We come to God by faith. Faith here, it’s a substance of things hoped for. It’s an evidence of things not seen. And therefore, faith rests on a foundation. Spurgeon put it like this: It’s not by hold on Christ that saves thee; it’s Christ. It’s not thy joy in Christ that saves thee; it’s Christ. It’s not even thy faith in Christ that saves thee, though that be the instrument. It is Christ’s blood and merit. That’s what saves you, friend. And faith just lays hold of it, that’s all. It is that which looks to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. And that word draw back means to take in sail. The believer is like a sailor who should let out all the sail. And the thought here is that a believer could reef the sails. He could become stranded because of discouragement, because of trouble, because of persecution, because of hardship, because of depression, or some other stumbling block. But the thought here is: Friends, since we have a living God, and today we have a living Savior, let’s go on. Let’s go on. Let’s open up all the sails. Let’s move out today.

In Hebrews, it’s the just shall live by faith. This epistle tells of a living Intercessor, that it was the same one who died on the cross for us, came back from the dead, and the emphasis is upon His resurrection, that He is the living Christ at God’s right hand. And those that are His own, since we have a living God, we have a living Savior at God’s right handwe shall live by faith. That’s no leap in the dark. It rests upon the Word of God. It’s whether you believe God or not, and whether you have the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and in your life.

If ever was a time when believers need to come together, it’s today. We need to be drawn together in love around the Person of Christ and exhorting one another and studying the Word of God together. Actually, God has something for a group that He’ll not give to anyone individually. The reason that I like to teach the Word of God is because God won’t let me grow in the knowledge of the Word unless I share it, you see. Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together. So, when they have Bible study down at your church, be sure and be there because there’s a blessing there for you you can’t get in studying the Bible by itself.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, our bodies washed with pure water. That means that you can come to God today with boldness of speech. So many people ask the preacher to pray for them, and they send in prayer requests. But the thing I’m trying to say is: You have access to God. You have as much right in God’s presence as I have or anyone else, because we come in the name of Christ today. And we can come by the blood of Jesus Christ. He’s made this newly sacrifice-way for us, and it’s on that basis that we come to God.

God never asks you to take a leap in the dark. I disagree with that theologian who said faith is a leap in the dark. If it is, don’t leap, friends. You may find yourself going off of a ten-story building, so don’t leap in the dark. God has put knowledge faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. God has put down a foundation. No other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. You get on the foundation, that’s knowledge. But it’s faith that puts you there. Faith is action that’s based on knowledge. And that means to trust Christ, personally, as your Savior.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Now we’ve got a marvelous privilege here. And this boldness, by the way, means boldness to speak. This is not arrogance at all. This means we don’t have to come cowing. And I’ve heard people in prayer, Oh, Lord, we’re not worthy to come to you. Of course, you’re not worthy, that’s what He’s been trying to tell you. But He says, Now, come with boldness; I’ve made a sacrifice for you. You’re my son now. And you can come as a son to the Father. And how wonderful that is. And that’s the privilege that we have today.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once. He could have left this earth without dying, because nobody could convict Him of sin. And He could have gone to heaven without dying, but He’d have to leave you and me down here. He died for you and for me, because He loves us, and He had to pay that price. But the interesting thing, He didn’t stay in slavery. He went back, and He’s going to take us out of the slavery of sin someday. How wonderful it is. How wonderful it is. And He alone could do that.

Worship and service go together. You can’t serve God without worshiping God, and you can’t worship Him without serving Him. When I see a lazy saint doing nothing for God today, I’m not questioning his salvation. I do question his worship. Does he really worship God? Oh, if you fall down before Him in adoration and praise, then you’re going to get up on your feet and start walking for Him. You’re going to take your hands and start using them for Him. You’re going to start doing something for Him, friends. And that’s so important for us to get hold of today.

We approach a holy God today on the basis of a crucified Savior. And He alone can let us worship. And that’s the reason that you find that Paul in Ephesians says to them: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Holy Spirit. And then what’s the first thing that he talks about? Well, worship. Speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns, making melody in your heart. Well, my friend, the greatest thrill in the world for a child of God is to be filled by the Spirit of God and to have the Spirit of God take the things of Christ and make them real to us. It brings joy to our heart.