When someone decides to follow Christ, there is an expectation that their life will change. Not, perhaps, immediately. And certainly not completely overnight, but change is a hallmark of becoming a follower of the Messiah. What are some signs of a transformed life? Hebrews 10:19-25 gives us some insight.
In order to understand the truths of Hebrews 10:19-25, it is important to understand the context of Hebrews 10 as a whole. Of course, knowing the context of Hebrews 10 within the broader context of the book of Hebrews is also helpful. The book of Hebrews is, basically, a letter written to early Jewish believers to help solidify their faith and confidence in Jesus Christ, their long awaited Messiah, and to demonstrate how and why Jesus is superior to all the Jewish people knew and held dear. For example, the writer of Hebrews goes to great lengths to show that Jesus and His work on the cross is superior to the Law of Moses and the sacrificial system. The writer of Hebrews is adamant that Jesus is far superior to angels and that His work as High Priest is final, complete and all that is necessary for reconciliation to God.
Hebrews 10 contains two great truths that are essential for every believer to understand and embrace–prerequisites to a transformed life, as it were. The first big theme of Hebrews 10 is: God does not desire sacrifice and offering from us . . . Jesus was the ultimate and only acceptable sacrifice to Him. And the second big theme of Hebrews 10 is: The finished work of Christ transforms those who believe . . . the New Covenant is about God placing His law in our hearts and minds in a way that was not possible before the work of Christ. The New Covenant that the writer of Hebrews is contrasting with the Old Covenant is a covenant that does not require anything of us. It is a covenant that is completely based upon the work of Jesus Christ. Embracing that reality is what Hebrews 10 is all about. Embracing the finished work of Christ transforms lives in a way that attempting to obey the law could never accomplish.
So, what does a transformed life look like? What are hallmarks of a life that has been radically altered by the fact that Jesus died, once for all, and that His finished work is all that we need to be reconciled to God? As noted above, Hebrews 10:19-25, provides us a snapshot of what a transformed life looks like (or begins to look like). These are the signs of a transformed life, signs of true life, indeed:
Confidence. Hebrews 10:19-22 says, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . .” (emphasis mine). A person who has embraced the finished work of Christ and who understands that God does not desire sacrifices or dutiful worship from them is someone who has become bold and assured and is willing and able to enter into the very presence of God. The first reader of these words–the early Jewish believer–the idea of walking body into the Holiest was unheard of and even an absurd thought. No one, other than the High Priest, could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then, only once a year. And there was nothing about the High Priest’s entrance into the Holy of Holies that could be considered bold. Yet the writer of Hebrews is not only encouraging but expecting the one who has trusted Christ to enter into the Holiest boldly and in full assurance. The first sign of a transformed life is a confidence in the love and acceptance of God through Jesus Christ. Does this sign exist in your life?
Closeness. As noted above, Hebrews 10:22 invites the follower of Christ to “draw near” to God. Indeed, entering into the Holiest through the blood of Jesus means being in the presence of God. Those who are in the presence of God are able to discern the will of God, to know HIs priorities and understand His will. Being near to God allows those in His presence to “benefit” from the proximity to Him, the “benefit” being a relationship with Him that provides insight into who He really is and what His agenda is all about. Closeness to God, through Jesus, is a privilege and an honor. As hard as it was for the early Jewish follower of Christ to believe, God desires that His children come near to Him and have a relationship that draws them closer and closer to His throne. Jesus has provided access to God through His blood . . . have you accepted Jesus’ invitation into the presence of God and can you say that you’ve draw near to Him since you’ve trust Christ? A sign of transformed life is proximity to God’s presence. Is this sign of a transformed life apparent in your life today?
