WEBVTT

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 Go ahead and up up your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 10.

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 My thanks to all of you parents and grandparents who have done your best to explain to me what newborn life is like.

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! It's everything you said it would be.

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 It's been pretty awesome, but tonight was, last night was one of those nights.

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 So, very thankful to be here with everyone.

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 Let's see, Hebrews 10, we're going to continue on.

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 Reese did a fine job of going through, all the way down to verse 18 in chapter 10.

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 And we're getting into Hebrews 10.

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 It's kind of called the lettuce patch of Scripture.

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 I didn't think it was that funny either, but lettuce is repeated quite a few bits in our passage.

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 And everyone always said that, and everybody found that funny.

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 But apparently y'all don't either.

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 But we're going to start in verse 19 of Hebrews 10.

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 Here we go.

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 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

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 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh,

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 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

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 let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith,

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 with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

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 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,

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 for He who promised is faithful.

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 And let us consider how to stir up one another into love and good works,

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 not neglecting to meet together as is habit of some,

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 but encouraging one another,

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 and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, we love You.

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 We respect You.

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 This is Your Word.

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 And so, Lord, may we see it as a blessing,

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 a gift of grace this morning,

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 something that each one of us need to hear,

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 something that You have brought each one to hear, Lord,

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 and to allow it to soak into their souls and their hearts.

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 And, Lord, all of us are very tempted to always draw back from You

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 instead of drawing near to You.

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 And so, Lord, may You minister this passage to our hearts as You see fit.

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 And, Lord, we are so thankful for Your grace.

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 Amen.

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 So, following along with our theme in Hebrews,

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 the overall theme, you could say, is Jesus is superior.

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 Jesus is better than.

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 That's really close.

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 Jesus is better than the old covenant.

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 And we have been looking at the priesthood.

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 We've looked at how Christ is superior to the Arianic priesthood,

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 how Christ is superior to the sacrificial system,

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 how He is the best and the great eternal high priest that we are to look to.

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 And I guess our writer now is turning from so much instruction

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 to start encouraging everyone.

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 This is all the stuff I've been telling you in the previous chapters.

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 I'm now trying to tell you how this ought to affect your life,

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 how this ought to encourage you

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 and drive you on to have confidence to draw near to the living God

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 and strengthen your faith.

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 So, in our passage today, something that kind of points out is,

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 if you notice, the let us stands out three different times in our passage.

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 And it's important for us to understand that though our salvation is individual,

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 though God has saved us as individuals

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 and has relationship with each of us individually,

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 what a blessing.

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 He also has not just saved us, but He saved a people.

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 He saved the church.

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 He has saved a group of us to be called His own.

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 And we're to be together.

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 We are the family of God.

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 And so, that's why there's so much instruction on the one another's in Scripture.

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 And there's also these three exhortations here of,

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 let us draw near together.

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 So, He's calling the believers He's writing to,

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 to draw near to God.

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 So, let us.

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 Very thankful for the church.

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 And He talks about this in, I guess,

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 what you could almost call the three huge Christian virtues.

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 He mentions faith, hope, and love in verse 22, 23, and 24.

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 So, the first point today in the let us idea is,

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 number one, let us draw near to God in faith.

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 And we see this in verses 19 through 22.

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 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

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 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain,

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 that is, through His flesh.

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 And since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

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 let us draw near with true heart and full assurance of faith,

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 with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience,

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 and our bodies washed with pure water.

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 So, a great aim of the writer of Hebrews,

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 as he mentions this over and over and over,

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 is one of his favorite phrases in the book,

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 is draw near to God.

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 So, he doesn't want us just to settle for a dry,

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 ritualistic, religious life.

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 He wants us to have fellowship with God.

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 He desires God not to be a distant thought in our minds,

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 but a near and present reality.

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 So, he's calling us to draw near.

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 Many of us have this idea of God.

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 He's more of a concept in our minds.

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 He's more of a knowledge just in our head.

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 But we have to connect that to our heart

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 and realize He actually is a living being who's present with us.

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 He is a person.

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 And the writer of Hebrews wants us to come near,

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 as the Puritans used to say,

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 to have a sweet communion with God,

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 to have fellowship with God.

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 That is the goal and the heartbeat of the writer of Hebrews.

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 He wants the Heavenly Father to be with His children.

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 So, He's calling us to draw near.

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 And it's not a physical act.

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 It's not like drawing near.

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 It's this physical thing we do.

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 We go from one location to another location.

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 It's a spiritual act.

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 We have fellowship with God through faith.

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 It's as distant as the Holy of Holies in heaven,

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 but as near as the door of faith.

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 God is beckoning us,

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 and even sort of lovingly commanding us to draw near,

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 to come to Himself, to approach Him.

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 And draw near for what?

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 Right.

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 Well, again, one of the favorite phrases.

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 So, three of the seven occurrences in the book of Hebrews.

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 I'll just read you three of them.

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 In chapter 4, verse 16, He says,

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 Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,

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 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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 He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him,

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 since He always lives to make intercession for them.

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 And then you look at,

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 what's this next verse here?

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 It's in chapter 11, verse 6,

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 which we haven't gotten to yet.

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 It's going to be a great passage.

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 It says,

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 Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.

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 For he who draws near to God must believe that He is,

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 and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him.

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 So, all this drawing near language,

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 drawing near to God for fellowship,

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 to approach the throne of grace for mercy.

