Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Hebrews 10:19-39 - Confidence in Christ

 

Hebrews 10:19-39 - Confidence in Christ

We have spent a lot of time understanding Jesus is the new high priest, and Jesus is THE way. Realizing Jesus is the best, the greatest, the central theme, and the way to God. Jesus makes the old covenant obsolete and outdated. Because of Jesus, we read Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

Because of Jesus, we now have direct access to God, and the author of Hebrews gives us some clarity of what to do with that direct access.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:19-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Think for a moment the radical shift with these verses. The fear and timid living the Jewish people of the day would of felt approaching the temple. A significant fear of God, an old covenant built on sacrifice, death, and a structure of unattainable rules. Here we are encouraged that we stand fast and full of confidence to enter this Holy Place. No need for fear, there is no place for uncertainty, doubt, or concern. We have complete trust in Jesus! Confidence in Jesus. 

Check this out; let us draw near to God with a sincere heart... Love draws and pulls us in. The loving message of Jesus, a God who is love, is pursuing us and desiring a relationship with us. There is no judgment, no shame, or guilt we are carrying that separates the relationship. We are told to draw near to God! The sin is removed and wiped clean so that we can enter the presence of God with a sincere heart. 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the NIV, this section is titled A Call to Persevere in Faith. This is essential, and here we read, let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess... I like how the TPT translation says it. 

“So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Such a beautiful word picture! Wrap our hearts tightly around the hope that is already in us. That hope is a is alive and tangible, and we can rest assured that God always keeps his promises.  What is the key promise?

“Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love visualizing and seeing images in my mind when I am thinking. One that I love to visualize is while I am praying, while I am visualizing coming before God with confession, and with a repentant prayer...I visualize God hearing me with a loving embrace and then responding to me with, Son, I do not know what you are talking about...I see no sin and do not recall this event you are referring too. Our sins are no longer remembered. 

Finally, community and support as a unit as a body of Christ. 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Spur one another on toward love and good deeds...meeting together...encouraging one another! This is the body of Christ. This is the church, not a building, not this thing we go to, and it is a community that loves, that does good deeds, that lives in harmony and unity together. This unity is not uniformity. This community is diverse, this community is widely different, just like the parts on our body. We are called to love and go good deeds, and spurring others on with encouraging words. 

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:35-36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So no matter what you are walking through, do not throw away your confidence! As we step into our day today, we must persevere... Let’s win the day. Let’s focus on doing the will of God so that we will receive what God has promised. 

Our confidence is in Christ alone! Walk with your head up, and with pure confidence today. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch