In Hebrews 9 we saw a culminating
statement of how the Old Covenant pointed to what God would do in a New
Covenant centered on Christ. We were reminded of the imagery of the Tabernacle,
its floor plan of a Holy Place where priests were trained and the Most Holy
Place ("the Holiest of All") where God's presence was manifested. The
symbolic furniture within the Tabernacle were mentioned, in particular the ark
of the covenant and the Mercy Seat found in the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:1-5).
The limitations of the Old Testament sacrifices
showed that the purpose of the sacrifices were to point to "the time of
reformation" in Christ (Hebrews 9:6-10). The superiority and sufficiency
of Jesus atoning work was contrasted with the animal sacrifices of the Old
Covenant (Hebrews 9:11-15). The fact that a Testament to be enacted required
the death of the "death of the testator" was pointed out (Hebrews
9:16-22). And we considered how the Day of Atonement under the Old Covenant symbolically
paved the way for and pointed to the
once
for all totally sufficient atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself
(Hebrews 9:23-28). Now in Hebrews 10 we will continue to look at the
superiority of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and the benefits which come as a
result.
Hebrews 10 (NKJV)
10
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the
very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they
offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For
then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once
purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But
in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For
it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away
sins.
A copy of a hundred dollar bill will tell you
a lot about the bill, but if you try to pay for a meal at a restaurant with it
you're going to be embarrassed. You'll need a genuine piece of currency to pay
your bill. Similarly, the sacrifices offered under the Old system year after
year "can never. . . make those who
approach perfect." If they could, then they would only have needed to
be offered once. Not only are those sacrifices not able to perfect people, but
the continual offering of them serve as more of "a reminder of sins every year" that aggravate our "consciousness of sins." The blood
of animals such as bulls and goats cannot take away sins. You can't buy
forgiveness with Monopoly money. You need the precious blood of Jesus for that.
The Old system only served to drudge up guilt
for sin and had no perfecting or permanent effect which would result in gratitude.
There is a
theology that teaches the continual
sacrifice of Jesus. It is promoted through the doctrine of transubstantiation in what is called
"the mass." Transubstantiation teaches that during the liturgy of the
mass the elements of communion turn into the actual body and blood of Jesus. It
is boasted that this serves to provide the actual
presence of Jesus in the mass. But to hold such a view one must disregard
the clear teachings of scripture such as we have in the letter to the Hebrews.
The idea of a
perpetual or continual sacrifice of Jesus in the mass is a spirit killing,
conscience polluting, frustrating and impotent view of the atoning work of
Jesus. The idea of a continual sacrifice of
Jesus is simply the Old Covenant mindset packaged in a New Covenant facsimile.
It is not the authentic tender. It is not the genuine issue. It is not the
truth of the New Covenant in Christ and His "once for all" sacrifice for the sins of humanity. This passage
could not be clearer on this. The blood of bulls and goats are not offered in
such liturgy, but in effect, the blood of Jesus is lowered to the blood of
animals. The blood of animals had to be offered annually. The blood of Jesus
had to be offered once for all. If you continually offer the "blood of
Jesus" then you are seeing it as no better than the blood of animals. That
is at worst a severe offense to God and at best shortsighted spiritually.
5 Therefore, when He came
into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for
sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written
of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”
These verses quoted from Psalm 40:6-8 appear to give us a
perspective of the conversation between the Father and Jesus leading up to the
incarnation. It's as though we are brought behind the veil to hear the
conversation of the Trinity. And the enlightenment that comes from such a
conversation helps us put things in the right perspective.
These words tell us that the offerings and sacrifices
under the Old Covenant were not an end in themselves for God. God took no
pleasure in offerings and sacrifices. No, all of these were to point to Jesus.
"In the volume of the book it is
written of Me - to do Your will, O God.'" All of the Old Testament (and we can now add the New Testament to
that), all the laws and sacrifices all were revealed and given with the purpose
of preparing the way for God in Christ to offer Himself as the atoning
sacrifice for the sins of humanity. "Now all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ , and has given us the ministry
of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the
word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). To that we say
"Praise the LORD!!!"
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice
and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire,
nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then
He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the
first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have
been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for
all.
God takes pleasure in ONE SACRIFICE; the
sacrifice of His only Son Jesus. And with the sacrifice of Jesus the
previous sacrificial system is "He
takes away the first." The first sacrificial system points to and
leads to the second in Christ. But once Jesus has sacrificed Himself on the
cross, there is no need for further sacrifices.
Under the Old
Covenant sacrificial system the worshipper was constantly reminded of their
sin, its consequences and the cost of atoning for that sin which was the
lifeblood of an animal. But under the New Covenant, with the completely and
perfectly sufficient atoning sacrifice of Jesus accomplished at the cross and
affirmed accepted by the Father in the resurrection, our focus can shift away
from sin to the Savior. At the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the memorial
Communion Table for His followers to continue performing until He returns He
said, "Do this in remembrance of Me"
(Luke 22:19). We need to focus on our
Savior not our sin.
Our tendency is
to focus on our sin, our failures, our shortcomings, our inadequacies. The
devil and his demons are all too willing and eager to divert our attention from
our Savior to our sin. When our focus is on our sin it leads to defeatism,
discouragement, depression, and living outside the presence of God. The flesh
and the enemy want us to feel inadequate and undeserving to enter the presence
of God. And you know what, we are inadequate and undeserving and in our own
strength disqualified to approach God's presence. But the blessed truth is that
God as a gift of His grace through the atoning work of Jesus Christ has given
an invitation to live in His presence forever to those who would accept His
outstretched hand of fellowship through faith in Jesus. When our flesh and the
devil and his minions try to lure us to looking down into our well of sin, we
simply need to look up to Jesus, take
His hand, and walk with Him.
Imputed sanctification. The phrase "have been sanctified" (Greek hagiadzo
- Perfect/Middle/Participle) means having
been made holy, having been purified, having been consecrated, having been
sanctified, having been separated from the profane and dedicated to God, having
been cleansed (from the guilt of sin). Sanctification here is something
that, based on the grammar, the person who puts their faith in Jesus
experiences. In other words, when a person puts their faith in Jesus, their
sins are forgiven and a sanctifying state is imputed to them. There is a sanctification that is given to those
who trust Jesus as Savior.
This
sanctification is expressed in such verses as: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). By virtue of
accepting Jesus as Savior God declares us
righteous or sanctified, set apart unto
Him. That is why Paul refers to the members of the churches to which he
writes as "saints" (Greek hagiois - e.g. Romans 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2
Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2). The incredible transaction that
occurs the moment a person turns from their sin and puts their faith in Jesus
is that the effect of Jesus atoning work is credited to us; He paid for our
sins; we get His righteousness put to our account. God imputes to us the
righteousness of Jesus and a sanctification that sees us separated from the
world and belonging to God.
The problem
arises when a person does not avail themselves of what God has provided for
them in Christ. The flesh wants the person to wallow in sin and defeat so it
can manipulate the person. The devil and his hoards want the believer to live
in defeat and discouragement. But the follower of Jesus needs to walk in faith
with Jesus and the fullness of what is provided for us in Christ.
Under the New
Covenant we don't focus on our sin, we focus on our Savior Jesus; we turn from
our sin to our Savior Jesus. And when we do that it is the perfect picture of true repentance. This is the only way to
cleanse our consciences of the guilt of sin. It is through this turning from
sin and to Jesus that we see the sanctifying work mentioned in verse 10 -
" By that will we have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Turn
away from your sin and toward Jesus and experience cleansing from sin.
11 And every priest stands
ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one
sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from
that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
I like what one commentator states: "
If you feel like you’re in a rut, doing the same
things every day to try to impress God, you’re under the old system. And like
the priests of old, your work is never done."[2]
Are you living to impress God? Are you trying to earn His favor? Are you
wearing yourself out trying to measure up? If so, you're living with an Old
Covenant mindset. You may have put your faith in Jesus, but you're still living
with a religious Old Covenant mindset. And that can be very tiring and
discouraging.
summarize the
arguments concerning the superiority of the Son's high
priestly sacrifice. The contrasts given in this passage
have all been stated before either
directly
or by implication. The priests of the Levitical order stood. Jesus is seated in
heaven. Their service was daily, but
Jesus sacrificed only once. They repeatedly offered
the same kind of animal sacrifices which did not even possess
the remotest possibility of
taking
away sin and its consequences.
14 For by one offering He
has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
That is an incredible statement. The one solitary
offering of Jesus on the cross is so potent and powerful and effective that it perfects forever those who have put
their faith in Jesus and are being sanctified. In this sense we are complete,
finished in terms of the way God views us in Christ. It's as though when we
trust Jesus as Savior God stamps us perfected
forever.
