Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20110420.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Hebrews: The Superiority Of Christ To Errant Religions
Part V: The Superiority Of Christ's Priesthood To Other Priesthoods, Hebrews 5:1-10:39
H. Applying Christ's Superior Priesthood, Hebrews 10:19-39
1. Admonition To Use Christ's Priestly Ministry
(Hebrews 10:19-25)
  1. Introduction
    1. True Biblical doctrine, if properly used, has great practical ramifications for the Christian life.
    2. The teaching of the author of Hebrews regarding Christ's priestly ministry calls for a godly way of life that is all-encompassing in its scope and its depth as described in Hebrews 10:19-25, and we apply it to our own case histories of discipleship (as follows):
  2. Admonition To Use Christ's Priestly Ministry, Hebrews 10:19-25.
    1. Having clarified the infinite superiority of Christ's high priestly ministry to the ministry of the old Aaronic system, and thus for any other religious priesthood on earth, the author of Hebrews called his readers who were tempted to be lured to leave Christianity for Judaism to a special way of life, Hebrews 10:19a.
    2. That call involves extensive activity, and we view each one in Hebrews 10:19b-25 in light of practical applications to our unique past errant religious heritages as a body (as follows):
      1. Christ's infinitely superior high priestly ministry beckons us to enter into the holiest place of God's presence by Christ's blood with great boldness not possible in any other priesthood, Heb. 10:19b-20. When we then pray to the Father through Jesus our Savior in regard to our weaknesses and temptations (Hebrews 4:15-16), we can be very candid with God unlike the fear and trepidation of the worshiper in the Old Testament who could not come near to the Holy Place lest he die, and as many worshipers in other religions (like Roman Catholicism or extensively legalistic conservative Christianity) who dare not approach an altar or tread in some realm of false taboo for fear of serious punishment.
      2. Since Christ has saved us from false systems like dead Judaism (or Roman Catholicism or extensively legalistic conservative Christianity), we should draw near to God in prayer with a true heart in full assurance of faith that Christ's priestly ministry is fully sufficient for all our needs in relating to God versus any twinge of conscience due to any former false religious views, Hebrews 10:21-22.
      3. Since Christ has saved us from false priestly systems like dead Judaism (or Roman Catholicism or extensively legalistic conservative Christianity), we should hold fast the profession of faith we have in Christ versus the profession of the former false heritage, and we should do so without wavering regardless of pressures to the contrary, Hebrews 10:23a. We can afford to do so since God who has promised to cleanse, bless and help us through Christ's priesthood is faithful to His promises to us apart from the past false system to which our conscience was once in bondage, Hebrews 10:23b.
      4. Because of such confidences, we have a duty to edify one another in practical ways, Hebrews 10:24-25:
        1. Having been saved out of a past false religious system or beliefs, we are obliged to edify one another in the truth in Christ by inciting one another to Biblical love and good works, Hebrews 10:24. The word rendered "provoke" here means "to stir up to an incitement or paroxysm [convulsion; spasm] of love and good works," a very strong word, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Hebrews 10:24.
        2. Besides strongly stirring up one another to love and good works, we should edify one another by not abandoning the assembling of ourselves together, Hebrews 10:25a. God wants us to encourage one another in the truth by keeping in touch with each other in our meetings especially in view of the coming Day of Christ when we will answer to Him for faithfulness in reference both to our own walk and to our ministries to one another, Hebrews 10:25b NIV; Bible Know. Com., N. T. , p. 805.
Lesson: In view of Christ's infinitely superior priestly ministry, may we boldly pray for help with our weaknesses and sins, being sure Christ's intercession is sufficient in assurance that Bible Christianity is true versus our past errant heritages . Then, may we apply this personal orientation to edify other believers in provoking them to love and good works by our faithful involvement in Church meetings.

Application: May we thus heed the Hebrews 10:19-25 admonitions to use Christ's priestly ministry!