Introduction
Are you thriving spiritually, or have you quietly become dry, distracted, and distant from God? The central teaching of Hebrews 10:19–25 is this: because Jesus has opened a new and living way into God’s presence by His blood, I must respond with a spiritually healthy life, drawing near to God, holding fast to hope, and committing to Christian community with love and perseverance. Hebrews 10 begins with “therefore,” and that matters. For ten chapters, we’ve been building doctrine, who Jesus is, what His sacrifice accomplished, and why He is better than every shadow that came before. Now the Spirit presses that truth into our daily lives. Orthodoxy (right belief) must become orthopraxy (right living). God doesn’t reveal His will merely to inform us, but to lead us into abundant spiritual health, joy, peace, endurance, and a faith that doesn’t collapse when life gets hard.
Main Points
Are you thriving spiritually, or have you quietly become dry, distracted, and distant from God? The central teaching of Hebrews 10:19–25 is this: because Jesus has opened a new and living way into God’s presence by His blood, I must respond with a spiritually healthy life, drawing near to God, holding fast to hope, and committing to Christian community with love and perseverance.
Hebrews 10 begins with “therefore,” and that matters. For ten chapters, we’ve been building doctrine, who Jesus is, what His sacrifice accomplished, and why He is better than every shadow that came before. Now the Spirit presses that truth into our daily lives. Orthodoxy (right belief) must become orthopraxy (right living). God doesn’t reveal His will merely to inform us, but to lead us into abundant spiritual health, joy, peace, endurance, and a faith that doesn’t collapse when life gets hard.
Jesus Opened the New and Living Way
Hebrews 10:19–21 is a summary of everything we’ve learned: we now have boldness to enter the Holiest “by the blood of Jesus,” by “a new and living way… through the veil, that is, His flesh,” and we have “a High Priest over the house of God.”
This is the foundation for everything that follows. God formerly spoke through prophets; now He has spoken through His Son. God formerly used priests and repeated sacrifices; now Jesus is the once-for-all sacrifice and the perfect High Priest. The tabernacle and temple system were real but temporary signs, shadows pointing to the substance, Christ Himself.
So when I talk about spiritual health, I’m not starting with your performance. I’m starting with Christ’s finished work. The living way is not something you achieve; it’s Someone you trust.
Draw Near With Gospel Confidence
Hebrews 10:22 gives the first command: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” Our hearts have been cleansed; our conscience has been addressed; our access has been purchased.
Notice what the passage emphasizes: we have boldness because of the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19), not because we’ve had a good week. I need you to hear that clearly because many of us drift from God for the exact opposite reason, we treat God’s presence like something we earn.
Boldness here is not a personality trait. It’s the settled confidence of a child who belongs in the Father’s house. Think about how children approach their dad in the middle of the night: no appointment, no fear, no formalities, just honest need and trust. That’s a picture of what Christ has accomplished. The veil has been torn; access is real; God desires to dwell with His people.
And if you feel unclean, ashamed, or disqualified, remember the order of Scripture. James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Yes, there is cleansing and repentance, but you don’t cleanse yourself to come; you come to the Holy One, and He cleanses you as you draw near. If you’re wrestling with assurance, anchor your heart again in Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
A practical way to restore this “drawing near” is to recover prayer as real communion. Prayer is not religious noise; it’s entering God’s presence with freedom of speech, speaking honestly because you are heard, loved, and welcomed. When prayer fades, everything else begins to fade too.
Hold Fast Without Swerving
Hebrews 10:23 gives the second command: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
The reason we need this command is obvious: pressure comes. These believers faced cultural opposition, uncertainty, and the temptation to drift back to what felt familiar. And you and I face the same dynamic. It’s easy to feel hope on Sunday and wake up Monday to traffic jams in the soul, delays, closed doors, unanswered questions, and the slow grind of endurance.
When life comes to a standstill, I’m tempted to “swerve”, to jump lanes spiritually, to chase quicker solutions, to compromise convictions, to return to old patterns, to loosen my grip on God because His timing feels slow. But the Spirit says, “Don’t swerve. Don’t drift. Hold fast.”
How do we hold fast? Not by pretending we’re strong, but by remembering who God is: “He who promised is faithful.” Your hope is not upheld by your emotional momentum; it’s upheld by God’s character. The child thinks he’s holding the father’s hand, but the father is the One truly securing the child. God will not abandon what He began. He does not strand His people.
