Before & After

    “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed into

             the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession.”

                                                                                      Hebrews 4:14  21st KJV

            What was once a fearful place to enter into, God now tells us to

boldly enter in.  What made the difference?

Read:  Hebrews 10:1-25

I. Holy Of Holies 

*  it was a Holy and fearful place to be, even for the High Priest

            Exodus 30:19-21  that ye should not die

*  the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies once a year to

      represent the people and their sins before God-  got in / got out

*  this is the very place God calls us to now, to come with confidence

            Mark 15:37,38  it is now possible to enter in

*  with confidence that the sinless blood of Jesus opens the way

            Ephesians 2:13,14  once estranged - now open access

            Hebrews 9:6-14  Christ came as THE High Priest

*  now, we can stand in the presence of God in His righteousness

*  the blood of bulls and goats was merely a covering for sin

II.  God’s Presence

*  what made the difference?

            Hebrews 9:24-28  Christ was offered up to bear our sins

*  the duties of the High Priest were a type of, a shadow to come

*  worshippers of the O.T. could not have confidence, they had fear

*  but now, we are told that we can have this confidence to enter

*  we are told to enter in and draw near to Him-  not depart quickly

III. This Is What God Wants Us To Know 

*  have confidence in the blood sacrifice of the perfect lamb of God

*  let us enter in with the full assurance of faith, Jesus Christ, God’s

     perfect lamb, has paid the price; not just covered over our sin

*  v.22  so, assuming that confidence, he exhorts to to “draw near”

*  v.23  we can have full communion and profession of our faith

*  we are invited to draw near to the presence of the Almighty God

*  having done so, we can be spiritually prepared and have the

      strength to meet the challenges of the world on a daily basis