers to ALL believers…
      • In the same way we might say MANKIND – referring to all people!
    • Having BOLDNESS to enter the Holiest…
      • BOLDLY – [παρρησία] – fearless confidence / cheerful courage / assurance…
      • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come BOLDLY [παρρησία] to the Throne of Grace…”
      • The difference here – Hebrews 4:16 – it was a question [subjunctive] – will we come…
      • Now – having seen how much BETTER Jesus is – we finally have the BOLDNESS to come!
    • Where do we come – to the Holiest…
      • You will recall – inside the Tabernacle – it was divided into TWO parts…
      • THE HOLY place [הַקֹּדֶשׁ] – the FIRST room – with the Menorah / Table / Altar…
      • The HOLIEST [קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים] – the SECOND room – with the Ark and Mercy Seat!
      • The two rooms were separated by a VEIL – the door into the presence of God!
    • Why can we BOLDLY enter into the THRONE ROOM…
      • By the blood of Jesus – by a NEW and LIVING way…
      • Which He CONSECRATED for us through the veil – that is – His flesh!
      • NEW [only here NT] to be freshly slaughtered – and LIVING – Jesus did not stay dead!
      • CONSECRATED – 2x in NT [both in Hebrews] – to dedicate something…
      • POWERFUL picture – Jesus died to give a NEW and DEDICATED way into the Holiest…
      • The ONLY way in – through His sacrifice [blood] – by FAITH in His death on the cross…
      • Jesus is the ONE door [veil] that we can use to ENTER into the presence of God!
      • John 10:9 – “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…”
      • If someone told us they had one BILLION pesos to give – it was ours to take…
      • All we had to do was walk into the BANK and take it…
      • We would have ACCESS – but would not be RICH – until we walked through that door!
      • Jesus has opened the door to all the RICHES of heaven – enough to PAY all our sin DEBT…
      • We have ACCESS – the question is – are we willing to walk through His door…
      • There is ONLY one way – ONE solution – ONE salvation – though the sacrifice of Jesus!
      • Therefore we come BOLDLY to Jesus – because He is the ONLY way into heaven!
      • John 14:6 – ““I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
  • 3^rd – A High Priest… vs. 21
    • When we ENTER into the Holiest – we are met by our High Priest…
      • Hebrews 4:15 – “A High Priest who [can] sympathize with our weaknesses, [because He] was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
      • Name a sin – any sin – and Jesus was TEMPTED by it on His time on earth…
      • But He NEVER sinned – meaning He has the answer to OVERCOMING every sin!
      • It is easy to think God can not RELATE to us – but Jesus faced the same TEMPTATIONS…
      • As a RESULT – FIRST He can UNDERSTAND the TEMPTATIONS we face…
      • He is NOT surprised when we stumble – He does NOT get angry when we fail!
      • SECOND – He has the ABILITY to help us OVERCOME those TEMPTATIONS…
      • Therefore we come BOLDLY to Jesus – He has the POWER to help us OVERCOME all sin!
    • A High Priest over the HOUSE of God…
      • I Timothy 3:15 – “The house of God, which is the church of the living God…”
      • This is NOT referring to a building – it is talking about the people…
      • Jesus is OVER everyone in the church – He is our authority!
      • Colossians 2:19– “Christ is the head of the body. For we are joined together in His body by His strong ties, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.”
      • When we are obedient and listening to Jesus – submitting to His authority…
      • The church will be healthy and grow – both in numbers and maturity!
      • Therefore we come BOLDLY to Jesus – so we can MATURE and GROW as a church!

