A New and Living Way: Access to God Through Christ

Introduction

"The moment you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says 'All Things become new.'" Throughout Scripture, we find 30 distinct transformations that occur at the moment of salvation. This document explores the twenty-sixth of these transformations: entering into a new and living way.

The Context: The Superiority of Christ

The book of Hebrews was written to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ over all aspects of the Jewish religious system. Specifically, it shows Christ's superiority to:

1. Moses: While Moses was God's spokesman and the mediator of the Law, Jesus is superior as the Son of God and mediator of a better covenant

2. Angels: While some were tempted to worship angels, Christ is shown to be infinitely superior as the eternal Son who is worthy of worship

3. The Levitical priesthood: While the priests offered continual sacrifices, Jesus is the Great High Priest who offered Himself once for all

4. Animal sacrifices: While bulls and goats could never take away sin, Jesus' sacrifice perfectly cleanses the conscience

The author also warns believers not to miss entering God's rest through unbelief, as the Israelites did in the wilderness (Hebrews 3-4). Having thoroughly established Christ's superiority, the passage then focuses on the practical implications for believers.

The New and Living Way

Hebrews 10:19-25

"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

This rich passage introduces the concept of a "new and living way" and then provides three practical exhortations for believers who have entered this way.

The Meaning of "New and Living Way"

The phrase "new and living way" (Greek: hodon prosphaton kai zōsan) is rich with meaning:

1. New (prosphaton): This word literally means "freshly slain" or "recently killed," creating a vivid connection to Christ's sacrifice. This way is new not merely in a chronological sense but in its revolutionary nature.

2. Living (zōsan): Unlike the old way, which involved dead animal sacrifices, this way is alive and life-giving. It is dynamic and powerful rather than static and ceremonial.

3. Way (hodon): This term indicates a path or means of access. Jesus Himself claimed to be "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

This new and living way has been "inaugurated" through Christ's flesh, represented by the temple veil. When Jesus died, "the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing that access to God's presence was now available to all believers.

The Temple Veil: A Barrier Removed

In the Jerusalem temple, a series of barriers restricted access to God's presence:

1. The Court of the Gentiles: The outermost area where non-Jews could go

2. The Court of Women: Where Jewish women could go but no further

3. The Court of Israel: Where Jewish men could go

4. The Priest's Court: Where only Levites and priests could enter

5. The Holy Place: Where only priests could go to perform specific duties

6. The Holy of Holies: Where only the high priest could enter once a year with blood

The Holy of Holies, representing God's presence, was separated from the Holy Place by a thick veil. This veil symbolized the separation between God and humanity due to sin. When this veil was torn at Christ's death, it dramatically illustrated that the barrier between God and mankind had been removed through Christ's sacrifice.

Three Exhortations for the New Way

The passage provides three practical applications for those who have entered this new and living way, each introduced by the phrase "let us":

1. "Let Us Draw Near" (v.22)

The first exhortation is to approach God with confidence. This approach requires:

• A sincere heart: Genuine, undivided devotion

• Full assurance of faith: Complete confidence in Christ's work

• Hearts sprinkled clean: An inner cleansing from sin

• Bodies washed with pure water: Possibly referring to baptism or the cleansing work of the Word

The emphasis is on the privilege of intimate access to God—something that was previously reserved for the high priest alone. Now, because of Christ's work, all believers can enter God's presence with confidence.

2. "Let Us Hold Fast" (v.23)

The second exhortation is to maintain unwavering commitment to our hope in Christ:

• The confession of our hope: The content of our faith and the promises we trust

• Without wavering: Steadfast, without doubting

• For He who promised is faithful: Our confidence is based on God's faithfulness, not our own

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but confident expectation based on God's promises. The author urges believers to maintain this hope, especially in the face of trials or opposition. Our hope remains firm because it is anchored in God's faithfulness rather than changing circumstances.

3. "Let Us Consider One Another" (vv.24-25)

The third exhortation focuses on our responsibility to the community of believers:

• Stimulate one another to love and good deeds: Actively encourage spiritual growth in others

• Not forsaking our own assembling together: Maintain commitment to gathering with other believers

• Encouraging one another: Provide mutual support and exhortation

• All the more as you see the day drawing near: Increase these efforts as Christ's return approaches

This communal aspect of the Christian life is essential. The term "forsaking" carries the strong meaning of abandoning something or someone for which you have responsibility. It means "to withdraw protection or support or care or help; to leave someone you're responsible to without intention of returning."

Images of the Church

The New Testament uses several powerful images to describe the church:

1. Family

Believers are described as sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters to one another. This familial imagery emphasizes the relational aspect of the church and the importance of gathering together as a spiritual family.

2. Body

Ephesians 4 portrays the church as the Body of Christ, with each member playing a vital role. The leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) equip believers for ministry, but every member contributes to the body's growth. As Ephesians 4:16 states, the body "builds itself up in love" as "each part does its work."

3. Building

The church is also described as a spiritual building with Christ as the cornerstone. Each local congregation forms part of this larger edifice that God is constructing for His glory.

Faith, Hope, and Love

It is significant that the three exhortations in Hebrews 10:19-25 align with the three great Christian virtues mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13:

1. "Let us draw near" (v.22) corresponds to faith (approaching God with full assurance of faith)

2. "Let us hold fast" (v.23) corresponds to hope (maintaining the confession of our hope)

3. "Let us consider one another" (vv.24-25) corresponds to love (stimulating one another to love and good deeds)

This triad of virtues—faith, hope, and love—forms the foundation of Christian living within the new and living way that Christ has established.

Conclusion

When we accept Christ, we enter into a new and living way—a revolutionary approach to God made possible through Christ's sacrifice. The barrier between God and humanity, symbolized by the temple veil, has been torn away through Christ's flesh, giving all believers direct access to God's presence.

This new way is characterized by:

• Confidence to enter God's presence

• A relationship with God based on Christ's perfect sacrifice

• Freedom from the limitations of the old covenant system

• Ongoing life and power rather than dead ritual

As participants in this new and living way, we are called to draw near to God with sincere hearts, hold fast to our hope without wavering, and actively participate in the community of believers for mutual encouragement and growth.

This transformation fundamentally changes how we relate to God, moving us from distance and fear to intimacy and confidence—from occasional, mediated access to constant, direct communion with our Creator.