Drawing Near to God

TEXTHeb. 10:22

INTRODUCTION:

A.      DRAWING NEAR - GETTING CLOSE TO GOD.

          1.       Not buddy buddy.  Reverence must be maintained( Heb. 12:28-29 ).

          2.       In reliance and for protection.  An intimacy of relationship.

B.      UPON WHAT DOES THIS ADMONITION REST?( 10:19-21 ).

C.      HOW DO WE APPROACH GOD?

I.      WITH A TRUE HEART.

A.      JESUS CRITICISM OF THE JEWS( Matt. 15:8-9 ).

B.      GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS( Rev. 2:2-4 ).

C.      JESUS TAKES US BEYOND MERE CEREMONY( John 4:19-24 ).

II.     IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.

A.      WE LIVE IN FAITH( Gal. 2:20;  Heb. 11:6 )

          1.       Faith in his power( 2 Cor. 4:13-14 )..

          2.       Faith in his motive( Rom. 5:8 ).

          3.       Faith in his honesty( Rom. 3:3-4 )

B.      GOD HAS PROVEN HIMSELF( 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).

C.      SO( Heb. 11:1;  2 Tim. 1:12 ).

III.    OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE.

A.      GOES BACK TO THE OLD LAW ( Lev. 16:3-15 ).

          1.       Aaron was to make atonement for the people by offering sacrifices.

          2.       The blood of the sacrifice was to be sprinkled on the mercy seat( Heb. 9:13 )

B.      A FIGURE FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT

          1.       The sprinkling of Jesus' blood mediates a new covenant( Heb 12:24 ).

          2.       Our redemption through the offering of his blood( 1 Pet. 1:2 ).

          3.       Sin is forgiven and the conscience is clean( Heb. 10:22 ).

IV.   OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER.

A.      OUR RESPONSE TO THE SACRIFICE.  GOES BACK TO THE OLD LAW

B.      IT IS IN WASHING WE ARE REGENERATED, BORN AGAIN( Titus 3:5 ).

C.      WITH WHAT ARE WE WASHED?( Eph. 5:26Heb. 10:22 ).

D.      AN OBVIOUS REFERENCE TO BAPTISM( Acts 22:16; 8:36-38 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BAPTIZED YOU ARE NOT CLEAN.

B.      THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED SHOULD APPRECIATE THE WORK

          OF JESUS AND DRAW NEAR TO GOD.