“LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD”

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Introduction:
  I. Last week we noticed two things that Christians need 
     to have in their lives.  The second all Christians 
     have, but not so with the first.
 II. “Boldness toward God” – We noticed that this is 
     conditional (1 John 3:21-22).  Our heart does condemn 
     us not, if we are keeping His commandments.
III. “A great priest” – Jesus Christ is our high priest 
     setting at the right hand of God.
 IV. Having these two things, the writer says let us:
     A. Draw near to God.
     B. Hold fast the profession of our faith.
     C. Consider one another.
  V. Today, we will be looking at the first one of these: 
     “drawing near to God.”

Body:
  I. “Let us draw near”
     A. This is a command that is found in other places in 
        the New Testament.
        1. James 4:8
        2. Hebrews 4:16; 7:18-19, 25.
     B. Here we have the approach of man to God.
        1. We are to draw near to God in prayer and praise; 
           in every act of confidence and of worship.
        2. We are to do this:
 

 II. “With a true heart”
     A. Our hearts must not be like the:
        1. The Jews of Jesus’ time:
           a. Matthew 13:10-15.
           b. Matthew 11:25.
        2. The Jews and Greeks of Paul’s day.  1 
           Corinthians 1:21-23
     B. Our hearts are to be free from all guile, deceit, 
        and hypocrisy.  Instead, it should be open, honest, 
        and sincere.  Because, just as there is nothing in 
        Christ but truth; so we must make our lives 
        correspond with His.

III. “In full assurance of faith”
     A. The writer states the same thing in Hebrews 6:11-
        12; and he states the opposite of “fullness of 
        faith” in Hebrews 10:39 (draw back).
     B. That is, with a faith that dispels all doubt with 
        regard to god and his promises; a faith which
        enables us to take God at His word and to do just 
        what He commands.  (Gospel Advocate Commentary, p. 
        28)
     C. Let us look at some examples in Hebrews 11.
        1. Hebrews 11:8-10.
        2. Hebrews 11:11.
        3. Hebrews 11:17-19.

 IV. “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience”
     A. An evil conscience is a consciousness of evil, or a 
        conscience oppressed with sin; that is, a 
        conscience that accuses of guilt.
     B. Having been Believe + Repent + Confess + Baptize, 
        our heart is sprinkled with the blood of Christ.
        1. Hebrews 12:22-24.
        2. 1 Peter 1:2.
        3. 1 Peter 3:21 “answer” example of which Acts 2:36
           -38.
        4. 1 John 1:7.

  V. “Having our bodies washed with pure water”
     A. Wash
        1. Titus 3:5
        2. Ephesians 5:26
        3. Acts 22:16
     B. Pure water – Numbers 19:1-19

Conclusion:
 I. We have seen that because we have “boldness toward God
    and “a great High Priest”.
II. Let us draw near to God:
    A. With a true (open, honest, sincere) heart.
    B. Having a cleansed conscience by the blood of Christ.
    C. Because we have had our sins washed away by the pure 
       Waters of baptism.