Let us commence our service by
singing together hymn number 691. The tune is Childhood, 114. All outward means till God appears,
will ineffectual prove, though much the sinner sees and hears,
he cannot learn to love. Hymn 691. tune childhood 114. The Lamb of God, He is still,
Lord of Peace, Hail Him, effect of growth, ? Thou art a sinner,
Jesus is ? ? He cannot have too long ? ? And let us adore thee ? of the free and the home of the
brave. In the morn of Jesus' birth Peace of the world, He'll take
care of me, He will care for me, Though the weather may not
be so. Jesus, in thee thy fame entwine,
Reveal thy gracious love, And crown thy spirit, thy good
with brotherhood. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in Paul's epistle to the Hebrews, in chapter 10. Hebrews, chapter 10. For the law, having a shadow
of good things to come, and not the very image of the things,
can never, with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would
they not have ceased to be offered, because that the worshippers
once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But
in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins
every year. For it is not possible that the
blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when
he cometh into the world, he said, that's Christ, sacrifice
and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared
me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, though I come, in
the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will,
O God. Above, when he said, Sacrifice,
and offering, and burnt offering, and offering for sin, thou wouldst
not, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law.
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away
the first, that he may establish the second. By the witch will
we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can
never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered
one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of
God. from henceforth expect him till
his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected
forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is
a witness to us, for after that he hath said before, this is
the covenant I will make with them after those days, saith
the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their
minds will I write them, and their sins and iniquities will
I remember no more. Now where remission of these
is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the
veil, that is to say his flesh, and having an high priest over
the house of God. Let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he
is faithful that promise. Let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting
one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after
that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking-for
of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses. Of how much sore a punishment,
suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden underfoot
the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith
he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace. For we know him that hath said,
Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the
Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge
his people. It is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God. But called to remembrance
the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, endured
a great fight of afflictions, partly whilst you were made a
gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst
you became companions of them that were so used. For ye had
compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling
of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better
and an enduring substance. Cast not away, therefore, your
confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye
have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he
that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just
shall live by faith, But if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw
back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of
the soul. May the Lord bless the reading
of his precious word and grant to us a spirit of real prayer. Holy, holy, holy. Lord God Almighty,
which is an art, an art to come, we bow before thy glorious majesty. From everlasting to everlasting
thou art God. We come, Lord, as poor sinners
before thy great majesty in desire to confess our sins and our shortcomings
and pray to be washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ,
thine only begotten Son. We thank thee for those precious
words of grace. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's
Son, cleanseth us from all sin. Lord, may we feel its cleansing
power tonight as we gather around thy word. And may the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father and the
sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest and abide upon us. May we be led and taught and
guided and directed by the Spirit of God and may the word of truth
be opened and may we feel that sacred liberty that comes through
that divine work of the Spirit for where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty. We pray for that liberty tonight.
We pray for thy divine guidance in the way that we should go,
that thou hast come and opened the word of truth to our heart
and to our understanding. We pray for the sacred drawings
of our heavenly Father, drawing us unto his best beloved and
all-glorious Son, for none come, accept the Father draw. Oh to
feel those sweet drawings we do humbly beseech thee. Drawings
unto Jesus Christ. May it please the Blessed Spirit
to take of the things of Jesus and reveal them unto us. And
may we be favoured to touch the hem of his garment and to draw
from that sacred fullness that is in him. And we pray most gracious
Lord that There was a grant that the Lord Jesus Christ may be
exalted as a Prince and as a Saviour, for to give faith and repentance
and remission of sins. May there be signs that shall
follow the preaching of the Word, that the Word may be sealed into
our hearts by the Holy Ghost. We read in thy Word, whereby
ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. O that tonight we
may know that sealing time and the Spirit with his heavenly
unction and power will seal the word of truth, the word of thy
grace into our hearts. We pray that thou would remember
us as a church and congregation and that thou would work mightily,
powerfully and effectually among us. We pray that the light and
power and glory of the gospel may shine forth, and the strongholds
of Satan may be pulled down, and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus
may be set up in the hearts of sinners. Lord, let thy work appear
unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. We do humbly
beseech of thee. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that will fulfil those wonderful gospel promises among us here.
