"19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Hebrews 10:19-25
We come with these verses to the end of the doctrinal exposition and the beginning of the exhortation which the Apostle bases upon it. The pattern is - and here we are in harmony with all the other New Testament writings - "Since these things are so, since these are the facts of the situation, therefore there are certain things that we ought to do, as a consequence". But notice carefully what in fact he does say. He is not exhorting us here "to have boldness to enter in by the blood of Jesus". The exhortation begins at 22 "Let us draw near...." In 19-21, he sums up, so to speak, the argument of the previous chapters under three heads, and on the basis of this gives a threefold exhortation. There are three basic realities, he says, which as believers we possess - we have boldness, we have a living way, we have a high priest. To match this, he adds, "Let us draw near" (22), "Let us hold fast..." (23), and "Let us consider...." (24). The word for 'boldness' has a particular meaning in the New Testament, and is associated with 'boldness in speech'. It is the word used to describe the apostles' attitude when preaching the gospel. What the Apostle is indicating here is that through Christ's finished work in death and resurrection, we have now boldness of speech with God. Through Christ we are now 'on speaking terms' with God. Recall, for a moment how the epistle opens, "God.... hath spoken unto us in His Son". He instituted the gospel to break the silence, the estrangement, that sin brought between Himself and mankind, and through that gospel we are now on speaking terms with Him. That is the boldness of which the Apostle speaks, and which is ours in and through Christ. Wonder of wonders, that we should thus be allowed to speak to Him.