We have learned the Holy Spirit calls us and draws us into the presence of God as His Sanctified people. Yet, King David wrote, “only those with clean hands and pure heart can enter.” We want to follow the Holy Spirit’s call to be set apart for the will and purpose of God. We want to be drawn in by the Spirit to God’s Sanctified presence. But we think, “my hands are not clean, and my heart is not pure.”
How do we account for our condition?
How do we atone for our transgressions?
How do we get to the place where He is?
We can explore the biblical process of Sanctified which will certainly help our understanding. However, it the Holy Spirit who reveals to us the one thing needed. We need Jesus. We need go no further than Christ Jesus Himself. He is our atonement, He alone, and no one else is our clean hands and pure heart.
What does that look like biblically?
We are going to look at four key passages that will provide us with a good foundation for understanding how and why Christ Jesus our Redeemer makes us ready to be brought into the Sanctified and Holy Presence of God. All of us desire to be there (reluctant, frightened, ignorant, or not). But none of us can get there on our own. Here is the biblical path to the Sanctified presence of God.
One: Hebrews 6:17-20
God’s character is depicted as unchangeable and His word as His bond; His promises are forever guaranteed, and it is impossible for God to lie. The author assures those whom have turned their back on sin to follow Christ, have God’s guaranteed word their hope is not in vain. This assurance gives confidence to those who follow, that Christ will lead them into God’s sanctified presence – behind the veil and into the Most Holy Place.
Hebrews 6:17–20
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever.
Two: Colossians 1:19-23
The apostle Paul in writing to the Colossae church, addresses Christians who came from a place of alienation from God being reconciled to Him through Christ. Paul explains the ultimate reality and essence of the relationship and purpose of God the Father, and God the Son – Jesus Christ. God purposed His fullness to dwell and to be fully present in Christ. This qualifies Christ as all the salvation needed to come into the Sanctified presence of God. We are reconciled (Grk; apokatallaso: restoring harmony to relationship) to God in Christ. The death and sacrifice of the incarnate Christ (refuting Gnosticism’s spiritual and nonmaterial reality) brought all things created into sanctified (set-apart) and righteous (Holy) relationship with God the Father. In and through Christ, and not ourselves, we are made clean, pure, blameless and ready for the Sanctified presence of God. if you are at a crossroad on this here is all the evidence you need to keep moving forward and deeper still, in Christ.
Colossians 1:19–23
For in him (Christ) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel.
Three: Hebrews 9:24-28
The author of Hebrews gives us a full and detailed description of how Christ leads into His Sanctified and Holy Presence. First is the understanding that Christ does not enter a temple built by man. His purpose is of course through His physical sacrifice to spiritually mediate for us and to present us clean and pure into God’s Presence. As our High Priest Christ came to earth and gave His blood once and for all – for all who believe, to atone for all our sin. We are all going to die in this world. For those who have believed in Christ, having all sin atoned for in Christ, now will live forever in the Presence of God Almighty. We are familiar with the term atoned through the Jewish observance Yom Kippur (Hebrew; kippur – ka-phar; to atone for). Christ atones for us – returns for us, take us and presents us – ready for Him.
Hebrews 9:24–28
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Four: Hebrews 10:14-22
In the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, there was both tragedy and triumph. Tragedy in the suffering and sorrowful death of our loving Savior – Triumph in defeat of our sin and disobedience. Our sin not overlooked by God, but rather atoned for in His Son. This sacrifice was a paradox that produced a work of perfection and a sanctified presentation; all of creation presented to the Creator of all. As our High Priest, Christ worked on our behalf to establish three essential things.
Hebrews 10:14-22
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
First – Christ gave us the confidence and assurance to come to the place where God is. A New and Everlasting Covenant guaranteed by the shed blood of Jesus – God’s promise to bring us to Himself as His one true people. The reality is this. Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Second – Christ established a new entrance into the Most Holy Place. The new and living way! No longer were forgiveness, righteousness, and access into the Sanctified Presence of God through death only; but now through the Resurrected Life of Jesus all had new life, and a way to God. Christ our new High Priest tore the veil of the Most Holy Place making possible for us to enter the new and living way.
Third – Christ replaced our heart of stone with a heart of flesh, exchanged our heart of deceit for a heart of truth. This “true heart” continually brings us back near the Sanctified Presence of God.
About Reunion Community Church
Located in Peoria, AZ, we are a non-denominational Christian church. We love God and teach His Truth. We invite you, your family and friends to join us on the faith journey, growing closer to one another, the Christian community of believers at Reunion, and most importantly with God. Read more about the timeless Truth we build our lives and faith in Christ on HERE.
We are conveniently located just off the 101 on 83rd Ave and Cactus Rd. Join us on Sunday mornings, Weds. evenings, and throughout the week at our small groups, meeting in homes around the Valley, including Surprise, Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Goodyear, Litchfield, and more. Connect with us on Facebook and YouTube
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