Imparted
sanctification. There is something very blessed to see in this verse. To
see it involves a consideration of the grammar inspired by the Spirit here.
Paul writes that "by one offering
He has perfected forever" the believer. This reiterates the imputed
sanctification mentioned in verse 10. The phrase "He has perfected" (Greek teteleioken Perfect/Active/Indicative verb of teleioo) speaks of something completed in the past with ongoing
effects. By virtue of the onetime sacrifice of Jesus and a person having put
their faith in Jesus they are seen by God as "perfected forever," or complete in Christ. God sees us
as a finished work. This is why Paul
could write elsewhere of his confidence that God would complete what He started
in believers (e.g. Hebrews 6:9; Phil. 1:6). But even though we are
"perfected forever" it doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing! The
phrase "being sanctified" speaks
of something imparted, something
practical and to be lived out. It implies growth and development; life. Which
raises a question for us.
If we are "perfected
forever" why be concerned with how we live from that point on? Doesn't
the idea of being perfected forever remove any incentive or motivation for
living holy lives? If we're already perfected why care about any further
perfecting work? In answer to that I would say that the idea of being
"perfected forever" should lead to the greatest motivation for
continuing in holy living. Let me illustrate.
I dated my wife Dee for three years before I finally
asked her to marry me. I can remember our first date as well as my feelings
during those three years of courting and how those feelings grew. We enjoyed
each other's presence from the start. A friendship started. Then that
friendship led to romance and a deep abiding love and trust that continues to
this day. During that time I made sure to look my best, act my best and build
our friendship. What I wore was important. Deodorant was a must. I was always
appropriately groomed. I always made sure to be courteous and engaging toward
Dee and just on my best behavior. I'm sure she did the same. Our relationship
grew.
Finally the day came when I felt it was time to pop the
question; Christmas Eve 1979. I like surprises so I hid an engagement ring
under a cute small stuffed turtle stuffed into a Christmas stocking. I got Dee
some other gifts; big boxes of clothes; a skirt; some gloves. We were opening
them with her family (six siblings and her mom and dad). It was crowded. I was
a little nervous and if she didn't say yes, well, it would be embarrassing.
One by one family members opened their presents. There's
always anticipation and curiosity when you open presents on Christmas. Then it
was Dee's turn. She began opening my presents. One by one expressing thanks as
she opened them. I was getting a sense she was looking for something more.
(That was a good sign for me - her apparent spirit of anticipation. Would this be the time he proposes?) Finally
she got to the stocking. She couldn't imagine I had saved the best for last.
She looked inside and saw a little stuffed turtle. She had a big deal look in response. I coaxed her
on. Then she saw it, a small jewelry box; a ring size box. She was guarded. (It
could be earrings you know.) But she opened the box, saw the ring, and just
looked down. A hush came over the room. Her Mom screamed with delight and her
sisters followed. She looked up with tears in her eyes. My eyes met hers and I
said, "Well, will you marry me?" And she said "Yes." It
seemed like there was a concerted Well it's about time sigh of relief from
her family and everyone was overjoyed. (And a bit of thankful relief from me
too.) I'm sure if you talked to my wife
she'd fill in more details. More likely than not she'd make some corrections in my account too. But
that's how I remember it. All my prayers and preparations had led to a
memorable event in our lives.
With my work done the fun really began. Those of you who
have been married know how harrowing and frenetic planning for a wedding can
be. For us in the Northeast of the United States a wedding is a HUGE deal with lots
of planning. And my wife happens to be of Italian descent so this was a REALLY
HUGE deal. Eight months later, after a lot of plans and pre-marital counseling,
on August 9th, 1980, on a hot, hot day, Dee and are were married. I can still
close my eyes and picture my bride coming down the aisle. I don't remember much
of anything other than my beautiful bride on that day. It was a wonderful
culmination of courting that concluded in a life commitment covenant of
marriage. Wonderful.
It's not hard for me to get carried away when I'm talking
about my bride and our wedding. But what if when Dee and I were finally married
our attitude became Well, I'm sure glad
that's all over with. Now I can coast. What if we stopped caring how we
acted and looked toward one another? What if we viewed the marriage certificate
as a license to disregard and neglect our spouse? What if our
"relationship" degenerated into one of selfishly taking advantage of
the other? What if we lived on with a single mindset in a marriage relationship?
