Author: Stephen Weller
Contributors: ChatGPT & Bible Gateway
Lesson Index
Lesson: sls02

Entering God’s Presence

In a life group I attend, we recently completed our study of Hebrews 9 and 10. From Hebrews 9, I created a post illustrating the connection between the tabernacle and its elements with Jesus Christ. With this post, my goal is to summarize the topic of entering God’s Presence, transitioning from the priest to Christ to believers.

1. The Old Testament High Priest

Scripture: Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:6–7

The old covenant revealed the seriousness of sin and the need for a greater sacrifice in several ways. The constant sacrifices at the tabernacle and temple made clear that sin was not easily dealt with, as blood had to be shed daily and yearly, reminding Israel that sin leads to death (Hebrews 10:1–4). Access to God was also limited, since only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, showing that sin erected a barrier between God and humanity (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:6–7). The sacrifices themselves provided only a temporary covering, not a true removal of sin, for animal blood could never cleanse the conscience or take sin away completely (Hebrews 10:4, 11). The entire system of priests, rituals, and festivals served as a visible reminder that sin is deadly serious and requires atonement. Yet by its repetition and limitations, the old covenant pointed beyond itself, stirring a longing for a perfect and final sacrifice that could once for all remove sin and open the way to God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:11–12; 10:12–14).

Key Point: The old covenant showed the seriousness of sin and the need for a greater sacrifice.

2. Jesus Christ the Great High Priest

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11–12; 10:11–14

The blood of animals in the Old Testament could only cover sin symbolically; it served as a reminder that sin leads to death, but it could never cleanse the heart or fully satisfy God’s justice (Hebrews 10:4, 11). By contrast, the blood of Jesus removes sin because he was the perfect, sinless Son of God who offered himself willingly as a substitute (1 Peter 1:18–19). His sacrifice was once-for-all, not repeated, because his life had infinite worth. On the cross, Jesus bore the full penalty of sin, satisfying God’s justice and absorbing his wrath (Isaiah 53:5–6; Romans 3:25–26). In doing so, he not only covered sin temporarily but took it away completely, cleansing our consciences (Hebrews 9:14), reconciling us to God (2 Corinthians 5:21), and granting eternal forgiveness (Hebrews 10:12–14).

Key Point: Christ’s sacrifice did not merely cover sin; it removed it forever because his sacrifice was perfect, final, and powerful enough to satisfy God’s justice and secure eternal redemption.

3. Believers Entering God’s Presence Today

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19–22; 4:16

Through Christ, we now have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place, drawing near, by faith with hearts cleansed and consciences purified. This access to God’s presence is not limited to a single moment but extends into every part of life. We come to him in prayer and worship with free and intimate access, and we approach his throne of grace with boldness. We also enter together as a community, encouraging one another in love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25). Finally, we live each day in the awareness that we continually dwell in God’s presence, shaping how we walk, serve, and trust him.

Key Point: What was once limited to one priest once a year is now open to all believers at all times through Jesus.

Conclusion

The old covenant was only a shadow, marked by priests, repeated sacrifices, and a veil that kept people at a distance from God’s presence. In contrast, Christ is the substance; the one true sacrifice offered once for all, opening the way into God’s presence forever. Because of his finished work, believers now walk in daily fellowship with God, fully assured of forgiveness and welcomed into his presence with confidence.

Key takeaway: Because of Jesus’ blood, we don’t stand outside the veil, we live inside God’s presence.

However, to live inside God’s presence means more than occasionally experiencing God; it means dwelling in continual fellowship with him, made possible through Jesus Christ. Under the old covenant, God’s presence was confined to the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle or Temple, and only the high priest could enter once a year. But through Christ’s sacrifice, the veil has been torn (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19–22), and believers now have direct, ongoing access to God.

To summarize, we can express living in his presence with five words: intimacy, confidence, guidance, transformation, and hope. These words are defined and with a related scripture reference follow:

• Intimacy – enjoying a close relationship with God through prayer, worship, and his Word (John 15:4–5).
• Confidence – approaching God without fear, knowing we are fully accepted in Christ (Hebrews 4:16).
• Guidance – walking daily in step with the Spirit, allowing his presence to lead our decisions (Galatians 5:25).
• Transformation – being shaped by his holiness and love as his presence changes our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• Hope – looking forward to the day when we will dwell in his presence fully and forever (Revelation 21:3).

To live inside God’s presence means to live each day in awareness of his nearness, relying on his grace, walking in his Spirit, and enjoying unbroken fellowship with him through Christ.

To help understand this progression from priest to Jesus Christ to believers, I have included a series of questions and their answers to consider.

Discussion Questions and Answers: Entering God’s Presence (Hebrews 9–10)

1. Why did the high priest only enter the Most Holy Place once a year?

• Answer: Because sin separated the people from God. The annual Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) was a reminder that sin required atonement, but the repeated sacrifices of animals could never fully cleanse or give permanent access to God.

2. What was the significance of the blood the high priest carried into the Holy of Holies?

• Answer: It symbolized the covering of sins. The blood of animals served as a temporary substitute, pointing forward to the perfect blood of Christ that would actually remove sin (Hebrews 10:4).

3. How did Jesus fulfill and surpass the work of the high priest?

• Answer: Jesus entered not into an earthly tabernacle but into heaven itself (Hebrews 9:11–12). Instead of bringing animal blood, he offered his own blood once for all, obtaining eternal redemption. His sacrifice removed sin, tore the veil, and opened direct access to God (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19–20).

4. What does it mean that the veil of the temple was torn when Jesus died?

• Answer: It symbolizes that the barrier between God and humanity was removed. No longer is access to God restricted to one priest once a year; all believers can now draw near to God directly through Christ.

5. How do believers today “enter” God’s presence?

• Answer: By faith in Jesus’ finished work. We have boldness to come before God in prayer and worship (Hebrews 4:16; 10:22). Our hearts are cleansed, our consciences purified, and we live in continual fellowship with God through the Spirit.

6. What does it mean to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22)?

• Answer: It means approaching God sincerely and confidently, trusting completely in Christ’s sacrifice rather than our own works or worthiness. It is a posture of faith that rests in his finished work.

7. What practical difference does Christ’s open access to God make for us today?

• Answer: We can pray boldly, worship freely, confess sins without fear of rejection, and live each day knowing God is with us. It also strengthens our confidence in community life, encouraging one another in love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25).

8. Why is it important to see the difference between “covering sin” in the Old Testament and “removing sin” in Christ?

• Answer: Because it shows the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice. The old covenant was temporary and incomplete, but Christ’s work is final, perfect, and eternal. Our forgiveness is secure, and we no longer live under the shadow of repeated sacrifices.

As you journeyed through this lesson, I hope you paused to reflect on each Scripture linked throughout. This study was deeply enriching for me, and my prayer is that it brought you greater insight into what it means to enter into God’s presence.