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 And so, the question I asked myself when I was studying this,

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 and I'm asking you this morning,

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 is, do you lack confidence to approach the holy, majestic, sovereign God?

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 And when I pondered that thought, I'm a little fearful.

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 I shudder a little bit to think that how messy my life is,

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 that I could actually approach, come before the living God,

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 and not be consumed because of my sin.

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 And, we would naturally want to draw back from God.

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 The God who dwells in unapproachable light, as Paul called it.

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 And, even the most bold of us would probably shrink back

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 when we really ponder stepping into the holy presence of God.

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 We read about all these moral and upright men in Scripture

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 that we look to as heroes,

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 and we see that they very easily were terrified

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 when they appear before God.

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 Isaiah, for example.

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 John, the Apostle John,

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 terrified when encountering the holy presence of God.

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 And so, I want you to stop and think about this as well.

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 When is the last time

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 you actually just sat still

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 and enjoyed the fellowship of the Lord?

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 I feel like I'm just so busy sometimes

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 just trying to check the boxes

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 and read and pray and just get on with it.

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 It's kind of like

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 when you have a conversation with someone

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 and they're just kind of going,

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 and they're kind of looking around,

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 not really giving you attention,

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 not really taking in what you're saying.

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 I feel like that's how we often treat God.

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 We're not giving Him our full attention,

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 and He desires us to draw near for fellowship,

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 draw near to worship.

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 So when was the last time that you had that?

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 That sweet fellowship with God

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 where you just sat at the feet of Jesus

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 and worshiped and prayed

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 and poured your heart out to Him?

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 And in our passage,

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 we see that

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 there's probably a couple ways to break this down,

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 and one of them is just a question we can ask,

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 like, how is it that we can draw near to God?

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 Like, what's made that possible?

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 How can we actually do it?

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 And when you look at

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 verse 19 and 20,

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 we see that it's by the blood of Jesus.

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 As you might remember,

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 the tabernacle and then later,

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 the temple,

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 will have this long veil

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 that separated sinful man

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 from entering the Holy of Holies

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 where the very presence of God manifested.

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 The curtain or the veil

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 symbolized separation between us

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 and a fallen sinful man

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 and relationship with God

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 from the holy presence of God.

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 It's as if the veil could actually talk.

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 It would probably say something like,

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 that's far enough.

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 You may go no further.

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 You are defiled.

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 You are sinful.

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 You cannot come any closer.

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 Do not draw near to God,

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 but draw away,

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 or you will perish.

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 I think that's like what the veil would actually say.

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 Like, get away.

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 Back off.

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 You cannot enter into

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 the presence of this most holy God.

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 So, I only have a couple places for you to look outside our main passage today,

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 but flip over to Matthew chapter 27,

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 the gospel of Matthew chapter 27.

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 And this is around the crucifixion of Jesus,

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 just a small little account.

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 But,

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 when we think about what the veil meant,

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 that separation idea,

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 that you cannot come closer,

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 we are broken and sinful,

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 and God is holy.

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 And yet,

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 we see,

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 that God,

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 from eternity past,

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 had a plan to bring us near to himself.

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 Look at verse 50.

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 Just kind of go down.

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 We can read this whole story,

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 but the crucifixion has been going on,

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 and it gets to the very end.

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 You look at verse 50.

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 It says,

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 Jesus cried out again with a loud voice,

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 and yielded up his spirit.

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 And behold,

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 the curtain of the temple was torn in two,

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 from top to bottom.

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 And the earth shook,

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 and the rocks were split.

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 The tombs also were opened,

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 and many bodies of the saints

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 who had fallen asleep were raised,

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 and coming out of the tombs

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 after his resurrection,

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 they went into the holy city,

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 and appeared to many.

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 When the centurion,

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 and those who were with him,

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 keeping watch over Jesus,

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 saw the earthquake,

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 and what took place,

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 they were filled with awe,

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 or fear,

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 and said,

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 Truly,

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 this was the Son of God.

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 And we see in our passage,

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 this idea of how,

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 when Jesus breathed his last,

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 the veil of the temple was torn,

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 from top to bottom.

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 An impossible task,

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 for just a human being to do.

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 There's a huge veil,

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 in the temple of Herod.

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 A huge veil.

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 And so what did that symbolize?

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 Well, flip back to our passage in Hebrews,

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 and we see that,

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 the curtain of the temple,

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 was torn in two,

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 from top to bottom.

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 And now the writer is saying,

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 the good news now,

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 is that we can,

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 with confidence,

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 enter the holy places,

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 by the blood of Jesus,

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 by the new and living way,

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 that he opened for us,

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 through the curtain,

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 that is,

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.060
 through his flesh.

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:21.080
 So Jesus' flesh,

00:14:21.140 --> 00:14:21.700
 his body,

00:14:21.780 --> 00:14:22.480
 is identified,

00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:24.140
 with the curtain,

00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:25.320
 or with the veil,

00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:26.879
 metaphorically,

00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:28.220
 torn at his death.

00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.960
 So we can now,

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:31.220
 walk with confidence,

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:33.180
 in faith,

00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:34.759
 through the torn curtain,

00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.460
 of Christ,

00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.160
 if you would,

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.100
 into the presence of God.

