Let Us Draw Near to God
The Letter to the Hebrews
Let Us Draw Near To God
Hebrews 10:19-22
Let’s turn to Hebrews 10. If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we will bring one to you. Hebrews 10 is on page 1007 in the Bibles we are passing out.
Think of how strange it would be if someone was hungry, had money, went into a restaurant, was handed the menu, read the menu, and liked the menu -- but instead of ordering they just thanked the waitress and walked out. Imagine how strange it would be if they were content to read the menu, but never ordered from the menu.
That’s what a lot of us Christians do with the Bible. The Bible is like a menu, in which God describes wonderful things He will do when we seek Him. We open the menu and read that when we seek God He will --
- satisfy us with His presence
- guide us with His counsel
- strengthen us against temptation
- empower our obedience
- fill us with His love
- show us His glory
These are all things God will do when we seek Him. But instead of seeking Him – too often we just read these things, and then close the Bible and walk away.
But the reason God gave us this book was so we could read the menu – and then order from the menu. So we would read about all that God promises to do as we seek Him – and then seek Him. And as we seek Him – God will meet us in powerful ways.
To see that look at what the author says in Hebrews 10:19-22 –
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The main point is right there in v.22 – “let us draw near” to God. So what does it mean to draw near to God?
That’s an important question, because the Bible teaches that God is omnipresent – He is everywhere all the time. He created everything, and is above everything, and He fills everything with His presence. So God’s presence is everywhere.
So if God’s presence is everywhere, what does it mean to draw near to Him? You can see that in v.19. Read that verse again –
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus …
Drawing near to God is described as entering the holy places. What are the holy places? In the Old Testament the holy places was where God met with the high priest. It was where God made His presence real to the high priest. God was everywhere – but it was in the holy place that God would make His presence real to the high priest.
So with that in mind, read v.19 again –
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus …
In the Old Testament the high priest could enter the holy places and meet with the Living God. So now when we turn our hearts to God through Jesus, it will be like we are entering the holy places – and we will meet with the Living God.
But there’s a problem. So often we can settle for religious rituals and not actually seek the Living God. See, you can read the Bible and not draw near to God – if you are just reading to get it done and your heart is not set on actually meeting the Living God.
You can pray through your entire prayer list and not draw near to God – if you are just praying mechanically and your heart is not set on actually meeting the Living God.
And you can come to church Sundays and not draw near to God – if you just sing the songs and listen to the message and go home – but your heart is not set on actually meeting the Living God.
So when the author calls us to draw near to God, that’s what he means – draw near to God. Set aside time when you are doing nothing else than seeking God’s face in the Word and prayer. Set aside time to meet with the Living God.
But why? Why is that so important? How important is it that we draw near to God? We can see how important this is by seeing how the author has structured his writing. Notice the first word of v.19 -- “therefore.” And what the “therefore” shows is that vv.19-22 draws to a conclusion the previous section.
And I looked to see how far back the previous section went and I discovered that it went all the way back through ch.10, all the way back through ch.9, all the way back through ch.8, all the way back through ch.7, all the way back through ch.6, and all the way back through ch.5.
In fact, to help you see this, turn to the last verse of ch.4 --
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
So at the end of ch.4 the author says -- draw near to God – seek the Living God. And then he gives reasons in ch.5, ch.6, ch.7, ch.8, ch.9, and the first part of ch.10 – and then concludes – therefore draw near to God – seek the Living God!
So how important is it that we draw near to God? It’s six chapters’ worth of Hebrews important. It’s so important that the author wrote six entire chapters to show us that we can draw near to God – and why we can draw near to God.
So we have six chapters’ worth of reasons for why it’s so important that we draw near to God.
And what are those reasons? Why should we draw near to God? The author summarizes the reasons vv.20-21.
First, because we now have a new way to draw near to God. Look at v.20 –
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way …
Old Testament believers could know and experience God. You can read about that especially in the psalms. But only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, which involved a greater experience of God’s presence.
But now God has given all of us a way to enter the holy of holies – the new way, through Jesus Christ. So that’s the first reason – because we now have a new way to draw near to God.
Second, because we have a living way to draw near to God. Read v.20 again –
20 by the new and living way …
How is this way living? It’s living because the God we draw near to is living. He was also living in the Old Testament. When the high priest entered the holy of holies -- he met the Living God. And so when we enter the holy of holies through Christ – we will meet the Living God.
