Draw Near (2)

April 25

Draw Near (2)
proserchomai

We continue our thoughts today on, “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” (Heb_10:22). Drawing near to God first means having a sincere desire for truth.

Second, drawing near to God means having absolute confidence in God. The words “full assurance” translate plerophoria (G4136), which means “entire confidence, full assurance.”

To be near to God, then, means that we have total confidence in His promises, absolute assurance of His provision, and full trust in His sovereignty. The more we doubt Him, the more we question Him, the farther away from Him we drift.

Third, drawing near to God means having a desire for holiness. The imagery in the words “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” is distinctly OT, referring to the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice for the cleansing of sin.

But not only are we saved by this blood, but we are constantly brought back to it for daily cleansing. As the apostle John declares, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn_1:9).

We are forever coming back to the Cross, for it is there that our sin was dealt with and our conscience was cleared.

Fourth, drawing near to God means having a desire for His Word. While the first principle was one of attitude, we see here the action.

Some interpreters view the words “our bodies washed with pure water” as a reference to baptism (see June 24f). But that is clearly incorrect because baptism is not a washing away of sin, but rather a symbol of identification, a public testimony of what has occurred in the heart.

This phrase means that God’s Word is the commodity that is going to keep us clean by our constant “bathing” in it. Paul meant this when he wrote to the Ephesians: “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph_5:25-26).

Drawing near to God means that we are constantly involved with His Word, constantly “immersed” in it.

Dear Christian friend, are you drawing near to God each day?

Scriptures for Study: In Mat_8:19, what requirement did Jesus give to the scribe who “came” to him wanting to follow?

Read Exo_3:1-6 (“nigh” in Exo_3:5 is qērab, the Hebrew equivalent to proserchomai we noted yesterday). Note the need for our holiness.

 
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