What if our love for each other stagnated and died rather than grow and
flourish? If that happened it would be evidence of a lack of real love as well
as a very superficial relationship. Really our "relationship" would
be exposed as really no relationship at all. And it's likely our marriage would
end in divorce. Sad to say that's
exactly what happens in many marriages today. Thankfully Dee and I have never
felt like that toward one another. If anything we have grown to appreciate and
sacrifice more and more for each other over the years. Our love and life has
grown inextricably intertwined with each other. We've reached and long passed a
time where we've been together longer than we haven't been together. We are a part
of each other like fraternal twins. We can look at each other and know what
we're thinking. It's a wonderful thing our marriage.
"Now this is
the main point of the things we are saying" (Hebrews 8:1). Jesus
courts us until we finally say "Yes," to His proposal of marriage. He
woos us and courts us by the Holy Spirit. Then finally the day of our
conversion and salvation arrives. It's like a wedding. Jesus has proved His
love to us on the cross. We surrender all and commit to trust our life to Him.
"Forsaking all others," we give ourselves to Jesus. Such a rite of
passage leads into an incredible life change. It leads to a kind of marriage. It
is a change built on God's revelation light in Christ and His love for us in
Christ. I like the way my wife Dee describes this; "You fall in love with
Jesus." Our spiritual wedding to Jesus is one filled with light and love
and holiness. But can you see how artificial and plastic of us it would be if
once we received all the benefits and love of Christ we responded by selfishly
and lazily going on from there with no concern for expressing our love or how
we presented ourselves to our Lover? What would you think of a spouse who gives
no love and cares little about his spouses love? How real would a love be and
how true would a relationship be that led to less and dying love rather than
more and growing love?
If marriage is viewed as merely a conquest achieved and a
notch on our belt and something we don't have to care any further about, then
we've totally missed the mark and totally failed to enter into what God
intended for us. No, when two people marry they don't view their wedding day as
an excuse to slack off and take license to care less about expressing their
love for one another. Far from it! When people marry they enter a new phase of
a life together, one of freedom to express love and build trust and friendship
in ever increasing and ever deepening ways. It is a life commitment; a covenant of love. When wed Jesus we marry Him
and it should be nothing less. Experiencing His perfection at our conversion wedding
should lead to a marriage characterized by a greater desire to grow and know
and love Him more and more each moment of all our remaining days.
A wedding is a time when two
people impute through covenant vows
to each other, a commitment "from this day forward, for better for worse,
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish."
The marriage is where the that cherishing and love commitment is imparted in life. What's even better is
that unlike an earthly marriage, with Jesus we
never have to say "until death do us part"! When we marry Jesus,
death leads to an even greater, fuller experience of the Bride with her Groom.
We will forever be imputed perfect in Christ. We will forever be imparted
perfection in a growing sanctifying relationship with Jesus.
At the end of verse 10 Paul stated those who have
accepted Jesus "have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
In verse fourteen Paul also uses the phrase "He has perfected forever." This is imputed sanctification. But
Paul then goes on to use the phrase "being
sanctified" in verse fourteen. This speaks of an imparted sanctification. He speaks of a sanctification that is a process. This is the living out of what
has been given to us by God's grace in Christ. The phrase "being sanctified" (Greek hagiadzomenous - Present/Middle/Participle verb of hagiadzo) speaks of an ongoing process. So while
we are viewed by God in Christ as having a sanctification imputed to us, there is
also a practical impartation of
sanctification which we live out. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who
dwells in us. This is our cooperation with the Spirit and growth in our walk
with the Lord. This is why Paul now mentions the Holy Spirit.
15 But
the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
It is the Holy Spirit who communicates this great
salvation to us. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and uses the Law
to lead us to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates us and gives us
spiritual life once we trust Jesus as Savior. It is the Holy Spirit who communicates
the completeness of the imputed work
of our redemption in Christ. And it is the Holy Spirit who works the imparted
sanctification process on through until the return of Christ.
The witness and
work of the Holy Spirit. What follows is the nature of what the Holy Spirit
"witnesses" (Greek martyreo) or testifies to, gives evidence of, charges, bears a record of, reports,
witnesses to. And again, the grammar (Present/Active/Indicative) of this
word conveys the idea of a constant
action. The Holy Spirit constantly gives us evidence and communicates to us
these truths. We are never alone; the
Holy Spirit is always within us bringing His comfort and correction.