• 2^nd – Come with a TRUE heart… vs. 22
  • Let us draw near…
    • DRAW NEAR – [present / subjunctive] – NOT a command – it is a DAILY question…
    • The question is HOW do we DRAW near – the answer is in FOUR ways!
  • 1^st – TRUE hearts…
    • With a TRUE heart…
      • TRUE – [root – ἀληθής] – literally with no HIDDEN motives…
      • We are NOT to come to Jesus with an agenda – to see what we GET!
      • There are many who COME out of ulterior MOTIVES – wanting something…
      • Are we coming to be FORGIVEN – or are we coming for SELFISH reasons…
      • One day the Lord will TEST and REVEAL our motives!
      • I Corinthians 3:13 – “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
  • 2^nd – Full assurance of FAITH…
    • FAITH – pistis – 244x in NT – belief with the idea of TRUST or CONFIDENCE…
      • We know the JUST shall live by faith – Habakkuk 2:4 / Romans 1:17 / Galatians 3:11
      • But FAITH is one of those interesting words that it is hard for us to relate to daily life…
      • You did not wake up this morning and ask your spouse how their FAITH was doing!
      • But a good synonym for FAITH is TRUST – where are we putting our TRUST!
    • The problems we have never come from a lack of FAITH – we all have FAITH…
      • Romans 12:3 – “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
      • If we put our FAITH in something that does not have the power – it does not work!
      • Which is why people who put their FAITH in ANY religion – Islam / Buddhism…
      • Or place their confidence in their intellect – education – have NO power!
    • FULL assurance of FAITH comes from only one place…
      • Matthew 8:10 Jesus talked about great FAITH – Matthew 8:26 little FAITH…
      • That would lead us to believe FAITH is measurable – strong / great or little / weak…
      • But Jesus would clarify when the disciples asked to INCREASE our FAITH!
      • Luke 17:6 – “If you have FAITH as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree…”
      • FAITH is not about quantity or quality – it is about WHO we put our trust in…
      • We have full assurance of FAITH when Jesus is the one – we are putting our TRUST in!
  • 3^rd – PURE mind…
    • Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience…
      • SPRINKLED – [perfect] – 4x in NT all in the book of Hebrews…
      • Hebrews 9:13-14 – “The blood [of Christ] … SPRINKLING [our] unclean [mind] … cleanse[s] our conscience.”
      • We are made up of THREE parts – BODY / SOUL / and SPIRIT…
      • We live in a BODY – have conscious thought [SOUL] – and have an eternal SPIRIT…
      • The question we face every day – is WHAT is in control of our lives!
      • Galatians 5:17 – “The [BODY] lusts against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the [BODY]; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
    • We make all of our decisions with our MIND (Soul)…
      • But is our MIND is under the influence of either our BODY or SPIRIT…
      • ONLY through the BLOOD of Jesus can our MIND be purified – from an EVIL conscience…
      • Jesus does not just change our actions – He also changes our DESIRES!
      • Philippians 2:13 – “God… works in you both to WILL and to DO for His good pleasure.”
  • 4^th – CLEAN bodies…
    • Our bodies washed with pure water…
      • This is obviously not talking about taking a BATH – God is NOT concerned with hygiene…
      • God is concerned with HOW we use our bodies – to do GOOD or EVIL!
      • We learn to do GOOD – by being WASHED in the WORD of God – Ephesians 5:26
      • Because His Word convicts us of our sin – shows us right from wrong…
      • If we feel like we are covered with the filth of this world – take a Bible bath!
      • John 15:3 – “You are already clean because of the WORD which I have spoken to you.”
    • Putting all FOUR together – to COME into His presence…
      • We COME with a TRUE heart – no ulterior motives – into the presence of God…
      • When we COME in FULL assurance of FAITH – putting out TRUST in Jesus…
      • Who SPRINKLES our evil conscience – so that we have a PURE heart / mind…
      • Which can be seen in how we use our bodies – living our life according to His word!

• 3^rd – Come in HOPE… vs. 23
  • Let us hold fast the confession of our hope…
    • HOLD FAST – [present / subjunctive] – NOT a command – it is a DAILY choice…
    • We must choose to daily CLING – to the confession of our HOPE…
    • Jesus is our CONFESSION – we PROCLAIM He is our HOPE – Romans 10:10
  • 1^st – Hold on tight…
    • How we HOLD FAST – Without WAVERING…
      • WAVERING – only here NT – literally to NOT fall backwards…
      • The idea is do NOT go back to the OLD ways – to RULES and regulations…
      • Remember – this letter is written to the HEBREWS – who put their HOPE in the LAW!
    • The CHOICE is CLING to Jesus – NOT go back to DEAD rules as our HOPE…
      • We often get the impression God uses us because of something we have done…
      • As if God does a work in our lives – because of something WE did…
      • If I read four chapters of the Bible – God will fill me with His spirit today…
      • And I will be able to do great works for Him – be powerfully used by God!
      • The reality is God uses us in spite of us – even if we have a bad day…
      • There have been many times when I was struggling – did not read my Bible…
      • And have thought there is no way God would be able to use me…
      • That God poured out His spirit and did some of the most amazing things!
      • I think God does this just to prove to us – reinforce the idea…
      • It is not about earning the right to be used by God – it is about His Grace!
  • 2^nd – God can be trusted…
    • Why we HOLD FAST – He who PROMISED is FAITHFUL…
      • TWO reasons why we should HOLD TIGHT to Jesus – as our HOPE…
      • PROMISED – [ἐπί – ἄγγελος] – to send a MESSAGE [angel] …
      • God has given us His WORD – that He will FORGIVE us through Jesus! 
    • FAITHFUL – God is worthy of being trusted – because He KEEPS His Promises…
      • God cannot lie – and He never changes His mind – Malachi 3:6
      • If God says something – it is a GOOD as DONE!
      • II Corinthians 1:20 – “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen…”
      • Do not miss the contrast – we are NOT faithful – so do NOT put HOPE in the RULES…
      • Instead lets our HOPE in God who is FAITHFUL – knowing what HE says He will do!