00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.019
 His body was torn,

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.960
 his blood was spilled,

00:14:41.040 --> 00:14:42.240
 and he has provided the way,

00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:43.720
 for us to now have access,

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.560
 to God.

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.660
 Chilling thought,

00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:47.080
 to me,

00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.540
 that Christ's body,

00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.120
 was torn,

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.940
 his blood spilled,

00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:51.000
 and it gives us access,

00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.340
 to the holy of holies,

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.040
 to have fellowship,

00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.340
 with God.

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.740
 And that's the gospel promises,

00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:57.139
 that one time,

00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.059
 you could go no further.

00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.759
 None of us could approach,

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.879
 none of us could enter in,

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.279
 but now,

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.639
 because of his son,

00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.559
 we no longer draw back,

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.340
 in fear,

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.960
 but we can draw near,

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.879
 with confidence.

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.960
 Because of what Jesus has done,

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.939
 he's opened a new,

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:13.659
 and living way,

00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.799
 for us to have access,

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:17.120
 to come and be with God.

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:18.659
 So,

00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.539
 that is a,

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:21.200
 crazy connection.

00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:22.200
 You want to talk about,

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.980
 just how the book of Hebrews,

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.220
 connects to so much,

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.360
 from the old covenant,

00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.779
 well,

00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:29.299
 that separation,

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.500
 has now been dealt with.

00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.919
 We now can have access,

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.080
 alone,

00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:33.799
 through Jesus.

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:34.419
 Right?

00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:35.899
 That is a,

00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:37.299
 a huge blessing,

00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:38.460
 huge gospel promise,

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.059
 that we have.

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:40.720
 Secondly,

00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.120
 we also see in our passage,

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:42.960
 in Hebrews here,

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.699
 how else,

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.539
 can we enter in?

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:45.980
 Right?

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:47.500
 How can we draw near to God,

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.620
 by our great high priest?

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.960
 And we have talked about this,

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.399
 constantly on Sunday mornings,

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.720
 that Jesus is,

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.939
 far greater,

00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:56.779
 far superior,

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:57.779
 than any priest,

00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.659
 to come before him.

00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:00.419
 Greater than Aaron himself,

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.399
 greater than Moses.

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.559
 And he is,

00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.500
 an eternal high priest.

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:05.980
 He never,

00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:07.480
 he's not going to die,

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.799
 he keeps office forever,

00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:09.799
 he's not going anywhere.

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.340
 He is sympathetic.

00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.959
 He's a sympathetic high priest,

00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:15.000
 and he understands,

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.799
 our weakness.

00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:17.339
 He sympathizes,

00:16:17.339 --> 00:16:18.699
 with all that we're going through,

00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:20.459
 so he can present us well,

00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:21.919
 represent us well,

00:16:21.979 --> 00:16:22.699
 before God.

00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:24.839
 He is a flawless,

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:25.859
 sinless priest,

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:27.339
 so he doesn't have to make atonement,

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.319
 for his own sin.

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.019
 He can just go into,

00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.240
 the presence of God.

00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.219
 All these things,

00:16:33.219 --> 00:16:35.240
 are the beauty of it all.

00:16:35.359 --> 00:16:35.959
 So remember,

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.859
 at the tabernacle,

00:16:36.979 --> 00:16:37.479
 or the temple,

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.839
 the high priest,

00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:39.699
 only went in,

00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.000
 once a year,

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.799
 behind the veil,

00:16:41.859 --> 00:16:42.819
 and he sprinkled blood,

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.120
 on the mercy seat.

00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:47.519
 And people would stand outside,

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.339
 waiting in fear,

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.479
 for him to come back out.

00:16:51.859 --> 00:16:52.939
 The difference is,

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.299
 Jesus,

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:53.919
 our great,

00:16:53.979 --> 00:16:54.399
 eternal,

00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.159
 sinless,

00:16:55.859 --> 00:16:57.219
 sympathetic high priest,

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.299
 entered not just a copy,

00:16:59.399 --> 00:16:59.939
 like the temple,

00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:00.679
 but he actually entered,

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.879
 into heaven itself,

00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:03.240
 into the actual,

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.159
 holy of holies,

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:06.220
 and he didn't come out.

00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:08.240
 He's still there,

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.740
 and he opened the way,

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.539
 for us to come,

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.980
 and follow him.

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.359
 So one of my favorite,

00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.519
 old,

00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.639
 timey preachers,

00:17:17.719 --> 00:17:18.899
 from the early 1800's,

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.459
 get into him,

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:20.919
 and read him.

00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:21.879
 Robert Murray,

00:17:21.939 --> 00:17:22.439
 McShane.

00:17:23.959 --> 00:17:24.319
 Yeah,

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:24.699
 I like him,

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.379
 because he's Scottish,

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.939
 but I also like him,

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.579
 because he's just,

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.919
 a really godly guy,

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.399
 and he had respiratory,

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.219
 problems,

00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.419
 which I identify with,

00:17:32.699 --> 00:17:33.579
 and he died young,

00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:35.399
 probably at the same age,

00:17:35.439 --> 00:17:36.139
 I would have died,

00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:37.319
 if I hadn't had my transplant,

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:37.939
 because that's why,

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.159
 I identify with him a lot.

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.779
 But he preached,

00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.179
 a sermon on John 17,

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.320
 in the high priestly prayer,

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:43.840
 of Jesus.

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.620
 I want you to let this,

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.340
 just soak in.