I will bring thy sons from far and thy daughters from the ends
of the earth and they shall come from the north and from the south
and from the east and from the west. Lord, let thy work appear. Let thy power be known. Cause
the prodigals to return and thy mighty and wonderful grace to
be seen in this. Oh, we do pray that most gracious
Lord for those that are as far from God as sheep can run, we
pray that the appointed time may roll on apace, not to propose
but call by grace to turn their feet to Zion's hymn. Oh, let
us see thy work. Let us see thy power. Let us
see thy glory. We do humbly beseech thee in
the gospel among us here, as a church and as a congregation,
in this village, in the surrounding villages and hamlets. Oh, may
the strongholds of Satan be pulled down and the kingdom of the Lord
Jesus set up in the hearts of sinners. We pray for our deacons
of grace and wisdom and help may be given them in all their
responsibilities. We pray for each one of our brethren
and sisters in church fellowship, that thou would graciously bless
us each and unite us together in thy holy fear, that we may
love each other, serve each other, and bear each other's burdens,
thereby fulfilling the law of Christ. And we pray, most gracious
law, that thou in thy precious mercy, would remember the little
ones and the children that come into the sanctuary on the Lord's
Day, and remember them with the favour that thou bearest unto
thy people, and visit them with thy great salvation. May the
fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, be found
in their hearts. We do humbly beseech thee. And,
O Lord, we do pray that thou would remember the young friends,
each one of them, bring them to living, vital, saving faith
in Jesus Christ, that they may become true followers of Thee
and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hear us, Lord, we humbly pray Thee for Thy great namesake. Lord, we do pray that Thou wouldst
be with them in all the paths of providence. Guide them and
direct them those that would seek a partner in life's journey,
we pray that thou wouldst hear their petitions and grant their
requests. O do hear us, Lord, we humbly
pray thee for thy great namesake. And O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst remember parents and give wisdom and grace to bring
up their children in the nurture and in the admonition of the
Lord, and that that thou would remember the families as they
gather for worship together. Do be gracious unto them and
do bless them. And O Lord God, we do pray that
thou would remember all in the midst of the journey of life,
that thou would grant them thy divine guidance. We pray to be
delivered from the temptations of Satan, from the power and
dominion of sin, Whether the enemy comes as a
roaring lion or whether he comes as an angel of light, we pray
to be delivered from his power and from his influence, we do
beseech thee. We think of that wonderful promise
and we plead it before thee. When the enemy comes in like
a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against
him. O Lord, we do pray. that thou
in thy precious mercy would remember those of us that are in the evening
time of life's journey. We pray to be prepared for that
great change which must come. And we pray that we may be kept
faithful to thee, that we may love thee and serve thee in our
day and in our generation. To hear us we pray. and grant,
O Lord, that thou wouldst remember all thy servants as they labour
in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion, up and down our
land, wherever thy servants stand, wherever thy people gather. We
pray that thou wouldst bless them and that thou wouldst grant
the outpouring of thy Spirit among them and that thou wouldst
grant a reviving, a renewing, a replenishing, a building up,
and establishment in the truth, we do humbly beseech them. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou would remember our nation, give wisdom to our leaders
and guidance and direction, and bless our king and the royal
household with that rich grace that is in Christ Jesus. And
Lord, we pray for truly thankful hearts, for all the tender mercies
of thy kind providence. We pray for all in affliction,
that thy restoring and renewing and upholding mercy may be known
and felt, thy healing mercy. Be Jehovah Rophi. I am the Lord
that healeth thee. And oh Lord, we do pray Let us fill our hearts with gratitude
for the wonderful glory of the incarnation of the Son of God when he was made of a woman and
made under the law that he might redeem them that are under the
law. We thank thee for that holy life
he lived as a man here upon earth and that glorious everlasting
robe of his righteousness. everlasting righteousness. Oh,
we do thank Thee for that glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ,
Jehovah Sidkenu, the Lord our righteousness. We do thank Thee
that Thou didst lay our sins upon Him. We thank Thee for the
love of our Eternal Father that He took our sins and He laid
them upon His Son. his holy spotless Son, so that
he suffered and bled and died for our sins, and rose again
for our justification, and is now bodily ascended into heaven. For such an high priest have
we, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Oh, we do thank thee for Jesus,
the Son of God. We thank thee for that holy sacrifice. We thank thee that he has made
a new and living way into the holy place. We thank thee that
we have a great high priest before the throne of love. Touched with the sympathy within,
he knows our feeble frame. He knows what sore temptations
mean, for he has felt the same. We thank thee also, Lord, that
he is coming again. This same Jesus shall come again
in like manner as ye have seen him go to heaven. And Lord, every
eye shall see him. We pray that we may be found
looking and hastening unto that great day of the Lord, ready
and prepared for that great change which shall come. Come and touch
one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar. Come
and breathe thy word into our hearts. We ask for Jesus Christ's
sake. Amen. Let us now Sing together hymn
number 119. The tune is continually 118. Great God, from thee there's
naught concealed. Thou seest my inward frame. To
thee I always stand revealed, exactly as I am. Hymn 119. tuned continually, 180. ? To thee, O God, we raise our
voices ? ? And chant to thee our prayers ? ? Tis of thee ? ? Enter with us,
O Heav'n ? ? Tis of thee, O Heav'n ? ? Enter with us, O Heav'n ?
