“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.”Hebrews 10:22 ESV
Reflection: which is worse: being enslaved by sin, or by works of religion?
Most nations have a day where they celebrate the founding of their nation. And, the 17. of May is the Norwegian national day. As Norway has had a long history of being a part of, even occupied by, another nation or kingdom, for most Norwegians May 17 symbolizes freedom. An independent and free nation. And for many Christian Norwegians, the day also has a much more significant and deeper meaning; not only freedom as a nation, but more importantly, individual freedom in Christ. Sadly, we see freedom under attack all over the world today, in most nations, trying to control the most fundamental freedoms, including speech and religion. It is nothing new; the devil is behind all enslavements; even those who promise a better future.
We read today from the book of Hebrews, most likely written by Paul to his beloved Jewish countrymen who struggled with this exact thing of freedom. While God had instructed them how to worship, they had become enslaved by the rituals of religion and had forgotten the point of worship. The very thing that God gave them for being able to approach a good God, had become their master. They had missed the purpose. And, the writer of Hebrews goes through a lengthy argument to finally get to the essence that through Christ, we can finally be truly free to approach God, to worship and to serve God without fear.
We read with a bit more context, “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.”Hebrews 10:19-22 ESV. There is so much here, in these few words. But, if we look at the end, the reference to “an evil conscience”, we understand that this has to do with removing of sin, which only the sacrifice Christ made can do.
The author reminds us that “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4 ESV, not can a priest or man, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” Hebrews 10:11 ESV. However, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:10b, 12-14 ESV.
So back to our question for reflection today. Whether we feel trapped by what we have done, or what we have not done, it is still enslavement, orchestrated by the devil. Is your conscience of past sin still enslaving you? Or do you feel trapped by works or religion, having to do all the right things to somehow be in the right standing with God? It is so very hard for us, on both sides of this, to understand and accept that there is nothing more we can do to “earn” an entrance with God. It is finished, by Christ alone. Through Jesus Christ we can come into the presence of God, with full assurance. He is our mediator for the new covenant in His blood. Jesus Christ is our only way to true freedom.