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.060
 He says,

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.920
 if I could hear,

00:17:49.080 --> 00:17:50.220
 Christ praying for me,

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.080
 in the next room,

00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.200
 I would not fear,

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.360
 a million enemies.

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.420
 Yet distance,

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.480
 makes no difference,

00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:58.779
 he is praying for me.

00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:01.060
 Live near to God,

00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:02.799
 and so all things,

00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.700
 will appear to you,

00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.160
 little,

00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.120
 in comparison,

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.620
 with eternal realities.

00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:09.959
 Jesus is there,

00:18:10.239 --> 00:18:11.759
 making intercession for us,

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:13.079
 before the throne of God.

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.159
 And you know,

00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.619
 think about someone,

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.519
 that you really love,

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:17.979
 and trust,

00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:19.139
 and look up to in the faith,

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.239
 and how,

00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:21.399
 just something about,

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.279
 when they pray for you,

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:22.779
 you just feel like,

00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.479
 you're bulletproof.

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.399
 You can just run outside,

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.559
 and take on anything.

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:26.679
 You know,

00:18:26.739 --> 00:18:27.799
 but the idea is,

00:18:28.459 --> 00:18:29.419
 Christ is the one,

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.739
 making intercession for us.

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.779
 Jesus is praying,

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.179
 on our behalf,

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.459
 so we can face anything.

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:36.660
 And that's the beauty,

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.600
 of what we have.

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.740
 And also under this passage,

00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:41.519
 if you look at verse 22 again,

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.900
 there's a certain manner,

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:45.500
 in which we can approach God,

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.440
 which we can draw near to God.

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.799
 It talks about,

00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.720
 with a true heart,

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:52.140
 and full assurance of faith,

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.980
 all these things.

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.400
 So our hearts represent,

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.360
 our inner life,

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:59.100
 and our hearts have to be genuine,

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.019
 to approach God.

00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:00.860
 There's no facade,

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.779
 you can't fake it.

00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:03.720
 God sees right through you.

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.440
 And we must approach Him,

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.740
 with a sincere heart.

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.539
 One that God has,

00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.279
 made whole,

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:10.640
 right?

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.779
 He wants our heart,

00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:13.640
 He doesn't just want,

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:16.200
 us to fake our attention.

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.400
 Like I was saying a minute ago,

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.460
 when you sit down,

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.480
 and have a meal with somebody,

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.299
 and you're trying to talk,

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.240
 about something serious,

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.220
 and they're just looking around,

00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.000
 and not paying attention.

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.819
 And you can just,

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.140
 you know,

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.779
 there's other times,

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:27.360
 I just say some absurd sentence,

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.720
 just to see if they're listening,

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:29.920
 kind of thing.

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.420
 And God wants our whole heart,

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.640
 He wants our whole attention,

00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:34.779
 focused on Him.

00:19:35.820 --> 00:19:36.580
 But that phrase,

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:38.720
 in the full assurance of faith,

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:41.279
 we draw near to God again,

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.640
 not in a physical sense,

00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.920
 but in faith.

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:46.039
 Not in doubt or fear,

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.100
 but assurance.

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.340
 So,

00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:50.660
 we believe here,

00:19:50.800 --> 00:19:51.440
 at this church,

00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:54.120
 that once one person is saved,

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.060
 they are saved forever.

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:57.839
 And that those who are truly saved,

00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:58.500
 and they alone,

00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:00.000
 will persevere to the end,

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.700
 and be saved.

00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:03.980
 But you cannot lose your salvation,

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.960
 if it is real.

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:07.639
 And many people would agree with that,

00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:09.220
 but there's also another part of that.

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.659
 God wants us to have assurance,

00:20:11.659 --> 00:20:12.700
 of our salvation.

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.700
 He wants us to come,

00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.779
 before Him,

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.940
 in full assurance,

00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:17.179
 of faith.

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:17.940
 And I believe,

00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.659
 wholeheartedly,

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.559
 that words like this,

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.639
 wouldn't exist in the Bible,

00:20:20.919 --> 00:20:22.359
 if we actually couldn't know,

00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.379
 for sure,

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.519
 that we belong to Christ.

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.179
 There would be doubt there,

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.819
 there would be fear,

00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:28.299
 there would not be assurance,

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.599
 of faith.

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.460
 It means we can,

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.679
 experience joy,

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.379
 and peace,

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:33.859
 and hope,

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.720
 in this life,

00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:36.220
 as a result,

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.359
 of that objective,

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.539
 spiritual reality.

00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:41.240
 A lot of the Bible writers,

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.139
 talk about assurance,

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.579
 in context of salvation.

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.240
 Colossians 2,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.839
 verse 2,

00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.220
 Paul talks about,

00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:48.220
 full assurance.

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.559
 1 Thessalonians 1,

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:50.919
 5,

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.039
 much assurance.

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.500
 In Hebrews 6,

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:53.859
 11,

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.740
 full assurance,

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.319
 of hope.

00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.939
 And now we have,

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.859
 full assurance,

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.539
 of faith.

00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.519
 A beautiful word,

00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:01.839
 but the word really means,

00:21:01.959 --> 00:21:02.699
 a complete,

00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:04.039
 and most certain confidence.

