Worship – Hebrews chapter 10, verses 1 to 22
What makes worship possible?
How do we know if worship has happened?
- Drawing Near: Drawing near to God is the essence of worship. But how?
- “let us draw near to God” – verse 22
- The Old Way: The thick curtain of the old Temple stopped people from approaching God who is Holy. The daily sacrifices were only a shadow of something to come – something better.
- “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” verses 1-4
- The New Way:
- A better temple (Jesus) with a torn apart curtain
- A better high priest (Jesus)
- A better sacrifice (Jesus) – it never needs repeating
- “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” verses19-22
So, what makes worship possible? – Jesus the Christ does, who said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
How do we know if worship has happened? By faith, not by sight – “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings”