A New and Living Way

A New and Living Way

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest in the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh . . . .”

When there is talk about a way, we also need to think about the destination both to and from it. In this context the way leads away from sin and to God—into the sanctuary. We read that this is a new way. In other words there was also an old way. Moses came with the old way, the way they had in the old covenant. But it became evident that it was unprofitable—the law did not lead anyone to perfection. But now a better hope was brought in through which we draw near to God. Heb. 7:18-19.

Whenever they sinned in the old covenant, they had a way to go to depart from sin, and that was to bring various sacrifices. By these sacrifices the priest atoned for the sins of the people. On this way they could come away from the guilt of sin by receiving forgiveness for their sins; but the sacrifices could not take away sin so that those who brought the sacrifice could become perfect on this way. Ch. 10:1-4. As a testimony against them about this imperfect arrangement there was a veil before the Holy of Holies. It prevented the people from standing before God’s face. No one but the high priest was to enter in there. He was only allowed to enter once a year, and not without blood. Ch. 9:7. This way was only an emergency ordinance until the time of restoration. Then the veil had to be rent so that everyone could have access. Jesus finished this work. We read that His flesh is the veil. We, too, are aware of this in our own lives. When it is a question of doing God’s will, it is the flesh with its passions and desires that closes the way. Instead of doing God’s will this results in sin and we have to ask for forgiveness for our sins. We don’t advance any further than they did in the old covenant.

When Jesus came to consecrate the new way, He said, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God.’” This was the new way, namely doing God’s will instead of bringing offerings for not doing it.

In other words, Jesus had to partake of this flesh—the veil—to open up the way through it. We read, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same . . . .” Ch. 2:14. According to the flesh He was born of the seed of David (Rom. 1:3), and by God sending His Son in the flesh, He condemned sin in the flesh. Rom. 8:3. This was not done in one day. Not at all! He had to go the way. This way had to be pioneered; it had to be opened up, which was not an easy thing to do. We read about Jesus during those days: “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Ch. 5:7-9.

We can see that it was not an easy matter to break through this veil. No one had managed to do it before Him. All of them were stopped by the veil while striving to do God’s will, with the result that they sinned. Yet Jesus broke through. He fought so that His sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood, praying: “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” The consequence of doing His own will would have been death—separation from God; but He broke through the veil. He was perfected through obedience. Instead of offering oxen and cattle, He offered Himself—His own will—which He had received as the Son of Man. John 5:27-30. This was a totally new way to go. It truly led away from sin, and thus He was able to stand before God’s face. When Jesus finished consecrating this way, He called out just before He died: “It is finished!” Then the veil rent in two from top to bottom, and the graves were opened. Now the time had come for the restoration of all things. The way into the sanctuary was opened—not just for the high priest to enter in once a year, but also for all those who want to follow Jesus. Jesus did not go this way in our stead, but He consecrated it for us. The gate onto this way is strait. Jesus says that if anyone wants to follow Him he has to forsake everything, for the way is narrow. He goes on to say that he has to take up his cross daily and deny himself. We read over and over again about the old way, that it could not lead anyone to perfection; but the new way can do just that. Therefore we read, “Therefore . . . let us go on to perfection.” Heb. 6:1. Paul did one thing: He pressed on toward perfection. Phil. 3:12. Not only that, but he labored to present everyone perfect in Christ. Col. 1:28-29. Most people do not have faith for this, for they have never heard about the new way. They know only the old way. They do not know Jesus as being more than an offering for sin. They do not know Him as High Priest. Therefore they never make any progress beyond the tax collector’s prayer. They have to cast their eyes down and say, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.” They even take pride in this prayer. They do not know of the spirit of adoption, which those receive, who walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. They cannot cry out: “Abba, Father.” Rom. 8:13-16.

We read further that this new way is living. For as long as a person lives according to the flesh, he is dead in trespasses and sins. He is dead to the inheritance God has prepared for those who love Him, as well as to God’s voice and His workings. On the other hand, when a person begins to walk on the new way, he comes alive. When he takes up his cross and denies himself, with the result that his self-will is put to death, his spirit is delivered from sin in the flesh; the veil is rent, and the Word becomes true which Paul says: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” Rom. 8:9. Then we are dead to sin but alive to God. We had our life in the world and the things that are in the world; but by walking on the new way, we lose that life, yet we receive it again in God’s kingdom. We receive a sense for the imperishable treasures. We enter into the sanctuary and are alive to God’s will and to an incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance. 1 Pet. 1:3-4.

You can meet people who have called themselves “Christian” for twenty to thirty years, but you cannot speak to them about spiritual things—only about earthly things. They are simply unable to divert their minds from food and clothing, money, and the honor of man. They live according to the flesh. They have judged themselves for it many times, and maybe even tried to get out of it, but they gave up a long time ago. They gave up because they did not know the new and living way; they have stayed on the old way. Without having the faith to die to sin, they continue to pray the tax collector’s prayer for the rest of their lives. 1 Pet. 2:24.