00:21:04.719 --> 00:21:05.839
 So you're not just kind of,

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.539
 hoping,

00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:08.219
 crossing your fingers,

00:21:08.479 --> 00:21:09.879
 kind of wishful thinking,

00:21:09.979 --> 00:21:10.859
 that you belong to God.

00:21:10.939 --> 00:21:11.919
 This means that you know,

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.919
 you belong to God.

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:15.279
 You can have that peace,

00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.979
 that inner quiet.

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.639
 Not all believers,

00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.439
 have assurance,

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.759
 but it's something that God wants to give you.

00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:23.700
 If you really belong to him,

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.600
 he wants you to know,

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.519
 that you belong to him,

00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.500
 and actually enjoy,

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:28.180
 the salvation that he's given you.

00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:30.000
 And not always be afraid of,

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.120
 falling off the edge.

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:31.799
 Right?

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:33.559
 I don't think that words like joy,

00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:34.079
 or peace,

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:36.119
 would be real words,

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.059
 if that was true.

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.480
 I would not have any peace,

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.559
 or any joy,

00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:41.259
 if I just felt like I would just undo,

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.220
 what God has done.

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:43.980
 But praise God,

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.299
 he is the one who saves,

00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.259
 and he's the one who,

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.159
 began the good work in us,

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.559
 and he will,

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.379
 finish it.

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:52.339
 For his name's sake,

00:21:52.419 --> 00:21:53.279
 he will finish it.

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:54.720
 Right?

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:58.259
 And the last place you really have to turn today,

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.559
 but keep your hand in Hebrews 10,

00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:02.019
 is Leviticus 16.

00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.380
 So what does all this have to do with

00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.100
 heart-sprinkled,

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:06.059
 bodies-washed?

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.339
 This idea.

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.579
 But just a couple verses,

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:15.039
 out of Leviticus 16,

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.539
 when the Lord was instructing Moses,

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.299
 and Moses was passing this on to Aaron,

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:22.360
 about temple worship,

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:24.100
 or tabernacle worship at that time,

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:25.099
 what God desired.

00:22:26.179 --> 00:22:28.059
 And look at verse 1 and 2 of chapter 16.

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.699
 It says,

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:32.419
 The Lord spoke to Moses

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:35.699
 after the death of the two sons of Aaron,

00:22:36.459 --> 00:22:39.439
 when they drew near before the Lord and died.

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.179
 So,

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.379
 don't draw near to God at that point.

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:42.959
 Right?

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.879
 Don't approach God in a sinful way,

00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:47.139
 as his sons had done,

00:22:47.199 --> 00:22:47.839
 and they died.

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.419
 And the Lord said to Moses,

00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:52.299
 Tell Aaron, your brother,

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:54.819
 not to come at any time

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:56.819
 into the holy place inside the veil,

00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:00.159
 before the mercy seat that is on the ark,

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:02.639
 so that he may not die.

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:05.460
 For I will appear in the cloud

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.599
 over the mercy seat.

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:09.139
 Jump down to verse 16.

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:15.900
 Thus he will make atonement for the holy place,

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:18.680
 because of the uncleanliness of the people of Israel,

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:22.120
 and because of their transgressions and all their sins.

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:25.519
 And so shall do for the tent of meeting,

00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:28.639
 which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanliness.

00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:31.259
 You see all this separation language?

00:23:31.439 --> 00:23:33.579
 You see this being exclusive?

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.819
 The high priest only being able to come in once,

00:23:36.959 --> 00:23:37.399
 and he said,

00:23:37.459 --> 00:23:39.819
 Aaron cannot just come in any time he feels like it,

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.879
 or he will die.

00:23:42.199 --> 00:23:43.819
 There is something that needs to be done.

00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:46.979
 And it talks about how the blood is to be sprinkled.

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:49.500
 So back in Hebrews,

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.140
 back in Hebrews again,

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:55.039
 the sacrificial blood that was sprinkled on the priest

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.279
 was an outward sign

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:59.720
 of their being consecrated for God's service.

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:03.740
 And here the writer is kind of carrying that further

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:07.980
 and saying that now our hearts are inwardly

00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:11.519
 are sprinkled by the sacrificial blood of Jesus,

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:15.319
 and his atoning work purifies us

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.700
 from an evil conscience.

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:20.099
 And it's so complete that it covers our sin,

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.460
 it covers our shame.

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:27.200
 The conscience, guys, only condemns us.

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.839
 Do you all know that?

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:30.420
 It only says you've broken the law.

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:33.059
 You may try to reason around it and say,

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.839
 well, it really wasn't that bad.

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:37.740
 And God really didn't mean it when he said this.

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:41.019
 But the conscience is just going to say guilty.

00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:43.140
 It's only going to condemn you.

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:47.360
 The conscience doesn't know anything of mercy or grace.

00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:50.299
 And because we have sinned,

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.179
 we have an evil conscience.

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:54.099
 We have a vexed conscience.

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:59.599
 Guilt and shame weigh on us constantly all the time

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.319
 for things that we've done.

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.419
 Right?

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.679
 But here's the good news.

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:08.639
 The amazing thing is that the blood of Jesus is so complete,

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:10.019
 so powerful,

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:12.279
 that it can remove the guilt and shame

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:14.700
 and put our conscience at rest.

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:17.879
 It can appease our vexed conscience

00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:20.000
 and give us rest.

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:23.279
 Not because we're sinless, right?