16 “This
is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their
hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
The Holy Spirit
witnesses to the internal reality of God's covenant work in the believer. It
is the Holy Spirit who brings God's word and law to mind and heart. He writes
new chapters of life in us.
17 then
He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
The Holy Spirit
witnesses to us that our sins and lawless deeds are not remembered by God. When
your flesh, your weak mind or memory, or the devil try to remind you of your
sin, it is the Holy Spirit that gently nudges you to remind you that the blood
of Jesus offered on the cross for you has cancelled out your sin and God
remembers them no more. Hallelujah!
18 Now
where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for
sin.
The Holy Spirit
witnesses to the sufficiency of the atoning work of Jesus. The Holy Spirit
convinces us of the truth that the onetime sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was
and always will be sufficient to atone for our sins. It doesn't have to be
repeated continually. We simply confess our sins and God is faithful to forgive
our sins based on the completed work of Jesus (e.g. 1 John 1:7 and 9).
19 Therefore, brethren,
having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
The Holy Spirit
works to embolden us to come into His presence. "Boldness" (Greek parresia)
is confidence, outspokenness, freely
speaking. But it is not irreverence. By the blood of Jesus we can enter the
presence of God with confidence.
20 by a new and living way
which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
The Holy Spirit
works to show us a new a living way of living. We can enter the presence of
God "by a new and living way" as
opposed to an old and dead way. We enter through the veil of Jesus body. When
Jesus died on the cross the veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to
bottom. Now through the effects of that work of Jesus we can enter into the
presence of God.
21 and having a High
Priest over the house of God,
The Holy Spirit
works to reveal Jesus to us. We have a High Priest Jesus who is over the
house of God. We know Him personally and He ushers us into the presence of God.
22 let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Holy Spirit
works to assure us, build our faith and straighten out our mind and thinking. Notice
the attitude of our heart here. He doesn't emphasize a pure heart, or even a
cleansed heart. The emphasis is on a "true
heart." What is a true heart? A true heart is one that is not
pretentious or proud. A true heart acknowledges humbly one's sin but also
trusts in the atoning work of the sacrifice of Jesus. Even though I may have
messed up, even though I fall short, even though I'm weak and often fail, I
come into God's presence with a true heart "in
full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water." We enter the presence of God
relying on the full effects of Jesus atoning work in our lives.
23 Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is
faithful.
The Holy Spirit
works to help us persevere. The only way we can enter the presence of God
is by holding fast to the hope we have in Him. We do not rely on our
faithfulness but on His faithfulness. Jesus is faithful to His Father (Hebrews
3:1-2). And because of that we trust that His faithfulness to the Father will
overcome any aggravation we cause Him. He is faithful to keep those and
shepherd those whom the Father has given Him (e.g. John17:12).
24 And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of
some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching.
The Holy Spirit works in and through our fellowship. Here we see
the importance and value of fellowship. Fellowship is not optional. Fellowship
is one of the four characteristics of the early church which made it so
powerful (cf. Acts 2:42). Fellowship is where God makes His presence known
through His people. We are HIs arms and feet, His heart and mind in that He
moves us to act according to His will to receive from Him through others and to
be used by Him to ministry to others. Fellowship is where we serve as part of
the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). We find our spiritual gifts, learn to
use them, and are directed where to use them as the Holy Spirit works through
the fellowship of the church (1 Corinthians 12-14). It is in the fellowship of
the church that we are equipped to serve our Lord (Ephesians 4:11-12).
There is a maverick loner
spirit roaming around the church in our day. It is fueled by a critical spirit
toward the church and the people of its fellowship. But just remember, even
though it is clear the church had problems even by the end of the first century,
Jesus continued to walk in the midst of His Bride the church and its
fellowship. Jesus encouraged and commended the church and yes, corrected it too
(cf. Revelation 2-3). But He never abandoned the church and its fellowship of
believers. If we are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29), to
follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21) and walk as He walked (1 John 2:6), then we
should not abandon the church and its fellowship either. There is no such thing
as private Christian religion. There is no basis in scripture for loner or
individual oriented Christians. If you want to develop and grow in your walk
with the Lord, if you want to b a disciple of Jesus, you need to be involved in
fellowship.
