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Drawing Near to
God
Introduction:
Hebrews 10:22 calls us to come into God’s presence “with a true
heart in full assurance of faith,” with cleansed consciences and
lives. This lesson sets out the conditions God gives for truly
drawing near to Him—heart, faith, and conscience shaped by Christ.
A True Heart
To draw near, the
heart must be pure and undivided. Jesus blesses the pure in heart
with the promise of seeing God (Matthew 5:8). Standing in His holy
place requires clean hands and a pure heart, free from idolatry and
deceit (Psalm 24:3–5). God draws near to those who repent and purify
their hearts (James 4:8). Friendship with the world makes enmity
with God (James 4:4). Scripture commends those who are steady and
wholehearted, like the men of Zebulun who could keep ranks (1
Chronicles 12:33). Such a heart receives the implanted word with
meekness and bears fruit with patience (James 1:21; Luke 8:15).
Jesus condemns outward show that masks inward corruption; integrity
begins within (Matthew 23:25–28).
An Assured
Faith
God is pleased
by faith that believes He is and that He rewards the diligent seeker
(Hebrews 11:6). Assured faith rests on the Lord, not on human
understanding (Psalm 40:4; Proverbs 3:5–6). Every word of God proves
true and shields those who trust Him (Proverbs 30:5). This faith
acts. It moves believers to supply genuine needs and to obey the
will of Christ (James 2:14–17; Hebrews 5:9). Assurance grows where
trust and obedience walk together.
A Clean
Conscience
Under the Law,
blood was sprinkled for atonement and consecration (Leviticus 1:1–9;
Exodus 24:8; 29:21). Christ, our High Priest, entered the Most Holy
Place with His own blood, securing eternal redemption and cleansing
the conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews
9:11–14). Sin separates; the Lord’s hand is mighty to save, yet
iniquity hides His face (Isaiah 59:1–2). In Christ, those once far
off are brought near by His blood (Ephesians 2:13). Scripture
locates the appeal for a good conscience at baptism: we call upon
God as we are united with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection,
to rise and walk in newness of life (1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 5:26;
Romans 6:3–4). With hearts sprinkled clean and bodies washed with
pure water, we have boldness to enter by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews
10:19–22).
Drawing
Near to God Sermon Outline:
Call to
Action:
Set your heart wholly on the Lord. Place your full confidence in His
Word, and obey the gospel from the heart. If you need a clean
conscience, submit to Christ in baptism and rise to walk in newness
of life. Then continue daily to draw near—with prayer, holiness, and
steady trust—until you see His face.
Key
Takeaways:
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Draw near to
God with a pure, undivided heart (Matthew 5:8; Psalm 24:3–5).
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Assured
faith trusts God’s Word and acts in obedience (Hebrews 11:6;
James 2:14–17).
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Christ’s
blood cleanses the conscience for living service (Hebrews
9:11–14).
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Baptism is
the good-conscience appeal that unites us with Christ (1 Peter
3:21; Romans 6:3–4).
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Bold access
rests on Jesus’ finished work (Hebrews 10:19–22).
Scripture
Reference List:
Hebrews 10:22; Matthew 5:8; Psalm 24:3–5; James 4:8; James 4:4; 1
Chronicles 12:33; James 1:21; Luke 8:15; Matthew 23:25–28; Hebrews
11:6; Psalm 40:4; Proverbs 3:5–6; Proverbs 30:5; James 2:14–17;
Hebrews 5:9; Leviticus 1:1–9; Exodus 24:8; Exodus 29:21; Hebrews
9:11–14; Isaiah 59:1–2; Ephesians 2:13; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians
5:26; Romans 6:3–4; Hebrews 10:19–22.
Prepared by
Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO
 
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The
church of Christ