And when you need evidence, Scripture is filled with it, Noah, Abraham, and the coming “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11 will stand as a long testimony that God keeps His promises, even when the road feels delayed.
Consider One Another And Stir Up Love
Hebrews 10:24 turns outward: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” Healthy discipleship is never me-and-Jesus in isolation. The living way brings us not only into God’s presence but into God’s family.
“Consider” means I stop being self-absorbed. I intentionally pay attention: Who is discouraged? Who is drifting? Who needs strengthening? Who needs to be reminded of truth, prayed for, or practically helped? God often ministers His comfort and correction through His people.
And the goal is not mere social connection, it’s spiritual impact: love and good works. Love that moves toward others. Works that show Jesus is real in everyday life. A church becomes spiritually healthy when Christians stop attending as consumers and start living as family.
Do Not Neglect Gathering And Encouragement
Hebrews 10:25 completes the third “let us” with a specific practice: not forsaking the assembling together, but exhorting one another, especially as the Day draws near.
This isn’t about checking a religious box. It’s about recognizing how God sustains us. When I isolate, my fears get louder, my temptations get stronger, and my hope gets thinner. But when I gather with believers, I’m reminded of what is true, I’m urged forward, and I’m strengthened to endure.
And the urgency increases as time goes on. We are moving toward “the Day”, the return of Christ, the final reckoning, the completion of God’s promises. That coming reality is meant to make our discipleship more serious, not less.
So I want to lovingly challenge you: don’t make the church building your tabernacle, as if the only place you can draw near to God is here. Draw near daily. But also don’t pretend you can flourish without the people of God. Gather, encourage, exhort, and be exhorted. That is part of spiritual health.
Conclusion
Hebrews 10:19–25 calls me to live the “living way” with practical, steady obedience flowing from gospel certainty:
- Because Jesus opened access, I draw near with full assurance.
- Because God is faithful, I hold fast without wavering.
- Because we are a family, I consider others, stirring up love, good works, and persevering community.
If you feel spiritually stagnant, don’t turn this into shame. Turn it into a return. The door is open. The blood is sufficient. The High Priest is over the house of God. Now come, draw near, hold fast, and walk with the saints.
Father in heaven, I come to You through the blood of Jesus, grateful for the new and living way You have opened. Forgive me for the times I’ve treated Your presence as something I must earn, or for the times I’ve kept my distance because of guilt, fear, or distraction. Teach me to draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith.
Lord, strengthen me to hold fast the confession of my hope without wavering. When my life feels delayed, when doubts rise, and when pressure pushes against my faith, remind me that You who promised are faithful. Anchor my heart in Your Word and steady my steps to endure.
And Father, shape me into a disciple who considers others, stirring up love and good works. Help me not to neglect gathering with Your people, but to encourage and exhort faithfully, especially as the Day draws near. By Your Holy Spirit, revive my spiritual health and lead me in the living way of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Conclusion
Hebrews 10:19–25 calls me to live the “living way” with practical, steady obedience flowing from gospel certainty:
- Because Jesus opened access, I draw near with full assurance.
- Because God is faithful, I hold fast without wavering.
- Because we are a family, I consider others, stirring up love, good works, and persevering community.
If you feel spiritually stagnant, don’t turn this into shame. Turn it into a return. The door is open. The blood is sufficient. The High Priest is over the house of God. Now come, draw near, hold fast, and walk with the saints.
Closing Prayer
Father in heaven, I come to You through the blood of Jesus, grateful for the new and living way You have opened. Forgive me for the times I’ve treated Your presence as something I must earn, or for the times I’ve kept my distance because of guilt, fear, or distraction. Teach me to draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith.
Lord, strengthen me to hold fast the confession of my hope without wavering. When my life feels delayed, when doubts rise, and when pressure pushes against my faith, remind me that You who promised are faithful. Anchor my heart in Your Word and steady my steps to endure.
And Father, shape me into a disciple who considers others, stirring up love and good works. Help me not to neglect gathering with Your people, but to encourage and exhort faithfully, especially as the Day draws near. By Your Holy Spirit, revive my spiritual health and lead me in the living way of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.