Can you please explain Hebrews 10:22-23?
To answer your good question, let’s read Hebrews 4:14-16, “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. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” This portion establishes us for us the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is our high priest and we are exhorted to “come boldly unto the throne of grace…” the very place of God’s presence.
We then read in Hebrews 10:19-23, “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 promised;).” To approach the Lord used to be a fearsome thing, now it is our privilege to come before Him boldly confident in His finished work on Calvary where He died to completely pay our sin debt.
May we sit quietly in the Lord’s presence and meditate upon the blessed truth that “we are sanctified (made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10). Indeed, believers in the Lord Jesus are perfected and in the eyes of God, our standing is that of being sinless. (While this is our ‘standing’, our ‘state” may be quite different.) However, the Lord sees us in Christ and “(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). As we are encouraged to come into the “Holiest”, we do not go in alone, but we find Christ there who has done the work for us. He is there as our great high priest to welcome us and to tenderly minister to our needs.
With the realization that we are welcome to come into the very presence of God based on the finished work of His Son on the cross, we more fully realize that it is NOTHING of ourselves that has made us fit for God’s presence. I’m reminded of the words of the hymn, ROCK OF AGES: Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.
Now, we are given three important exhortations in Hebrews 10:
Verse 22 – 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.
Verse 23 – LET US HOLD FAST the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Verse 24 – And LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER to provoke unto love and to good works. (369.6)