Gospel-Centered Encouragement: Embracing Our Forgiveness in Christ
The Big Idea: We must build our mutual encouragement upon the gospel encouragement we already have in Christ.
In Hebrews 13:22, the author summarizes his entire letter by describing it as a word of encouragement. Not surprisingly, the entire letter is saturated with Christ—Christ is everywhere on every page. Encouragement is Christ-centered.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we find these inspiring and inspired words about mutual encouragement.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 is how I picture biblical counseling. I don’t picture it as some formal relationship with one mysteriously wise counselor and one troubled counselee. I picture biblical counseling as mutual encouragement in Christ just like what we read about in Hebrews 10:24-25.
Remembering What We Have in Christ: Forgiveness and Welcome—Hebrews 10:19-20
This passage is part of five “let us” statements in 10:22-25. We could profitably spend our time on any or all of those five statements. But we’ll focus on the two verses that serve as a foundation for those “let us” statements—Hebrews 10:19-21.
“Therefore, brothers, 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…”
Before he tells us to encourage one another, the author of Hebrews wants to remind us that in Christ we have forgiveness and welcome. Here’s his point:
We must build our mutual encouragement upon the gospel encouragement we already have in Christ.
Here’s how the Biblical Counseling Coalition says it in their Passion Statement:
Promoting personal change centered on the Person of Christ through the personal ministry of the Word.
In other words, all personal change and all personal ministry must be Christ-focused. All biblical encouragement must be founded upon the encouragement we find in Christ’s gospel of grace.
When the author of Hebrews talks about Christ’s gospel of grace, he’s not just talking about grace for salvation for unbelievers. He’s focused on believers. He says, “Therefore, brothers.” The greatest mutual encouragement we can offer each other is the daily reminder that as Christians we are forgiven and welcomed in Christ.
Embracing Our Forgiveness in Christ: Hebrews 10:19
In Hebrews 10:19 the author of Hebrews begins by reminding us to embrace the message of our forgiveness in Christ.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…”
The truth that we can stand in the presence of a holy God is so astonishing that when we look at our sin, we find it difficult to believe. I’ll never forget counseling a believer who was struggling with a besetting sin who told me, “Pastor Bob, some sins are so deep that even the love of God can’t reach them.” Though we all know that those are lies from the pit of hell, this tormented Christian believed them. She believed that her sins were so deep that she was doomed to live an unforgiven life—even as a Christian.
I know she’s not alone in believing that lie because I counsel a lot of pastors, missionaries, and church leaders who struggle to accept their acceptance in Christ. Satan wants us to think that maybe Christ could forgive us for our sins before we were believers, but not after we come to Christ. Satan wants to keep us cringing when we think of our holy God and our sinful lives.
Rather than cringing, the author of Hebrews wants to keep us confident when we think of God and the forgiveness we have in Christ. That’s why he said, “…since we have confidence…” The word means holy boldness. It pictures the absence of fear in speaking to royalty, the courage to enter the King’s presence.
Imagine that somehow you scored an invitation to meet the President. Maybe it was years ago and you were invited to meet President Reagan or Bush. Or, maybe it’s next week and you’re invited to meet President Obama. Most of us would be a tad intimidated at the thought of meeting the President of the United States.
Now, multiply that infinitely, exponentially, and we may begin to feel how the recipients of this letter felt when they thought about entering God’s presence. That’s what’s being talked about here. The holy place means the holy of holies—the place in the Old Testament where God dwelt. No one could enter into the Holy of Holies except the high priest and he could do so just once a year to offer sacrifice for the sins of the nation. And even the high priest entered with fear and trembling.
In the Old Testament, no one could see God and live. When personal sinfulness collided with God’s infinite holiness, death was the result. So any thought of entering God’s holy presence was met with dread and cowering.
But here’s what Hebrews 10:19 is telling us. Instead of “Stay away or die!” it is “Come near and party!” Not only can we walk up to the President confidently and shake his hand. We can stand confidently in the holy presence of the God of the universe and look Him in the eyes and know that our every sin is forgiven.
Think about this: because of Christ you can look God in the eyes—today. Where normally the shame of our sin would cause us to refuse to make eye contact, now Christ lifts our chin and points our gaze to our forgiving Father’s loving eyes.
But we can never forget the last words of verse 19: “…by the blood of Jesus.” In ourselves, in our sin, we ought to be terrified of our holy God. Without Christ’s shed blood, our sin results in shame and separation. But when we accept Christ as our Savior, we’re accepting His blood as the cleansing for our sin that makes us acceptable in the Father’s presence.
A Prayer for Accepting Our Acceptance in Christ
“Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for His sinless life, His shed blood, and His resurrection. Thank You that when Your holy eyes look upon us, You see Christ and His holiness rather than our sins. Father, some of us here today may be like the Christian woman I counseled. We believe that some sin we have committed, some sin we keep committing, is too deep for the love of Christ to reach us. Help us to know that Christ died for every sin we committed in the past, committed today, or will commit tomorrow. Help us to have confidence—holy boldness—to enter Your holy presence because we know that Christ’s blood reaches and cleanses every sin. Because we know that You forgive us of our every sin. As brothers and sisters together in Christ help us to remind each other every day of our forgiveness in Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
The Rest of the Story
It truly is amazing grace that we have forgiveness in Christ. But Hebrews 10:20 gets even more amazing. Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of Gospel-Centered Encouragement where we’ll explore Embracing Our Father’s Welcome Home!
Join the Conversation
How could you encourage others today/this week with the gospel-centered encouragement of our forgiveness in Christ?
RPM Ministries: Equipping the Body of Christ to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth
Trackbacks/Pingbacks