When we get to be forever with Jesus – who is BETTER than EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!

4^th – Come together… vs. 24-25

Let us CONSIDER one another…

CONSIDER [present / subjunctive] – NOT a command – it is a daily opportunity…

CONSIDER – to think about or set on mind on – ONE ANOTHER…

ONE ANOTHER – we might say to think about each other – in THREE ways!

1^st – Stir up LOVE… vs. 24

In order to STIR UP love…

STIR UP – 2x in NT – means to irritate or provoke – to make angry…

Acts 15:39 – “The contention [same] became so sharp that they parted from ONE ANOTHER.”

When Paul and Barnabus were getting ready to go on their SECOND missionary journey…

Barnabus wanted to take MARK – who had quit in the middle the FIRST journey…

Paul refused to take him – and the CONTENTION [stir up] became so great they parted ways!

How do we STIR UP love [agape] – it happens when we do NOT agree…

We are inevitably going to have different opinions and ideas in the church…

And those disagreements have the potential to cause DIVISION…

But when we CONSIDER one another – we overlook those differences – in LOVE!

Because what we have in common – Jesus – is greater than any of our differences!

2^nd – GOOD works… vs. 24

GOOD – [καλός] – emphasizes outward appearance or goodness…

GOOD works– the outward example people see in our lives showing them Jesus…

When we LOVE one another – even when we do NOT agree – people see Jesus!

John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples, if you have LOVE for ONE ANOTHER.”

God uses us to reveal Himself to others who otherwise do not know Him…

Why does God need us in order to magnify Himself… 

God is huge – but lost sinners are very far from Jesus…

It is though our GOOD works we magnify Christ so people can see His love!

Psalm 34:3 – “Oh, MAGNIFY the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name TOGETHER.”

3^rd – Fellowship… vs. 25

NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…

FORSAKING – to completely abandon – to forsake or neglect…

ASSEMBLING – [episynagōgē] – to gather together – in context at CHURCH…

Redwood trees are the tallest in the world – over 120m…

Yet their roots are not very deep – they STAND – by being connected to one another!

We also do not STAND alone in the life – God has given us a HUGE family…

It is so important to have Godly brothers and sisters at our side!

As is the manner of some…

There are those who argue – CHURCH in not necessary…

We can read our Bibles – worship – without other believers!

Going to church does not save us – but it does keep us from getting off track…

It is easy to do the wrong things and convince ourselves we are right…

That is why God call us to fellowship with ONE ANOTHER in church…

We help keep each other in check – keep our each other accountable to God!

It goes without saying we live in VERY unusual times…

Over the past year many churches have been forced online – even to close their doors…

Although online sermons do provide a temporary opportunity to stay in the word…

They are a poor substitute for the encouragement and fellowship…

That comes from being personally connected to a group of believers!

That does not mean we are reckless – ignoring common sense guidelines…

But it does mean that we understand living in fear has the potential to keep us…

From the strength and comfort that comes being part of a family!

Exhorting ONE ANOTHER…

So much the more as you SEE the DAY approaching…

EXHORTING – [παρακαλέω] – to be called alongside ONE ANOTHER…

Because THE DAY is approaching – which DAY…

It could be – the DAY of our death – we SEE each other getting OLDER…

It could be – the DAY of the LORD – as we SEE the world getting worse – II Timothy 3:13

Either way the point is the same – we NEED each other…

We have a NEW and LIVING way to come BOLDLY into the PRESENCE of God…

But we also have CHOICES – will we come daily – DRAW near with a TRUE heart…

Will we come daily – HOLDING fast to our HOPE in Jesus – not falling back to old ways…

Will we come daily – CONSIDERING one another – stir each other up…

Come together as a family to EXHORT each other as we wait for the DAY…