The New Way

¹⁹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. ²⁰ By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place…. ²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate (stir up, stimulate, promote) one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near…. ³⁵ So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶ Patient endurances is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. Hebrews 10:19-20, 24-25, 35-36, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

The unknown author of Hebrews encourages everyone to always love, hope in, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:23, 35-36; see also e.g., Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 12:14-17). The Lord Jesus Christ gives all people through faith in Him and His sacrificial blood salvation (redemption, recovery, and restoration), God’s heavenly rewards, and a better way of life now and for eternity (Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 10:35-36; see also Mark 10:29-31; Titus 2:14). Wholehearted faith and obedience in the Lord Jesus Christ transforms and cleanses our lives and hearts by the life-giving Holy Spirit and make us ALL NEW with a willing and obedient heart for Jesus’ Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth (Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:16, 22; see also John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 1:7).

The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth the first time – First Coming or Advent – to establish a new covenant relationship between the living LORD God and humanity by giving EVERYONE (Jews and Gentiles) through faith in Him all God’s rewards (graces) and to deliver (free) us from evil and the power of sin by His sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross (Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 8:6, 8-12; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:5-7, 15-18, 35; Hebrews 12:24; see also Jeremiah 31:31-33; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 26:28; John 1:14, 16; Luke 22:20; John 8:36; 1 John 3:5). At His First Coming to earth – the Incarnation, the Lord Jesus Christ willingly gave His sinless life and precious blood as a final and complete sacrifice to His Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth, to expiate and atone for all our sins (Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:12, 26, 28; Hebrews 10:12, 14, 17-18; see also Isaiah 53:12; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24-25; Romans 5:6; 1 Peter 3:18; Revelation 5:9). Through our faith and obedience in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven, being made holy (sanctification), and adopted into Almighty God’s eternal Kingdom (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10, 14, 29; Hebrews 13:12; see also Luke 8:21; John 1:12-13; John 17:19).

Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death cancelled the Old Testament sacrifice system contained in the ceremonial law but NOT God’s moral law (e.g., the Ten Commandments) (see Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:9). As to God’s moral law, the living LORD God has now placed His moral law in our hearts by the Holy Spirit when we trusted and believed in His Son Jesus Christ, which means the “Anointed One” or “Messiah” (Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 10:16; see also Jeremiah 31:31-34; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 1 John 2:27). Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ permanently removes ALL our sins and transforms our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit for God’s glory (see Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:17-18). Even more, the Lord Jesus Christ anoints faithful believers in Him with God’s Holy Spirit to teach believers God’s truths and obedience (e.g., see John 14:26; 1 John 2:20-25, 27).

Because of the Lord Jesus Christ’s final and complete blood sacrifices for our sins, believers in Him have access and may walk into His Father’s Presence and find the living LORD God’s mercy and grace in the time of need (Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:19; see also Ephesians 2:15-16, 18; Ephesians 3:12). At the Lord Jesus’ death, the massive thick curtain in the Temple was ripped in two that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (see Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The Lord Jesus Christ gives ALL BELIEVERS IN HIM a new and life-giving way into the very Presence of the living LORD God of heaven and earth with His sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross (Hebrews 10:20; see also John 10:9; John 14:6). As our GREAT High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ now rules over the living LORD God’s household – the true people of God, the Church (Hebrews 10:21; see also Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 4:14). Therefore, faithful and obedient believers of the Lord Jesus Christ can come into His Father’s Presence because we believers have been made clean, washed, and made holy by Jesus’ blood and the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22; see also 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5).

In response for all the Lord Jesus Christ has done for believers, the unknown author of Hebrews encourages believers to be filled with good deeds and continually love and encourage to one another (Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 13:1; see also Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:8). The Lord Jesus Christ’s clearest command to His people was to love one another (e.g., see Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35) because our sincere love for one another reveals our genuine love for God (e.g., see Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 John 3:10; 1 John 4:7, 20-21). Even more, the writer of Hebrews encourages believers not neglect our church meetings and regular attendance as the Lord Jesus Christ’s return draws closer with each passing day (Hebrews 10:25, 37; see also Acts 2:42).  

Most importantly, the writer of Hebrews encourages everyone not to continue the life of intentional and deliberate sin and disobedience (see Hebrews 10:26). Our continual and deliberate sinfulness blasphemes and saddens the living LORD God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit and cuts off such person from God’s Presence and grace (Hebrews 10:29; see also e.g., Numbers 15:30-31; Proverbs 13:13; Proverbs 19:16; Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit brings God’s grace and mercy to His people (see Hebrews 10:29). Our deliberate and intentional sinfulness trample underfoot the Son of God and treated His cleansing blood as though it were common and unhallowed (see Hebrews 10:29). The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and freed us from the power of the evil one (e.g., see Romans 3:24-25; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:6, 8; Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 2:2). Through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have been given a salvation, God’s graces, and a foretaste of heaven by the Holy Spirit (e.g. see Hebrews 6:5).

For if we deliberately sin after receiving the truth about Jesus Christ and a holy life, there no longer remains a sacrifice for your sins and the only thing left is doomed to the blackest darkness with fire and God’s wrath (Hebrews 10:26-27; see also Ezekiel 18:24; Matthew 12:45; Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:17, 20-22). Even worse, our continued and deliberate sinfulness rejects the Lord Jesus Christ and His final sacrifice for your sins and re-crucifies Christ to Calvary’s Cross (e.g., see Hebrews 6:6). Remember, it is sin to know you ought to do right and then not do good but evil (e.g., see Luke 12:47-48; John 9:41; James 4:17). To deliberately reject God’s goodness and grace, grieves God’s Holy Spirit and leaves nothing but God’s wrath and punishments (Hebrews 6:8; Hebrews 10:26-27, 29-31; see also Romans 11:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Truly, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living LORD God (see Hebrews 10:31).

Therefore, the author of Hebrews encouraged everyone to faithfully love and worship the Lord Jesus Christ and never to forget His loving sacrifices for our sins, even during times of intense suffering and persecution (see Hebrews 10:32-35). Truly, the living LORD God Almighty brings His blessings and graces now and for eternity for faithful and obedient believers in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:34-35; see also Matthew 5:12; Revelation 21:1-22:21). The author of Hebrews encouraged believers of Jesus to endure hardship, to keep on patiently doing God’s goodwill, and NEVER turn away from faithfully following and loving the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:36, 38; see also Romans 2:7). Everyone who endures and remains faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ to the end shall be saved and gain life (Hebrews 10:39; see also e.g., Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:19; James 5:11; Hebrews 3:6). Through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been made righteous and saved in the living LORD God’s eyes (Hebrews 10:38-39; see also Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). The living LORD God takes now pleasure in those who shrink back and turn away from His Son Jesus (see Hebrews 10:38).

With each passing day, the Lord Jesus Christ’s coming draws closer (see Hebrews 10:37). At His Second Coming – Parousia, the Lord Jesus Christ will not come to deal again with our sins but to bring His eternal salvation and inheritance to everyone who patiently endured trials and faithfully obeyed Him (Hebrews 9:28; see also Titus 2:13). With all confidence and assurance, the Lord Jesus Christ will return in His Father’s glory with His holy angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done – good and bad (e.g., see Daniel 7:10, 13; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Jude 1:14; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). The living LORD God has appointed everyone to die once, and after our death ALL PEOPLE must face the living God and His Son Jesus in final judgment (Hebrews 9:27; see also 2 Corinthians 5:10).

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).