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:26.599
 Not because our conscience doesn't sometimes accuse us,

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:29.599
 but because when it does accuse us,

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.799
 we can say in faith

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.079
 that the blood of Christ has covered that.

00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:35.960
 That Jesus has dealt with that sin,

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:37.819
 and even though it grieves us,

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:39.400
 we have a Savior

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:42.759
 that has shed His priceless blood for us.

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:46.460
 And we can have a clean conscience because of that.

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.460
 He has dealt with it.

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:50.200
 And you can lay down your head on the pillow at night

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:52.620
 and have peace because of what Christ has done.

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.700
 And not just be torn apart

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:57.240
 by the nasty things that you've done

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:59.000
 to yourself and to one another.

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.860
 The blood of Jesus can bring peace to our conscience.

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:05.299
 And because that's true,

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.599
 let us draw near.

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:09.079
 Our bodies wash,

00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:12.079
 most likely alluding to Old Testament imagery

00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:14.459
 of how priests have ceremonially washed themselves

00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:17.939
 with all these different sanctified vessels for service.

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:20.159
 But I guess the connection,

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.939
 I would believe, is here,

00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:24.639
 is pointing forward to how the Holy Spirit

00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:27.319
 cleanses us and purifies us.

00:26:27.679 --> 00:26:29.219
 Not just when we're born again,

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.779
 but as we are being sanctified

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.359
 and as we are growing spiritually.

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.700
 So there's a huge reminder here.

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.460
 Be reminded.

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:38.799
 We all need reminders to draw near to God.

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:42.639
 Though we've been born anew of the Spirit

00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:44.960
 and though we've been adopted as the children of God,

00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.859
 and such we are, right?

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:49.259
 We still have the strong,

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.200
 I do,

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:53.359
 strong pull of the flesh on a daily basis.

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:56.099
 We still have many voices around us

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:58.059
 telling us that this is what life is about.

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.319
 This is what you're to pursue.

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.240
 This is what you're to love.

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.240
 The allure of the world

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:06.379
 and the lies and deception of the evil one.

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:09.519
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.500
 We all are like that.

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.759
 So we need reminders like,

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.359
 draw near to God

00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.819
 in full assurance of faith.

00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.539
 You can draw near.

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:19.960
 This passage is God calling us to himself.

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.679
 So next time you sit down

00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:24.859
 and open up the Word,

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:27.159
 or next time you're just wanting to sit down

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.299
 and pray with some other friends,

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.219
 draw near to God.

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:31.219
 Don't just do an intellectual activity.

00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:34.179
 Ask Him to help your hearts.

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.979
 Connect with Him.

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:37.839
 Because Christ has prepared the way for you to go.

00:27:38.979 --> 00:27:40.119
 So that's all number one.

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.439
 But the rest of them aren't that long.

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:46.059
 Number two, the second let us.

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:50.699
 Number two, let us hold fast to our hope.

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:52.720
 Verse 23.

00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:56.779
 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.779
 without wavering,

00:27:58.220 --> 00:28:00.759
 for He who promised is faithful.

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:04.480
 So, secondly,

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:07.000
 He urges us to persevere

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:09.039
 by holding on to hope.

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:11.140
 Another favorite phrase of the writer of Hebrews,

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:15.059
 this faithful, tenacious, unwavering embrace

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:17.080
 of what we believe to be true,

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:19.140
 the confession of our hope.

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.980
 All that we believe,

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.740
 the gospel,

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:24.820
 all that we say we believe

00:28:24.820 --> 00:28:25.900
 as followers of Jesus,

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.620
 the confession of our hope.

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:30.860
 And these truths and promises

00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:32.560
 like God gives us,

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.880
 and the hope is

00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:35.400
 if we actually believe these things,

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.820
 it will produce hope in us.

00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:39.640
 Why?

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.240
 Again,

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.900
 what gives you that hope?

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:45.780
 Because He who promised is faithful.

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:48.200
 A promise is only good

00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.160
 as the one making it.

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.279
 We all know that to be true.

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.779
 Many of us have been hurt greatly

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.940
 by people who made us promises

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:55.160
 and didn't keep them

00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:57.660
 or didn't have the power to keep them.

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:01.879
 Liars and fools cannot be counted on

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.680
 to keep promises.

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:05.740
 We've all put our hope in things that

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.420
 let us down.

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:13.840
 a lot of the leaders of this church,

00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:15.800
 a lot of the time,

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:17.220
 people just think that we're invincible,

00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.560
 that we have it all together.

00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.680
 And then they're disappointed

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:22.120
 and sometimes even angry

00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:24.160
 that we can't hold them together

00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.860
 at times.

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.660
 We can barely hold our own lives together.

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:29.600
 We need grace as well.

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:32.059
 The only person

00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:34.539
 you can fully place your hope in

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.539
 without being let down

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:37.839
 is God Himself.

00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:39.219
 That's it.

00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:41.779
 You have to bank your hope

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.740
 all in Him.

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.039
 And remember,

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:46.079
 gospel hope is not wishful thinking.

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.399
 It's not crossing our fingers

00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:48.740
 and just hoping it turns out okay.

00:29:49.439 --> 00:29:50.419
 It's this sure,

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.399
 certain confidence.

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:56.000
 We know that God has made a promise.

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:59.139
 And because the Scripture says,

00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:01.879
 in Titus 1 verse 2,

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.740
 we can say

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:05.079
 that we have hope of eternal life

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.980
 which God,

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.379
 who never lies,

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:10.179
 has promised before the ages began.