Another counterproductive
development in the modern church is the advent of television, radio or online
access to ministry. Those who try to satisfy their need for fellowship through
the distant telecommunications of media in its various forms when they could be
in actual physical fellowship are going
to be malnourished spiritually. Christians need fellowship to be spiritual
healthy. A visual or audio presentation of a message is very limited. For some,
this may be the only means to touch some kind of fellowship. And when such
media means are the only avenue of contact with other Christians God will use
such means to effectively feed the believer. But when visual and audio services
are used as substitutes for the actual interaction in the physical presence of
fellowship, well, you can't hug a television, radio, computer, phone, I Pad or
other device. Such technology are good in a pinch or when they are the only
means of contact with others, but they should never be seen as a substitute for
going to church or participating in actual fellowship with people. Technology,
as incredible as it has become, facilitates distance and impersonal contact as
acceptable. But texts, tweets and emails don't communicate warmly and
oftentimes lend themselves to miscommunications rather than relaying truth in
love. There's no way around it, the Christian needs to be in fellowship face to
face with actual people.
Those who would excuse
themselves from fellowship because of anxiety, depression, discouragement or
some other personal life issue are shortsightedly avoiding the very place where
Jesus would offer them help. It is in the church where truth is spoken in love,
where we get to encourage others and be encouraged, where we get to edify
others and we get edified through others all as the Spirit moves us. There is a
very good reason Paul exhorts these Hebrews to not neglect fellowship here. It
is in fellowship that they will find the motivation and energy to stay true to
Jesus. It is in fellowship that Jesus will reveal His presence and put His arms
around them and hold them close and He does that through the arms of His people
in fellowship. Don't forsake or neglect gathering together in fellowship,
particularly the fellowship found in church. We are a part of the Body of
Christ. Show up, be blessed and let the Spirit use you to bless others.
Fellowship is the consideration of other believers. This is an
exhortation to first "consider one
another" (Greek katanoomen)
meaning to observe carefully, perceive
one another, observe one another carefully. Paul is telling the Hebrews to
have each other's back; to look out for one another. The grammar of this word
(Present/Active/Subjunctive) conveys the idea that this is something you should do but may possibly neglect.
What is it we should do? We
should "stir up" (Greek paroxysmos) or incite to good, contend, even irritate or exasperate in order to urge
someone to act. To stir up is to roust a person from lethargy or neglect.
It is to fire people up, to get them moving
and doing what they should be doing. What should we be stirring people
up to do?
First, stir up fellow believers to love. Sometimes Christians let
the flame of their love flicker and die out. When this happens Christian fall
into sloppy agape or passionless,
powerless or impure love for others. We need to encourage others to love. When
we see hate spewed we need to encourage truth spoken in love. When we see the
works of the flesh rearing their angry heads, we need to intervene with the
fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-24). We need to be active agents and ambassadors
of the love Jesus said His disciples would be known by (John 13:35). We need to
be walking, talking, living examples of 1 Corinthians 13 love. We need to live
in and overflow with the love of the Spirit (Romans 5:5). We need to stir up
love.
Second stir up fellow believers to do good works. Faith without
works is dead (James 2). In Hebrews 11 we will see some incredible example of
faith in action. But we should be stir up a fire in the church to do good to
others; especially those who don't deserve it. Good works can be aimed at
fellow believers in the church or unbelievers outside the church. When the
church is getting lazy we should stir up and stoke the fire of good works by
getting to work.
Third, stir up fellow believers to not forsake or neglect the gathering
together of the fellowship. In our
technologically advanced age where church services are broadcast live on radio,
TV or Internet, it's tempting to sleep a little late, maybe stay in your pajamas
and neglect going to church and experiencing real fellowship. There are many
excuses people use to neglect going to church for face to face fellowship. But
there is really no substitute for actual hand to hand, hug to hug, holy kiss to
holy kiss, and the holy conversation
that takes place when Christians gather together for fellowship.
All of this is a work of the Holy Spirit in and through us. If we
want to live and walk and grow in the Spirit, fellowship is indispensible for
this to happen. And as we draw closer and closer to "the Day" we are going to need each other more and more.
No doubt there is persecution in the near future of the church. We will need
each other then and it would be best that we are not estranged or strangers to
one another when that time comes.