? Tis of thee, O Heav'n ? ? Enter with us, O Heav'n ? The man in
the shining veil turns to the altar. ? This is my spirit's earthly dwelling
? ? In coven's darkened world ? ? This day is still a-gracing
? O come, O come, O come, O come
to Bethlehem. O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? ? And it shall be a day ? ? When
the sun will be shining ? ? The great day is over ? ? No one
lives ? ? And it shall be a sign ? greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help. I would direct your attention
to the chapter that we read together, the 10th chapter of Paul's epistle
to the Hebrews. And we will read verse 19, 20 and 21 for our text. Hebrews chapter 10, verses 19
to 21. having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say his flesh, and having an high priest over
the house of God. Let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. In the epistle to the Hebrews,
the apostle very much looks at the Levitical dispensation because
the people to whom he was writing, the Hebrews, that is the Jews
in the early church, they were very familiar and well acquainted
with the types and shadows of the old dispensation and the
sacrifices and offerings. The Hebrews had particular trials
perplexities, sorrows. They were cut off from their
families by the unbelieving Jews, by their own brothers and sisters,
by their own mothers and fathers because they followed the despised
Nazarene, our Lord Jesus Christ. And one of the purposes and what
we might say one of the watchwords of the epistle to the Hebrews
It is stand fast, hold fast. There were many of them that
were ready to give up. They were ready to turn back
because of the great sufferings they had from their own flesh
and from the Jews in general. It was considered a terrible
thing. It was considered a great apostasy to follow Jesus Christ,
the Eternal Son of the Father. But the way that the Apostle
approaches this is to set before the Hebrews the wonderful glory
of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the opening of the first chapter
he says, God who at sundry times And in divers manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last
days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of
all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who be in the brightness
of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding
all things by the word of his power. when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high. See how immediately in the pursuance
of his end to encourage them to continue in the faith, he
sets before them the glorious object of faith. Jesus, the Son
of God, the brightness of his glory, the express image of his
person, the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ. And here
he gives this exhortation, having therefore brethren boldness. In the fourth chapter, the apostle
there encouraging them to continue to look to the Lord and to cast
their care upon the Lord. The last three verses of chapter
four, he says, seeing then that we have a great high priest that
is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast
our profession. This is his constant theme, holding
fast our profession. For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched, the feeling of our infirmities, but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. You think of the temptations
that we endure and the Lord's people endure in this wilderness
journey. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God
manifest in the flesh, He's touched with the feeling
of our infirmities. And He was in all points. Do
you think of that? Think of the way that you may
have been tempted. The Lord Jesus was tempted in
all points like as we are. Yet, without sin. Let us therefore come boldly. Again, this same truth. Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need to come boldly
to the throne of grace. Jesus sits on the throne of grace. A great high priest who is passed
into the heavens sits on the throne of grace and he invites
poor sins to come to the throne of grace, and to plead his precious
merits at the throne of grace. It's sinners can say, and none
but they, how precious is the Saviour. The Lord Jesus said, the whole
need not a physician, but they that are sick. a person that is whole in themselves
does not need a saviour, does not need a saviour. You know
the apostle Paul when he writes in the epistle to the Romans
and speaking to the Jews that of their ignorance, their ignorance, They were trusting to their own
righteousness, but they were ignorant of the righteousness
of God in Jesus Christ. But what a solemn place to be
found, isn't it? To be ignorant of God's righteousness
and to be trusting to our own righteousness. It is a very solemn
thing to be found ignorant. Ignorant of the truth. Ignorant
of our sinfulness. Ignorant of our unholiness. Ignorant
of our unrighteousness. And ignorant of the righteousness
of God in Jesus Christ. The great thing with the Pharisees
was They trusted to their own righteousness, self-righteousness. They were ignorant of God's righteousness. But when the Holy Spirit grants
His inward teaching and power in the heart, His quickening
grace, brings a poor sinner from spiritual death into spiritual
life, He begins to enlighten that soul in a living, vital
way. The Psalmist says we see light
in thy light and it's as the Holy Spirit works in the heart
that we see light. We have light then to see our
lost condition. We begin to feel our need of
salvation. We begin to feel our need of
light. Why? Because when the Holy Spirit
reveals your darkness, there's a solemn Word from our Lord Jesus
Christ. If that light which is in you
be darkness, how great is that darkness? It's a solemn thought,
isn't it? How great is that darkness? If, like we spoke last Lord's
Day of walking in sparks of your own kindling. It's a solemn thing to be left
to do that. It's a solemn thing to be brought
to realise our emptiness, our poverty,
our law-breaking, our unholiness. But it's an even more solemn