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:13.639
 We have a living hope, right?

00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:16.000
 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 3,

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.279
 according to His great mercy

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.919
 has caused us to be born again

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:20.619
 to a living hope.

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:23.959
 A hope that's active and moving,

00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.779
 not just this dead idea,

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.179
 distant thought in our head.

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:30.200
 And one of my other Puritan writers

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.620
 I like,

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:30.940
 he wrote,

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.860
 hope fills the afflicted soul

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:35.100
 with such inward joy

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.440
 and consolation

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:38.259
 that it can laugh

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:40.200
 while tears are in the eye

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.960
 and sigh

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.039
 and sing

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:43.460
 all in one breath.

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.600
 It's called rejoicing in hope.

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:49.039
 So,

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.919
 our hope is real

00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.839
 because of the one

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.459
 who has promised.

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.879
 We can throw our lives

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:56.319
 completely into that.

00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:59.019
 The one who promised

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.159
 is faithful.

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.599
 He will do it.

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:03.719
 Alright, so,

00:31:04.159 --> 00:31:04.699
 thirdly,

00:31:05.219 --> 00:31:06.299
 and lastly,

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:09.079
 see in verse 24 and 25,

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:10.839
 let us

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:12.539
 stir up one another

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.359
 to love.

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:14.539
 So,

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.299
 we've seen faith,

00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.199
 we've seen hope,

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.039
 and now we see love.

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.199
 Verse 24,

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.559
 let us consider

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.479
 how to stir up

00:31:21.479 --> 00:31:22.179
 one another

00:31:22.179 --> 00:31:23.379
 to love

00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.199
 and good works,

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.199
 not neglecting

00:31:25.199 --> 00:31:25.939
 to meet together

00:31:25.939 --> 00:31:26.759
 as is the habit

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.419
 of some,

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.119
 but encouraging

00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.779
 one another

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:31.179
 and all the more

00:31:31.179 --> 00:31:32.079
 as you see the day

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.899
 drawing near.

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.659
 We all know

00:31:34.659 --> 00:31:35.719
 that when trials come

00:31:35.719 --> 00:31:37.079
 and when difficult things happen,

00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:37.799
 we're tempted

00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:38.819
 to mainly just think

00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.579
 about ourselves.

00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.479
 We're not naturally

00:31:41.479 --> 00:31:42.419
 going to be selfless.

00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:43.800
 We,

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.100
 you see the most

00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:45.920
 patient person

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.680
 being destroyed

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.600
 by a certain thing

00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:48.360
 that they're going through.

00:31:49.580 --> 00:31:50.060
 We're not,

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.900
 love is not our

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.800
 natural outflow

00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.539
 when pressure

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.400
 is put on us.

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.940
 It usually is

00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.860
 self-preservation,

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.160
 survival mode.

00:31:59.120 --> 00:31:59.640
 But,

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:01.019
 great gospel faith,

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:02.060
 great gospel hope

00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:02.700
 that we possess

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.420
 in Christ

00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:05.600
 will inevitably

00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:07.100
 lead us

00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:08.740
 to gospel love,

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:11.200
 which is sacrificial.

00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.480
 It puts other people

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:14.200
 before itself.

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.059
 That's as the writer

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:17.059
 is wanting us to see here

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.799
 that if you believe

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.440
 all these things,

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.279
 if you really do,

00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:20.759
 it's going to lead

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.059
 to love

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:23.440
 in the form

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.519
 of good works.

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:25.680
 Right?

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.200
 So,

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.859
 but a lot of us

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.440
 get lazy,

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.579
 we get apathetic,

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.460
 we slow down.

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.740
 And so,

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.579
 he puts the phrase

00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:32.940
 in there,

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:34.559
 stir up,

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.480
 let us consider.

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:37.120
 you have to stop

00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:38.039
 and think about it.

00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.900
 Give thoughtful

00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.680
 consideration

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.599
 to how you are

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.380
 showing love

00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:43.500
 to other believers.

00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:45.559
 So,

00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.539
 stir up means

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.140
 to provoke

00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:48.839
 or incite them.

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.980
 We need that.

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.500
 We need to do that

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.220
 for each other

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.860
 because many of us

00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.400
 are just tempted

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.279
 to fall asleep.

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.460
 And that's stimulated

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.640
 by us meeting together

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.259
 for worship,

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.000
 fellowship,

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.740
 mutual encouragement.

00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:04.460
 College students,

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.140
 you cannot do

00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.860
 the Christian life

00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:06.460
 on your own.

00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:08.060
 You have a home

00:33:08.060 --> 00:33:09.080
 and that's the church.

00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:10.960
 And you're married to it

00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.280
 whether you like it or not.

00:33:12.560 --> 00:33:13.620
 This is your family.

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.880
 We all belong

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.380
 to the body of Christ.

00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.440
 Fellow believers

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.500
 bought with the blood

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.080
 of Jesus.

00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.000
 We are his bride

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.520
 and don't hate

00:33:25.520 --> 00:33:26.240
 on his bride.

00:33:28.540 --> 00:33:29.660
 He'd saved you

00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.500
 as an individual

00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.280
 but he has saved

00:33:31.280 --> 00:33:31.820
 a people

00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:33.780
 for his own possession,

00:33:34.080 --> 00:33:34.640
 the church.