Think about this. When you open God’s Word you are not just opening a book – you are opening a door to the Living God. When you seek God in His Word you are not just reading words – in those words you will meet the Living God. When you pray you are not just saying words – you are talking to the Living God. When you talk to God in prayer you are not just talking to the ceiling – every word is heard by the Living God.
This way is living because the God we draw near to is alive. He is alive. He responds. He acts. And when we draw near He comes to us, He comforts us, He changes our hearts, He strengthens our faith, He shows us His glory, He fills us with His love. This way is living because God is alive.
Third, because Jesus opened the way by dying on the Cross. Keep reading in v.20 –
20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh …
Jesus died on the Cross so He could open the way to God – so you could draw near to God. We were made for the joy of knowing God. God is our infinitely most satisfying Treasure. And Jesus suffered and died because He wanted you to be able to draw near to God. Think of that –
Jesus thought about the beating he would endure. Frightening. But his response was – Yes, because that will open for them the way to you, Father.
Jesus thought about the scourging he would endure. Horrifying. But his response was – Yes, because that will open for them the way to you, Father.
Jesus thought about the hours of absolute physical agony. Terrible beyond words. But his response was – Yes, because that will open for them the way to you, Father.
He suffered and died – and you have before you an open way to God! But instead we hit the snooze button and get no time with God. Instead we put in another Netflix DVD and postpone time with God. Instead we check Facebook one more time and forget about time with God.
That’s the third reason – because Jesus opened the way by dying on the Cross.
Fourth, because we have a great priest over the house of God. You can see that in v.21 –
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God …
We have already talked about how Jesus is our great high priest. So let’s focus on how he is a great priest over the house of God. We can read the word God and go “ho-hum” and just keep reading. But we are talking about entering the house of God. We are talking about drawing near to God.
Think of what that means. God is the most important being in the Universe. This is obvious – but it’s so easily forgotten.
God existed before anything. God created everything. God rules everything. God’s plan ordains everything. God’s purpose trumps everything. God’s glory outshines everything. God’s power overcomes everything. God’s presence fulfills us more than everything.
So God is the most important being in the Universe.
God is infinitely more important than your CEO. He’s infinitely more important than the policeman you see behind you as you roll through that stop sign. He’s infinitely more important than the Publisher’s Clearing House person at your front door with a $5 million dollar check. God is infinitely more important than all of them.
God is the infinitely most important being in the Universe. And this afternoon – you could spend time with Him. Tonight – you could fellowship with Him. Early tomorrow morning – you could be strengthened by Him. Tomorrow after work – you would be comforted by Him.
So that’s why we should draw near to God – because He is the most important being in the Universe.
Next question -- How do we draw near to God? Look at v.22 –
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
First, we draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. That includes a lot, but I believe God especially wants us to hear that it means coming expectantly – trusting God’s promise that when you seek Him, you will find Him.
When you read God’s Word – expect Him to meet you in His word. Expect Him to speak to you through the Word. Expect Him to comfort, strengthen, convict, encourage you. And when you pray – expect Him to answer you, to guide you, to help you pray.
Second, we draw near with hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. That means with hearts cleansed from guilt.
This means we understand that His death paid for all our sins – so we don’t despair of our guilt. And it means we understand that His death paid for all our sins – so we don’t rely on self-righteousness.
And third, we draw near with bodies washed with pure water. Water-baptism is important. But I don’t think this refers to water-baptism. I think this refers to how the Old Testament priests were washed before they came near to God.
So this is a picture of coming to God humbly confessing your sin, turning from all known sin, surrendering every area to Him. This does not mean you are perfect – none of us will be perfect until heaven. But it means that we are confessing everything, surrendering everything.
One last question – What will happen when we draw near to God? Answer: we will meet God. The reason I say that is because of what the author says in v.19 – we will enter the holy places. We will meet God – the Living God. This can mean many different things –
God could fill you with His love.
God could teach you about loving others.
God could guide you in a decision.
God could encourage you about your work.
God could convict you of disrespect toward your boss.
God could show you His glory.
God could embolden you in evangelism.
God could comfort you with His presence.
And the list goes on and on. But there’s one way we can miss all of these. And that’s if we don’t draw near to God. So – draw near to God.