Living With Sins Forgiven

Yesterday we saw how the Holy Spirit brings us assurance of forgiveness. “Therefore” (19) indicates that the exhortations which follow are the logical consequences of having received that assurance of sins forgiven. The “new and living way” (20) into the Most Holy Place is the person of Jesus Christ himself. That way is now open, so we are urged to “enter” and “draw near to God” (22) through him. These verses encourage us to embrace bold and confident Christian living, but among all the encouraging words are just a few warnings. Under the old covenant, problems arose when worshippers with insincere hearts reduced worship of the living God to empty ritual, so we are warned not to fall into the same trap. We are to draw near with a “sincere heart” (22) and to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (23). Assurance of forgiveness does not mean we can become complacent about sin or the dangers of backsliding into compromise or apathy.

As you read these verses, note the repeated plurals “we” and “us” and remember that the Christian life is a corporate one, not an individualistic one. Note also that all these instructions beginning with “let us…” are given in the light of “the Day approaching” (25), which is the day of Christ’s second coming to judge all people. Then, ask yourself some or all of the following questions: How confident am I in prayer? What is my church’s prayer life like? Do we love to “draw near”? How “unswerving” (23) are we in holding on to our Christian faith and hope? How effective are we at spurring others on towards love and good deeds? Are some of us tempted to forgo “meeting together” (25) in favor of other activities? How may we best encourage one another? How keenly are we watching for the approaching day of the Lord?

Write down your answers to the questions in the second half of the above paragraph, then pray them.