thing. As we spoke at the prayer meeting, many shall say unto
me in that day, Lord, Lord, open to us. And I will say, depart
from me, I never knew you. You see, to be ignorant, spiritually
ignorant, is a very solemn thing. And those that come down to the
end, they may feel that they're Christians, they may feel that
they're followers of Jesus Christ, they may have been to church
or chapel the whole of their lives. But they're ignorant. of the
vital truths of the everlasting gospel, ignorant of their need
as a sinner before a holy God. And it's only as the Holy Spirit
enters the heart, quickens the soul, that we begin to feel our
need of these things. We begin to feel our sinnership,
our emptiness, our poverty. The Lord Jesus said, blessed
are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be
filled. And that's the work of the Spirit
in the heart, to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Because the reason being, you
can't find any righteousness in yourself. So you hunger and thirst after
righteousness. And you know that that righteousness
is not found within yourself. See, it says in the previous
verses, in verse 16, this is the covenant
I will make with them after those days, that this is the covenant
of grace in the New Testament, saith the Lord. I will put my
laws into their hearts. and in their minds will I write
them. The apostle says in the Corinthians, written not with
pen and ink, but by the finger of the living God on the fleshy
tables of the heart. The word of God written by the
finger of, of course he's using an illustration there from God
writing the Ten Commandments on the two tablets of stone. and the distinction he's making
is that in the gospel the Lord by his spirit writes the law
of God in our hearts. I will put my laws into their
hearts and in their minds will I write them. Indelibly impressed there. Having therefore brethren boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, central to
all this. If you look at verse 12, but
this man, that is Jesus Christ, the holy God man, but this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on
the right hand of God. But this man, this glorious holy
God man, the man Christ Jesus, There was only ever the need
of this one sacrifice. All those millions of sacrifices
of the Old Testament under the Levitical dispensation, right
and proper as they were in their place, none of them, none of
them could take away sins. They were typical, they were
pointing to Christ. Typical sacrifices in the beginning
of this chapter. He says, for the law having a
shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the
things can never, with those sacrifices which they offered
year by year continually, make the comers there unto perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered, because
that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience
of sins. But in those sacrifice there
is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not
possible. I'm sure there were many Jews
that thought it was possible. Hence the apostle here makes
this most emphatic statement. For it is not possible that the
blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. It's not possible. There was a remembrance of it
every year, year by year. Ceremonially, when the high priest
laid his hands on the sacrifice, he transferred, in a ceremonial
way, the sin of Israel onto the sacrifice, and then the sacrifice
was slain. He laid his hands on the head
of the sacrifice. in a ceremonial way he transferred
the sin of Israel onto the sacrifice and then it was offered as a
sacrifice unto God. But he says here, for it is not
possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away
sins. But then as he goes through here,
in this chapter he says concerning the will of God concerning our
Lord Jesus Christ, verse 10, he says, by the witch will, we
are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all. That's a reoccurring theme in
the epistle to the Hebrews, once for all. There's only ever the
need of this one sacrifice. At the latter end of chapter
nine, he says, So Christ was once offered to bear the sins
of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second
time without sin unto salvation. Without sin. Justified. Our sins and our iniquities
are laid on Christ if we are truly a child of God. So when he comes again it's without
sin. their sins and their iniquities
will I remember no more. And every priest standing daily,
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can
never take away sins, but this man, how beautifully he points
us to the Son of God manifest in the flesh, but this man, He
points us to his sacrifice on Calvary. He points us to his
precious blood that he shared on Calvary's trip. But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on
the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be
made his footstool. For by one offering, He hath
perfected forever them that are sanctified. Perfected forever
in that glorious sacrifice, in that precious shed blood. And in this quotation from the
Old Testament, he says in verse 16, this is the covenant that
I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will
put my laws into their heart and in their minds will I write
them. and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Where these are not remembered
anymore, that sinner is justified. That sinner is declared to be
without sin. Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why? He took our sins and he nailed
them to his cross. He suffered in our ruined place
instead on the cross of Calvary. Therefore, it's like the scapegoat
taken by the hand of a fit man on that day of atonement. One goat was taken and it was
sacrificed on the altar and its blood was sprinkled seven times
before the golden mercy seat. That's a beautiful picture of
the sacrifice of Christ and of the blood of Christ. And the
Lord said, there will I meet with thee. Where? From off the
golden mercy seat, through that precious blood of sprinkling,
which typified the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, that cleanseth