Consistency. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (emphasis mine). A transformed person–someone truly saved and truly holding an understanding of the finished work of Christ–is one who holds fast and does not waver in what they believe about Jesus. They hold fast to their confession–their belief that Jesus is the Messiah and all that they need to be saved–and they don’t let go. They are consistent in their belief and not constantly doubting and worrying about how to please God. They are not distracted when others around them are doubting and questioning because they have become convinced that Jesus has opened the way to the Father and they cannot turn back from that truth. A transformed life is on that has a consistency of belief about it. Have you reached that place, yet? Are you consistent in your beliefs about Jesus and do you hold fast the confession you have made? A transformed Christian life is one of consistency of belief and a lack of wavering from that belief. Do you see this sign of transformation in your life?
Consideration. Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works . . .” (emphasis mine). A transformed life is one that takes others into consideration and does so with purpose: to stir up in others love and good works. As followers of Christ, we are to look around the church and ask who we can help become more like Christ, who we can help have more love, who we can help do more good works that bring God glory. A person who has been saved begins to consider things and people in ways they have never done before. They begin to wonder how they can help others become more like Christ. In many churches, consideration of others to stir up is normal occurrence . . . but the stirring up usually has nothing to do with love or good works! Often, churches are full of people who look around and consider others as targets for gossip or derision and stir up strife and hurt. This is not to be the case for the person who has truly come into the presence of God through Jesus Christ. The person who has trusted Christ has been changed and now considers others in order to help them fulfill their callings. What about you? Do you stir up love and good works after you consider others or do you stir up strife? A sign of a transformed life is considering others in order to stir up love and good works. Is this sign showing up in your life?
Congregating. Hebrews 10:25 says, “. . . not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching” (emphasis mine). Gathering together with other believers as the church is an essential component of being a true follower of Christ. Having no interest in being with other believers who will consider you and find ways of stirring up love and good works in your life is a sign of someone who has not understood what Jesus desires from those who trust Him. A person who has been transformed by the finished work of Jesus on the cross is someone who desires to worship Him and to learn more about Him and how to live according to His word. Congregating with other believers is essential for discipleship and growth. There is something inherently important about followers of Christ gathering together. The writer of Hebrews is adamant that a transformed person, grateful to Jesus for saving Him through His blood, should gather with others who share that same belief. Indeed, a truly transformed life is one that is characterized by gathering with other believers for worship and training in the word. Do you gather regularly with other believers? Do you have the desire to gather with us? Or, are you doing what some Christians doe and forsaking the gathering together of the believers? A transformed life is one that is regularly congregating with others follower of Christ. Is this a sign that is evident in your life?
Calling. The second part of Hebrews 10:25 says, “. . . exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching” (emphasis mine). Followers of Christ are to call each other to deeper levels of commitment to Christ. They are exhort each other to live worthy of the Gospel. A person who is confident the finish work of Christ and who has experienced the transformation that comes about when God puts His law in their mind and hearts is a person who desires to call others to that same experience. A transformed life is one that desires others to be transformed. The follower of Christ who has experienced closeness to God as a result of confidently entering the Holiest is one who wants to see others experience the presence of God as they have. The follower of Christ who regularly congregates with other believers is one who should desire to see others do the same. A sign of transformation is a desire to call others to deeper levels of faith and obedience, and with that desire comes an urgency for that happen as the Day (the return of Christ) approaches. A sign of a transformed life is the calling of others to closeness of Jesus and a sense of urgency about that call as time goes by. What about you? Do you see this sign in your life?
My hope is that you will read these signs of transformation and ask if you have been transformed or if you’re in the process of being transformed. If you cannot see any of these sign in your life, ask yourself the hard question: “Am I saved by grace through faith?” If you cannot see any signs of the work of Christ in your life, I want to encourage you to go back to the two major themes of Hebrews 10, outlined above, and consider if you’ve ever stopped trying to earn your salvation and whether you’ve truly come to understand that the New Covenant inaugurated by Jesus is a convent that requires nothing of us except trusting in His finished work.
The key is simply this: Jesus is our only hope. He has done the work on our behalf. He desires to invite you into the presence of God. And when He does, your life begins to change because of your proximity to Him. If these signs are absent from your life–or waning or only faintly visible–my exhortation to you is this: draw near to Him in full assurance of faith. Then, I am confident, you’ll be transformed.