26 For if we sin willfully
after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of
judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone
who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three
witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose,
will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted
the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and
insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Since all of this, (this chapter and all of Hebrews thus
far, especially concerning the sufficiency of the atoning work of Jesus), is
the witness and work of the Holy Spirit, to reject it is really to reject Him.
But understand who is being addressed here. These words are not directed at those
who fall into sin. This is speaking about the person who "willfully" (Greek hekousios)
meaning voluntarily, of one's own accord,
by choice choose to reject what they "have
received the knowledge of the truth" concerning the "sacrifice for sins" laid out
in Hebrews. Those who reject the sufficiency and solitary acceptability of the
atoning work of Jesus on the cross are guilty of apostasy. That is what is
being spoken of here.
One commentary states:
This
verse has been misused to buttress the teaching that there is no forgiveness of
deliberate sins committed
after one has become a Christian. The writer is dealing with
apostasy, not backsliding. In the context
it was addressed to Hebrew Christians who were
in
danger of apostatizing from their profession of Jesus as Messiah. The inspired
writer
assured them that if they turned
aside from Calvary's atoning sacrifice and returned to
Judaism, they would not be able to procure forgiveness of
sins and have free access to
heaven.
Christ's sacrifice is the only one that removes sin and secures access to the
Throne of Grace. Through Him we may come to
the Father in prayer.
If you want to anger Almighty God then just reject the incredible atoning work
of His only Son Jesus. Reject the sacrifice of Jesus as the sole solitary
sufficient means of atoning for sin and you are headed for " a certain fearful expectation of judgment,
and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." Under Moses
law of the lesser Old Covenant those who rejected the Law died "without mercy on the testimony of two or
three witness." If that was the case under the lesser law, " Of how much worse punishment, do you
suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot,
counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing,
and insulted the Spirit of grace?" To insult the "Spirit of grace" is to reject
God's gracious free offer of salvation in Jesus. This is akin to the blasphemy
of the Holy Spirit; the one unforgiveable sin (Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:22-27;
Luke 11:17-23).
Those who reject the gracious provision of God in Christ
find themselves on the wrong side of God: " For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord. And again, “The Lord
will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into
the hands of the living God." That's not a side you want to be found
on.
Some
people find it difficult to believe a loving God would send judgment. But the
One
who is the very essence of love is
also holy and righteous. When the limits of His mercy
have been exceeded, nothing is left but to receive His just
judgment. His hands of
blessing
are beyond description, but when His hands are used in judgment, the expression
"fearful thing" is most
appropriate.
32 But recall the former
days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with
sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by
reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those
who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my
chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you
have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Evidently there had been a time when the Hebrews written
to here had been persecuted. They had risked everything and suffered for the
sake of Jesus. They were companions in persecution with Paul. It would be
foolish to go back on what you had once valued more than life and possessions
themselves.
35 Therefore
do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For
you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you
may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will
come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by
faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those
who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Don't leave a living life in the Spirit in Christ for a dead religious
system. Here is Paul's exhortation not to give in to peer pressure. Don't
throw away "your confidence, which
has great reward." "Confidence"
(Greek parresia) is the same word
translated "boldness" in
verse 19 where it states, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to
enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus." In other words, don't throw
away God's precious provision in Christ to enter into and live in His presence.
Instead we need to have "endurance"
(Greek hypomone) or constancy, patience, continuance,
consistency, endurance. Like a bricklayer who lays brick and does so until
the thousands of bricks make up the finished product of the building they are
constructing. We need to keep laying brick. We need to live in the Spirit.
Paul again encourages and affirms
his confidence in the faith of the Hebrew Christians. He says, " But we are not of those who draw back to
perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." Paul
identifies with the Hebrew believers in Jesus.
The promise from God is that He
is coming soon. And while we wait we should wait in faith (Habakkuk 2:3-4).
These are the classic verses of faith upon which Paul based much of his
doctrine in Romans and upon which great movements of the church throughout
history have been based. "The just
shall live by faith." This is the perfect transitional verse to the
next chapter. Get ready to walk through the Hall
of Faith.
[2] Courson,
J. (2003).
Jon Courson’s Application
Commentary (p. 1489). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Complete
Biblical Library Commentary - The Complete Biblical Library – Hebrews-Jude.
Complete
Biblical Library Commentary - The Complete Biblical Library – Hebrews-Jude.