us from all sin. Their sins and their iniquities
will I remember no more. No more. They've been put away. Divine
justice has been satisfied. That precious holy blood of Jesus
Christ has been shed. And there is a new and living
way that has been made. Having therefore, brethren, boldness. This is the boldness of faith.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness. to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus. That precious, sinatoning blood. In the ninth chapter, the apostle,
in the first 10 verses, he speaks of the Levitical worship, et
cetera. And then in verse 11, he says,
but Christ. He speaks of all those things
that they did in the Levitical dispensation under the law and
he says in verse 8 there the Holy Ghost this signifying that
the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while
as the first tabernacle was yet standing but Christ being come and high
priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle. What he's speaking of there is
the sacred, holy human nature that the Son of God assumed in
the womb of the Virgin Mary. A tabernacle in scripture is
a dwelling place. And the Son of God assumed human
nature and dwelt here below. And the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us. as where that word dwelt is translated
tabernacled and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth. But Christ, being come an high
priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, You know, when the Son of God
assumed that human nature that was conceived in the womb of
the Virgin Mary, and no sooner had the Holy Ghost overshadowed,
the Son of God assumed that human nature. It never, ever had any
separate existence to the Son of God. And that union that was
made in the womb of the Virgin is an eternal union, never to
be dissolved. And it was in that sacred mystery
of godliness of God manifest in the flesh that God and sinners
are reconciled. You know, in the second chapter
of the Hebrews and the Apostle, he speaks there of the incarnation
of the Son of God. He speaks of man. He quotes to
us from Psalm 8. and a man being a little lower
than the angels. And then he says, verse nine,
but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels
for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor,
that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. And he goes on in verse 14, for
as much then as the children, that's the election of grace, for as much as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part of the same that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death that is the devil and deliver them who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage
for verily he took not on him the nature of angels but he took
on him the seed of abraham wherefore in all things it behoved him
to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people, for in that he himself hath suffered
being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. What precious truths have in
therefore brethren boldness, to enter into the holiest, into
the presence of God, into the holiest. Again, he's using the
illustration of the high priest going into the tabernacle, into
the inner sanctuary, the holiest of all, where the Lord had said
that he would dwell above the mercy seat, and he would speak
unto the high priest from before the mercy seat. But he's saying here, all believers,
no longer was there a veil there. All believers, not just the high
priest standing in the presence of God, but all believers in
the New Testament having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into
the holiest by the blood of Jesus. by a new and living way, which
he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his
flesh. And having a high priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. That's the renewing of the Holy
Ghost. In Titus he calls it the washing
of regeneration. How vital is the work of the
Holy Ghost in sanctifying our flesh. It's by Him dwelling in
our hearts that our flesh is sanctified by the wonderful graces
of the being given by the Holy Ghost, faith in Jesus Christ,
faith in his precious blood, faith in his glorious righteousness,
faith in those perfections of Jesus, faith in the holiness
of Jesus. Having therefore brethren boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. When I was
searching for a text this morning. I sat reading and eventually
I was reading in the 10th chapter of the Hebrews and I couldn't
seem to get anything. I went to make myself a cup of
tea. And as I was making the cup of
tea, these words seemed to just drop with such a sweetness. And
I thought, I'm sure they're in the 10th of Hebrews. Having therefore
brethren, just this verse that dropped on my spirit. having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter in, into the holiest
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way. The old way,
it was only the priests that could go into the holiest, but
the new way, the believer goes into the holiest by a new and
living way which he, that is Christ, hath consecrated for
us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. The Son of
God, manifest in the flesh, has made a new and living way into
the holy place. The Son of God, in the flesh,
has fulfilled God's holy righteous law and brought in everlasting
righteousness. A new and living way. no more types and shadows, but
now the blessed reality of God manifest in the flesh. The blessed reality of a new
and living way into the holy place, consecrated for us. Jesus said,
didn't he, in John chapter 14, I am the way, the truth, and
the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me, but by
me. You know this new and living
way, doesn't the Apostle so beautifully open it to us in the second of
Corinthians in chapter 5 and he says there in verse 17, therefore
if Any man being Christ, he is a
new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given
to us the ministry of reconciliation, to wit that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors
