The Argument of Hebrews

Can you go to God directly and completely on your own?

If you answer “Yes,” one of the biblical authors has written an entire book to refute you. The book of Hebrews makes a simple argument: The way to God has been opened for us by the blood of Jesus. Without that sacrifice, the path to God is closed.

The author’s argument is based on the layout of Israel’s tabernacle, which was a “copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (8:5), and the high priest’s access to the Most Holy Place. After mentioning the general layout and furniture in the tabernacle, the author says,

But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. (9:7-8)

Access to the inner room was completely off-limits for everyone except the high priest. And even the high priest’s access was almost entirely restricted.

Could the ancient Israelites go directly to God on their own? No.

Why does this matter?

Because the earthly tabernacle was not arranged haphazardly. Its design and function was based on a heavenly reality. Thus, its purpose was to communicate a lesson to God’s people: directly approaching God was forbidden.

But the death of Christ ended this restriction because unlike the high priests who entered the Most Holy Place once a year then exited, Christ entered the actual Most Holy Place with his own blood then sat down.

• The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (1:3)

• Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. (8:1-2)

• But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (10:12)

• For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (12:2)

Who is the one who is not entering and exiting like the earthly priests? Who is the one who sat down in God’s presence, becoming a permanent fixture in the Most Holy Place?

He is the fully human one who shared in our humanity by becoming “fully human in every way” (2:17), including being “tempted in every way” (4:15). He is the one who “offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears” (5:7). He is the one who offered himself as a sacrifice, endured the cross, then died.

Thus, he can perfectly represent us and empathize with us. So this human, who is also “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (1:3), bridges the gap between God and humans. On our own there is no path to God. Access is restricted. The door is closed.

But a living human, who is now in God’s throne room, has shown the way for all other humans.

• We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. (6:19-20)

• For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. (9:24)

We didn’t create or discover the path to God. On our own all we can see is a “No Trespassing” sign. But a way has been revealed to us. And that way is through the one who is now seated at God’s right hand. This is “a new and living way opened for us” (10:20) because the one who offered the sacrifice is alive and seated in God’s presence. As a result, we now have “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (10:19).

Les Bridgeman

After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. My latest book focuses on Paul’s work as a tentmaker and what it means for today.