Questions for Littles: Where do we have boldness to enter (v19)? By what do we have this boldness? What kind of way has Jesus consecrated for us to enter (20a)? What is the way through the veil (20b)? What do we have over the house of God (v21)? With what kind of heart may we draw near (22a)? From what were our hearts sprinkled, to be prepared for this (22b)? What also was washed to show this reality (22c)?In this week’s sermon text, we receive a call to action: “let us draw near!” We can see at the beginning of our passage the great obstacle to drawing near to God: timidity about entering the Holy of Holies. Nearness to God is nearness to the Creator, the Almighty, the Holy One.
Scripture tells us that He dwells in unapproachable light (1Timothy 6:16), that His eyes are too holy to look upon evil (Habakkuk 1:13), and that even seraphim who are living flame creatures hide their faces before Him (Isaiah 6:1-5).
Oh, dear reader, can you who are mere dust, and sinful dust at that, really draw near to the Living, Almighty God?!
Here is the glorious testimony of our passage: we have encouragement to do so from the very path that has been opened for us.
What is our pathway beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies? The flesh of Jesus Christ. Not dead flesh but resurrected, living flesh. A new and living way. His flesh is the very evidence that He is there not so much on God’s behalf; but, by God’s appointment, Jesus is there on our behalf as our High Priest.
And, as we have heard, He entered not with the blood of a bull or goat, but by His own precious blood. From there, He offers us to feed upon His flesh by faith. From there, He offers us to drink the cup of the new covenant in His blood. From there, He announces our welcome in Heaven.
We are joined to Jesus forever by faith. We are seated with Him in the heavenly places!
But, how do we walk upon this pathway? Feeding upon Him is not with the mouth of flesh, but faith is the mouth that feeds upon Christ. So, also, faith is the feet by which we enter through the veil. Our passage says that this drawing near is “with a true heart” and explains this further as being “in full assurance of faith.”
So, I may draw near to God upon the pathway that is Jesus Himself, and the manner of walking on this pathway is with “a true heart.” How do I get this true heart? Our Scripture answers this too: by its being “sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with cleansing water.” That is to say: the sprinkled, true heart is the one that has believed what God proclaims in the sign of baptism… that everyone who believes in Jesus shall surely be saved.
When we come in this certainty alone, we come in a true heart. So, let us draw near to God!
Have you been baptized? What does Jesus announce in that baptism? Do you believe it?Suggested Songs: ARP189 “Universal Praise” or HB24 “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
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