for Christ. As though God did beseech you
by us, we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin. See the wonderful glorious truth
that Christ knew no sin, who did no sin. That's how he fulfilled
the law, he did no sin. That we might be made the righteousness
of God in him. What an exchange, isn't it? Our
sins were made his and his righteousness is made ours. Our disobedience
was laid upon him. His obedience is laid upon us
in that doctrine of imputation. The Apostle, he speaks of it
so beautifully in the epistle to the Romans, that doctrine
of imputation, how that the Heavenly Father laid upon him the iniquity
of us all. And we read in Romans chapter
four, about Abraham and his faith, and how that he was fully persuaded
in verse 21, being fully persuaded that what he had promised, what
God had promised, he was able also to perform. Now that faith
of Abraham, through that faith, in Jesus Christ, he received
the righteousness of God by faith. Therefore it was imputed to him
for righteousness." Abraham's faith in Jesus Christ. And it's
the same today. A sinner, the righteousness of
Christ is imputed to a poor sinner when they believe in Jesus Christ.
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed
to him, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe
on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered
for our offences and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access.
It's the same truth. We have access by whom also We
have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God. Rejoice in hope of the glory
of God. And it goes on to speak of hope.
Verse five of chapter five in the Romans, hope make it not
ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet
without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure
for a good man, some would even dare to die. But God commendeth
his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, much more
than. being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through him, through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say his flesh, and having an high priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. And then in
the verses 23, 24 and 25, we have a word of exhortation. He
says, Verse 23, let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful
that promised. And then in verse 24, and let
us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. And then in verse 25, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together. these exhortations unto the Lord's
people to walk in the precepts of the gospel, to follow the
Lord Jesus Christ. And he speaks here very solemnly. If we sin willfully, verse 26,
if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a
certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.
And he points out how much higher the law of grace is to the law
of the Ten Commandments. He says in verse 28, He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment,
suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden underfoot
the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith
he was sanctified an unholy thing, as hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace. He's saying to transgress against
the love and mercy and grace of God in Christ is far worse
than transgressing the holy law of God. For we know him that
hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompense, saith
the Lord, And again, the Lord shall judge his people. But then
we have the word of exhortation, verse 32, but call to remembrance
the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured
a great fight of afflictions, partly whilst ye were made gazing-stocks,
both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst ye became companions
of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in
my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of my goods, knowing
in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and a more enduring
substance. Cast not away therefore your
confidence, thus the confidence of faith, which hath great recompense
of reward. If ye have need of patience,
that after ye have done the will of God, you might receive the
promise. See the just, he says here, now
the just shall live by faith. But if anyone drawback, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that drawback unto petition, but of them that
believe unto the saving of the soul. Abraham hoped against hope,
he did. And the Lord delivered him when
it looked impossible that he could be delivered. But the Lord
delivered him. Oh, the exhortations here then,
my beloved friends, it's for us to press on, to lay aside
every weight and the sin that does so easily be settled and
to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus. The only way you'll run this
race, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame thereof, and is now set down at the right
hand of the majesty on high. Having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the
veil, that is to say his flesh. And having an high priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. May the Lord
add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
1156. The tune is Belmont 101. What
sacred fountain yonder springs, up from the throne of God, and
all new covenant blessings brings, tis Jesus' precious blood, hymn
1156, tune Belmont 101. ? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, ? O night divine, O night divine, When I have gone
and stood, and has my soul left in the snow, ? Is heated ? ? When art moves
on ? ? All sweetness and pain ? ? Sweeps
away ? ? My sins ? ? Lord, that's how the guilty man
is made, ? ? Since he pleases the righteous crowd. ? O God, who takes away the sins
of the world, who takes away the sins of the world, O natural beauty vanishing! Tis Jesus, the precious blood. ? Bright stars on the perilous
fight ? ? O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? ? And makes all heav'n to play
with joy, Tis' Jesus Christ. Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each, both now
and for evermore. Amen.