“We have confidence to enter … by a new and living way.” – Hebrews 10:19 (NIV)

I’ve heard the remarkable book of Hebrews described as “enigmatically beautiful.”  There are several themes within it that are unusual but very important. One is the priesthood of Jesus. Even if we may not talk often about our absolute need of a priest — one who mediates, stands for us, offers what we cannot, brings to us what we don’t deserve — without Jesus our Priest we would last as long as a hair thrown into a blast furnace! The Holy One has come to bring the perfection of God and the radical brokenness of humanity together as our Great High Priest. 

A second theme in this mysterious book has to do with the goal that our way-paving Priest has in mind for each of us, holiness of both heart and life (10:22). You won’t find the terms we normally use for salvation, like “justification,” in Hebrews. But priestly terms such as “purification,” “cleansing,” and “sanctification” are everywhere. Drawing upon all the major symbols of the Old Testament pertaining to the main purpose of worship, the Spirit of Jesus points us into ever-deepening intimacy.    

Our doctrine on entire sanctification includes much of these emphases. We all know that we are created for the closest possible relationship with our Holy God. Jesus came to remove every barrier we produced in order that we might enter the Holy of Holies. It’s breath-taking. The invitation to oneness with absolute Holiness that the one High Priest pictured for Israel one day once a year is the goal of God for every single one of us every moment of our lives. In fact, the way that Jesus has made for us includes such freedom that we are encouraged to enter with boldness, a confidence that means we are free to speak our minds (10:19).  

Jesus is our way into His heart of holy love. Where He has gone, Hebrews says, is our home now and forever (12:22-24). We can be consumed with His fire-like love in such a way that every love that we have damaged can be restored and made healthy and whole again (13:1-5). Our heart’s intention to love can be without blame. The deepest inner voices that so easily condemn us can be cleansed of their debilitating power. We don’t have to live stumbling around in confusion, hopeless that we can ever please Him.  

Holiness is always active. In Hebrews the beckoning of the Holy One is to enter by following my Great High Priest into everything He is and offers. Moses pointed to the Promised Land (3:16-19). Joshua was called to lead Israel into conquest over every enemy (4:8). Abraham, before anyone else, knew the place of sacrifice and a unique priesthood (not of Aaron’s line) by whom we could be purified from all volitional sin (7:11-28). That astounding list of the faithful were all longing to enter a better country, a better city (11:16). We have come, not will come, to a place of blazing, beautiful, consuming love. And as in every generation we have the choice to walk with Jesus into every aspect of His glorious salvation, which is Himself. The one, true, great Priest is taking all of us into His glory (2:10).

We don’t have to live a life of constant crushing weakness and defeat. He has made a way in Himself as our way into the inner sanctum, the perfect life of God, a place of purity and self-giving love. The “entire” of entire sanctification is the realization that He can take anyone with any past, any damage, any addiction, any sin and so cleanse, purify, remake and reorder that one in daily walk of joyful, humble responsiveness to His gentle, all-encompassing Priesthood. The “way” into an “entire” entrance is made possible for every believer. Will you reach out by faith and let Him take you into all that He is?   

Questions to ponder

• Jesus, our High Priest, is the way for us to enter into the Holy of Holies and have relationship with God the Father. Is there anything in your life that causes you to question your ability to be in relationship with God?
• Just as Jesus is a mediator for us, is there someone in your life God is calling you to be a mediator for? Someone He has placed on your heart to pray for or work on behalf of?

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