March 16, 2025

“…(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”

Hebrews 7:19

“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Hebrews 7:25

In the book of Hebrews, the author invites us twice in chapter 7 to “draw near” to God in a transformative way. First, we’re called to approach Him on a “better hope”—a hope the Old Testament law could never fulfill. Under the law, worshippers couldn’t attain the moral and righteous perfection needed to draw near to God. This limitation was vividly shown through the Jewish high priest, the only one permitted to draw near to God’s presence, and even then, just once a year after rigorous cleansing rituals.

But now, through the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can draw near to God freely and without the fear of condemnation (Romans 8:1). We come through our one true High Priest, Jesus, unshackled by judgment. Unlike the Old Testament priests who required cleansing for their own sins and ultimately succumbed to death because of them, we draw near to God through Jesus Christ, who “offered up Himself” once for all (Hebrews 7:27), triumphantly dealing with the sins of His people and always lives to make intercession for us.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Hebrews 10:19-22