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Hebrews 10 : 19 - A Call to Persevere The Book of Hebrews is all about the supremacy of Christ. He is God's final Word to man. He is higher than the angels. He is greater than Moses. Greater than Joshua Greater as priest His is the better covenant His is the better worship In reference to this, G Campbell Morgan in his book 'God's last word to man' says ... 'We have seen Him superior to angels in the fact of His Sonship; superior to Moses in the fact that He is Son and Master of the House; superior to Joshua in that He leads His people to rest; superior to Aaron in that His priesthood is for ever after the order of Melchizedek. We have seen the new centre of worship established, and the possibility of approach upon the basis of a new spiritual covenant.' So we come to chapter 10 ... Jesus - whose sacrifice was a once and for all sacrifice through whom now, we have direct access to God - through the blood of Jesus. The Holy of Holies that was once inaccessible to all but the High priest, is now accessible to us - through Jesus. The curtain has been torn - we can now know God intimately and personally through Jesus. And with all this - the writer says to us as believers - we have privileges, but also responsibilities. Privileges listed in the previous chapters - ref Christ's superiority, but also in these few verses 19f ... We have confidence to enter ... We have a great priest ( over the house of God ) We have our hearts sprinkled ( freedom from guilt ) We have our bodies washed ( an inner cleansing ) All privileges - lead to responsibility - none more so, than for the believer. And this is our theme. We have a call to persevere - how do we do that ? Well verses 22 - 25 tell us.
Let us draw near means to continuously draw near; Let us hold 'fast' means to persistently hold 'fast;' Let us consider one another means to constantly consider; It is also interesting to note that what we are called to do involves three key words 'faith' 'hope' 'love' The first two, responsibility is strictly for the individual; the third one is plural - it embraces the 'body', the fellowship. 1. Let us draw near to God v 22 How ? ... 'with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,' Draw ( come ) near to God and he will draw near to you - says James ( 4 : 8 ) But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73 : 28 Are you experiencing God close to you ? If not who has moved ? Do you know ( as opposed to feelings ) God close to you? Well we can. If we are sincere ( true ) in heart and in full assurance of faith It is this OT picture of the priests who had the right to draw near to God, but they were to be clean before they did so ( ceremonial ) Here it is the believer who can draw near to God - but their hearts must be right - sincere, true. Truth in the inward parts. ( Confession and putting away our defilement ). Paul talks of faith that is sincere, love that is sincere. Hearts and lives that are genuine. In full assurance of faith .... this is the full assurance of faith that comes to us through the blood of Jesus, the completeness of Christ's work on the cross - being assured of the priesthood of Christ is that which brings us acceptance with God - none other. We have the right of access to the Holy of Holies - to the very throne room of heaven. Our responsibility is that we take hold of this privilege and use it - practice it. 2. Let us hold unswervingly v 23 What/ who to ? ... 'to the hope we profess, ' How ? ... 'for he who promised is faithful.' Let us hold fast / unswervingly .... To keep hold; to be steadfast; without bending; hesitation or doubt. The best way to motivate us to hold fast etc is to remind us of the Promisor - God Himself who is always faithful. His is an unchanging faithfulness .... 1Cor 1 : 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Thess 5 : 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. The hope which we profess as believers, the faith that we hold onto as believers - let us do so firmly and with security - based on our Faithful, Unchanging God. Who has promised. Our hope is never built upon ourselves, our works, or personality, character, education, wealth. If it is, be warned - it will fail. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Our hope is built on the promises of a faithful God. Faith and hope walking hand in hand together. 3. Let us consider v24 What ? ... 'how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.' In the light of what we have heard before - let's consider ( think about, think through, act upon, how we can spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Not so we can earn our salvation ( already established this is hopeless ) - but at out working of our faith, our hope as a responsibility that comes with the privileges - how can we demonstrate all this - by love and good works. Without love you we nothing says Paul Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. says John Look around you - when was the last time you did that to more than one person in this room ? When was the last time we could say - that is what I really try to do to my fellow believers - at OPBC. When was the last time we felt spurred on by somebody. With privilege, comes responsibility. How responsible are you / I with what God has given us. Don't try to justify yourself before God - Christ will justify you. Ask yourself, before God, with hearts that are true, sincere, genuine - how can I spur on my sister, my brother? There is a huge need for us to encourage, build up, edify one another. Remember what we said earlier - the third point - is plural. It's for the fellowship. It's me working to spur you on etc etc. This leads us nicely in to our next point as the writer gives us a couple of ways that it needs to be done. 4. Let us not v 25 Not what ? ... 'give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,' The NT knows nothing of solitary, isolated Christian living. We need to meet together. This is not a dig at people for non attendance, this is not having ago because you missed this meeting or that meeting - These are words of love, to help spur you on, to help you keep on keeping on. Don't give up meeting together - some of you are in this habit - says ( Paul ) You need fellowship; you need others; but they need you as well. It is part of the responsibility of the privileges we have in Christ - don't give up meeting together. There are not many people who having fellowshipped together regularly all of a sudden stop coming. It tends to be as a general rule a steady decline - miss a meeting here, there etc. ( The Greek word for 'give up' speaks of desertion, abandoning - this is also apparent re v 26 where it says if we deliberately keep on sinning .... ) Be challenged by this - hear what I'm saying - hear the manner in which I hope I'm saying it - out of encouragement - I want to encourage you ... 5. Let us encourage v 25 Who ? ... 'one another' Why ? ... 'Because there is a Day that is approaching.' The Early Church lived in the expectancy of Christ's second coming at any time - there was this urgency about their faith, hope, love, work etc 2K years have dulled that sense for believers today - but we are to encourage one another because this Day is approaching. It has never been nearer than it is today. Christ will return - Remember God's words are true - He is faithful to them. The last three points, all hinge of the first two. Are you drawing near to God ? Are you holding on to Him, His death and His promises as your hope .... Well then, let us together, here in OPBC spur each other on .... not give up meeting together .... encourage one another. Back to top of page |
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