Hebrews 10:19-25

Three Exhortations from the Text

There are three key exhortations in Hebrews 10:19-25: draw near to God, hold fast your confession, and consider one another to stir up love and good works. This passage serves as an introduction to the fourth warning passage, one of the most severe warnings in the New Testament. The author urges the readers—facing persecution to abandon Christianity and return to Judaism—to persevere in faith.

The genuineness of their salvation is evident in their love and service to one another, rooted in their love for God. This reflects the structure of the Ten Commandments: our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with others.

Our Position with God

Central to this text is our position before God, secured by Christ's perfect sacrifice. We are declared perfect—not sinless in behavior, but positionally perfect through Jesus' completed work.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Psalm 130:3

Because of Christ, God does not count our sins against us. He accepts us with grace, favor, mercy, love, kindness, and compassion, imputing Christ's righteousness to us. This justification comes by faith, as a gift from God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Confession alone is insufficient; genuine faith produces change. Easy believism—momentary emotional responses without root—leads to falling away, as in the parable of the sower. True conversion is radical, spiritual regeneration, producing worshipers with boldness to enter the holy of holies.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with 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 stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Drawing Near to God in Worship

The new covenant grants direct access to God—unheard of in the old system. Christ's freshly slain yet living sacrifice opens the way. This produces boldness and confidence to draw near in worship.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

John 4:24

Do you desire to draw near to God? A lack of desire reveals a disconnect. True faith removes idols, replacing the heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses... I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.

Ezekiel 36:25-27

Idolatry is anything that occupies your worship, drawing you away from God—jobs, relationships, sports, even good things pursued at Christ's expense. Worship is not just song but a life surrendered to God. Have you counted the cost of idol removal?

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak... Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

Psalm 115:4-8

Idols are lifeless, and those who cling to them become lifeless, set for destruction. Christ's accomplishment motivates us to hold fast, as true believers persevere.

Considering One Another in Love

Our love for God overflows into love for others: "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." This "provoking" is gospel-motivated, not legalistic. Remind one another of Christ's faithfulness and the coming Day.

Do not forsake assembling together, as some do. Early believers met daily in temple and homes, fostering ongoing fellowship that fueled evangelism.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes... praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:46-47

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.

1 John 1:6-7

You can gauge love for God by treatment of His people. Neglecting fellowship reveals self-interest. Love for the brethren proves discipleship and attracts the lost. Those habitually forsaking assembly risk apostasy, as warned in the coming passage.