A New and Living Way: Living in the Freedom Christ Has Already Won
Pastor Tyler Renteria
The message of Hebrews 10 is a powerful reminder that faith is not about striving to reach God—it’s about realizing that through Jesus, God has already reached us. The old systems of sacrifice and ritual were never enough to bring people into true freedom. But in this “new and living way,” we’re invited into a relationship that transforms us from the inside out. Click the link above for the full message.
The Shadow of What Was Coming
For generations, the Jewish people lived under the Old Covenant—a system given through Moses that demanded obedience to hundreds of laws. These laws, though holy and good, revealed a human problem: perfection was impossible. Sin required atonement, and year after year, priests offered animal sacrifices to cover those sins. But the writer of Hebrews makes something clear:
“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4, NIV)
Those sacrifices were never the cure. They were a temporary cover, a shadow of something better to come. They constantly reminded people of their guilt rather than removing it. The law, as the passage says, was only a shadow of the good things that were coming—not the realities themselves.
Through Jesus, that shadow was replaced by substance. What the law couldn’t accomplish, Christ did. His obedience and sacrifice fulfilled every requirement of the old system. The stain of sin was not covered—it was removed once and for all.
The Fulfillment of the Old Covenant
Jesus didn’t abolish the law; He fulfilled it. His life and death brought the promises of God to their full completion. Hebrews 10:9-10 puts it this way:
“He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
That phrase “once for all” changes everything. No longer does forgiveness depend on repeated rituals or sacrifices. The cross was enough. Jesus became the bridge that connected a broken humanity to a perfect God.
The old covenant constantly reminded people of what they weren’t. The new covenant reminds us of who we are—redeemed, forgiven, and free.
The Posture of Victory
The priests of Israel stood daily before the altar because their work was never finished. But Hebrews 10:12 says:
“When this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”
That’s a posture of victory. The work is done. The debt is paid. The striving can stop. Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father declares that redemption is complete—not in progress, not conditional, but finished.
To be “made perfect” in this context doesn’t mean to be flawless. It means to be made whole—to be fully reconciled to God. While we are still being transformed daily, our status before God is secure. We’re not working toward forgiveness; we’re living out the holiness that has already been given to us.
From Law on Stone to Law on the Heart
Under the old covenant, God’s commands were written on tablets of stone. Under the new one, He writes His truth directly on our hearts.
“I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Hebrews 10:16, NIV)
Transformation no longer comes from external effort but internal renewal. The Spirit of God changes us from the inside out. It’s not about performance—it’s about surrender.
We often fall back into the mindset of the old covenant, thinking that if we just try harder, we’ll finally be “good enough.” But true change doesn’t come from fixing behaviors—it comes from allowing God to transform our hearts.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) echoes this truth:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
When God renews your mind, obedience stops being pressure and becomes freedom.
Forgiven and Forgotten
Perhaps one of the most staggering truths of Hebrews 10 is this:
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17, NIV)
God doesn’t just forgive; He chooses to forget. Not because He’s unaware, but because the debt is paid in full. Psalm 103:12 captures it beautifully:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
There’s no end to east or west—they never meet. That’s the measure of God’s forgiveness. When you trust in Christ, your past no longer defines you. The Father looks at you and sees the righteousness of His Son.
So when shame whispers that you’ll never be enough, remember the cross. Jesus isn’t pacing heaven worried about whether His sacrifice was sufficient. He’s seated—because it was.
The Invitation to Draw Near
Hebrews 10:19–22 gives us a breathtaking picture of access:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
In the Old Covenant, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only under strict rules. Now, every believer can come boldly to God. There’s no ritual, no prerequisite, no waiting period.
This means you can approach God in every situation:
When you’re anxious about the future
When finances are tight
When relationships are strained
When you’ve failed again
You don’t need to earn His attention—you already have it.
Holding On to Hope
When Hebrews was written, believers were facing persecution, loss, and pressure to give up. The author reminded them to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, because “He who promised is faithful.”
Hope isn’t optimism. It’s not pretending everything’s okay. It’s the deep assurance that God will do what He said He would do.
Holding on to hope is a daily decision. Some days, it’s easy. Other days, it’s a fight. But the beauty of faith is that hope can be chosen again and again—even when feelings don’t follow.
“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10:35, NIV)
When life shakes your foundation, remember who your hope is anchored to.
Living in Authentic Community
The writer of Hebrews also emphasizes that faith is not meant to be lived alone:
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another.” (Hebrews 10:24–25, NIV)
Community isn’t just about attendance; it’s about connection. It’s about being honest, vulnerable, and available.
When believers gather—whether in church, a small group, or around a table—something powerful happens:
Encouragement replaces isolation
Accountability strengthens resolve
Grace becomes visible
Faith grows best when it’s shared. If you’re lacking community, seek it out intentionally. Text someone, invite a friend to coffee, join a group. Don’t wait for it to find you—create it.
The Serious Side of Grace
Hebrews 10:26–31 gives a sobering warning about deliberately rejecting God’s grace:
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.”
This isn’t about believers who struggle or stumble—it’s about those who knowingly and willfully reject Christ’s sacrifice. Grace is not a license to sin; it’s an invitation to freedom.
God’s mercy is powerful, but it’s not cheap. Ignoring it leads to spiritual destruction. The call here isn’t to live in fear—it’s to live with reverence for what Christ has done.
If you’ve drifted or fallen into patterns of sin, it’s not too late to return. Jesus’s forgiveness still covers those who are willing to come back.
Persevering in Faith
The chapter closes with encouragement for those who are tired or struggling:
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded… we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:35, 39, NIV)
Faith isn’t passive—it’s perseverance. The early believers endured insults, loss, and persecution, yet they stood firm because they knew that what they had in Christ was better than anything the world could offer.
Perseverance isn’t about being strong all the time. It’s about trusting that even in weakness, God is faithful. Every act of endurance—every prayer whispered in pain, every decision to trust again—builds a life of lasting reward.
Living the “New and Living Way”
This is what the “new and living way” looks like:
Draw near to God — Approach Him boldly and honestly.
Hold on to hope — Choose trust even when it’s difficult.
Live in community — Encourage, uplift, and walk alongside others.
Each step points to a life lived in freedom, not fear. We belong to God, and He belongs to us. The sacrifice is finished, and our Savior is seated in victory.
A Call to Action
Spend time reflecting on what it means that Jesus’s work is finished.
Ask yourself: where am I still striving to earn what He’s already given?
Reach out to someone this week and encourage them in faith.
If you’ve been distant from God, take one small step today to draw near again.
Freedom is not found in trying harder—it’s found in resting in what’s already done.
Further Reading
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled “Jesus is still the GOAT” on View Church’s YouTube Channel.
Explore more spiritual resources and studies at www.viewchurch.co/resources.