00:33:35.800 --> 00:33:36.880
 And he calls us

00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.880
 to be with one another

00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.900
 because we need

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.580
 one another.

00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:41.620
 Here in the Bible Belt

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.420
 it's just so easy

00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:43.600
 just to sort of blend in

00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:45.259
 but you go to many,

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.460
 many parts of this world

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:48.680
 the other few,

00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:49.520
 few believers

00:33:49.520 --> 00:33:50.700
 in a certain community

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:52.100
 are precious

00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:52.820
 to one another.

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.400
 They treasure

00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.680
 one another deeply

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.340
 because that's all

00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:55.880
 they have.

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.380
 That's their family.

00:33:57.380 --> 00:34:01.060
 and we need each other

00:34:01.060 --> 00:34:02.500
 for the goal

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.340
 of perseverance.

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.560
 This is a picture

00:34:05.560 --> 00:34:06.500
 of the local church,

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.060
 the gathering

00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:07.840
 of the saints.

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.559
 And he's saying

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.400
 back then,

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.200
 which is funny, right?

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.200
 Back then

00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:13.579
 in the first century,

00:34:14.640 --> 00:34:15.640
 no less true today,

00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.440
 some people

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:18.000
 are neglecting

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.800
 this gathering.

00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:19.720
 Some people

00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:21.099
 are just choosing

00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:22.119
 not to come around.

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:23.539
 They're trying

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.859
 to be solo.

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.259
 They're trying

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.000
 to do this thing

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.659
 on their own.

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.539
 They're neglecting

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.299
 the gathering

00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.019
 or the meeting

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:32.199
 of the saints.

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.699
 He's saying

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.480
 don't do that

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.819
 as is the habit

00:34:36.819 --> 00:34:37.719
 of some.

00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.699
 We need each other.

00:34:39.779 --> 00:34:40.839
 If you want to cool off

00:34:40.839 --> 00:34:42.799
 and really lose

00:34:42.799 --> 00:34:43.619
 your passion for Jesus,

00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.400
 just go solo

00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.199
 for a little while

00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:45.859
 and you'll just get

00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:46.699
 your clock cleaned.

00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:47.679
 You don't have

00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:48.299
 the encouragement.

00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:48.920
 You don't have

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.460
 the fellowship.

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:51.280
 We need one another.

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.360
 I've done that

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.199
 quite a few times.

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.480
 It doesn't work out.

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.820
 And some people

00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.340
 would even argue,

00:34:59.420 --> 00:34:59.980
 what about Paul?

00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:00.619
 He was solo.

00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.420
 Not really.

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.840
 Not all the time.

00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:04.059
 Wherever he went,

00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.039
 he had other believers.

00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.440
 He had the church

00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.400
 that God grew

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.139
 at that place.

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:10.220
 And there were times

00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:10.760
 he was forced

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.400
 to be alone,

00:35:11.740 --> 00:35:12.699
 but he always had

00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:13.539
 other believers

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.280
 as well.

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.720
 And it says

00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.960
 encouraging one another

00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.900
 as even more so

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.300
 as you see

00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:20.539
 the day drawing near.

00:35:21.620 --> 00:35:22.340
 That's the return

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.780
 of Christ,

00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.220
 the judgment.

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.460
 So even as you think

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.960
 and you see

00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.880
 the end coming,

00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.440
 step it up.

00:35:27.560 --> 00:35:28.700
 Continue stepping it up.

00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:29.880
 Love one another.

00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:31.100
 Serve one another

00:35:31.100 --> 00:35:32.720
 even as the day

00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:33.460
 draws near.

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.600
 Knowing that it's coming.

00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.039
 The church

00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:40.180
 is the biggest blessing

00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:41.760
 that a believer

00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.320
 can have.

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:44.700
 And I hope that

00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:46.160
 you've experienced that.

00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:47.880
 I hope you've experienced

00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:49.519
 the joy that God

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.420
 desires to give you

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.340
 through the local body.

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:53.059
 I know many of us have.

00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:54.660
 This is our family.

00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.200
 We don't even know

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:55.720
 what we would do.

00:35:55.740 --> 00:35:56.119
 I don't even know

00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.640
 what I would do

00:35:56.640 --> 00:35:57.160
 without y'all,

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:57.920
 honestly.

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.519
 It's such a blessing

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.720
 that God has given us.

00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.619
 We're not to do this alone.

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:05.619
 We need each other.

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:08.640
 And encouraging one another

00:36:08.640 --> 00:36:09.539
 all the more.

00:36:09.660 --> 00:36:10.340
 You see the day

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:11.039
 drawing near.

00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:14.059
 There's urgency here.

00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.260
 Stir up one another.

00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:17.400
 So there's all these

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.720
 exhortations for

00:36:18.720 --> 00:36:19.520
 let us do this

00:36:19.520 --> 00:36:20.540
 and let us do that.

00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:23.460
 Circle those in your Bible.

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.460
 It's okay for you

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:25.100
 to write in your Bible.

00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:26.660
 All right.

00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:29.040
 If it's not,

00:36:29.100 --> 00:36:29.560
 I'm in trouble.

00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:30.640
 So,

00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:34.580
 with that in mind,

00:36:35.080 --> 00:36:36.060
 let's pray together.

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.500


00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.500


00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.500


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00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.500