Hebrews Chapter Ten, Fellowship Between Saints

 

Hebrews 10:24 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.

 

Twice so far in Hebrews we have read about “dead works;” first in 6:1, and then in 9:14. In Hebrews 6:1 the Hebrew Christians are reminded that repentance from dead works precedes faith toward God. When we are finally willing to acknowledge the futility of works done to merit life, then we may transplant that faith from Self to God.

In Hebrews 9:14, the writer reminds his readership that it is the blood of Christ that cleanses their conscience from dead works, the self-same “evil conscience” that is sprinkled by the blood of the new covenant, Hebrews 10:22. So we may infer that dead works originate from an evil conscience. Paul words it this way: “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work,” Titus 1:15, 16.

 

This is a sobering passage. These professing believers claim to know God, but disqualify themselves by the very works they perform.  This passage is a good parallel to Hebrews 10:26, which we will touch upon next. Having received the knowledge of the truth, professing Christians persist in meriting grace and life, offering sacrifices where there are no more to be made. They are abominable, disobedient, and their works are disqualified from being considered, “good.”

 

Opposite dead works, the writer encourages good works. He prefaces his commentary on the topic with, “and let us consider one another.” Why? To stir up love (the motivator of good works) and the works themselves. John writes, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth,” 1 John 3:17, 18. Christ commanded us, that love of the brethren would be the defining hallmark of the Christian church. Men will know that we are Christ’s disciples when we love one another. But love that translates only into lip service is not the tangible evidence the world needs to see to know we belong to Christ. John says that love is in deed (by our actions) and in truth. Love is active in providing for others, grounded in the truth that we love because He first loved us, demonstrating this by dying for us.

 

Titus 3:8 informs us, “that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” So the saints are to maintain good works, in fact, we are cautioned to be careful to do so. But these works don’t merit grace from God; they are profitable for our fellow man. First off, Christians are to take care of others, but especially fellow believers. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:10. Herein is the description of “good works” as seen in our current verse and Titus 3:8. Again, love is the motivator, first we are to stir up love, and good works will result. The NASB substitutes “stir up” with “stimulate.”

 

Jesus warned us about our works, and how we should perform them. Anonymity is highly regarded. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 6:1, ESV. Good works are not meant to reflect us; they are for the good of others and the glory of God. Christ, who indwells us through His Holy Spirit, is living out His life in us, and His ministry to serve others continues in us. Are our good works done in Christ? Are they done to gain notice? Are they done by rote? Are they done to earn something from the Father? If so, they are done in vain, for God will not accept them as good. We have fallen into the condemnation of being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified.

 

Verse 25 is a natural extension to the previous verse. In the positive, we are encouraged to stir up love, resulting in good works for our brethren. In the negative, we are discouraged from abandoning fellowship with other Christians. This only makes sense. We cannot do good to those we will not even fellowship with. The writer calls for the continued assembling of ourselves, unlike the manner of some.

 

Apparently there was a minority in the church, already in the time of this epistle, who disregarded seeking out fellowship for worship and mutual edification. Mind you, this does not mean that every Christian needs to attend “church.” By this, I mean a church building filled with people. Many churches exist today, not a few in Duluth and Superior around me, that are not Christian, and in which I would not feel comfortable. Praise the Lord that Gillian and I have found New Hope Bible Church, and are close friends with those attending. It is a real blessing, a comfort and a good day of worship and learning. But recall that Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them,” Matthew 18:20, ESV.

 

Church, then, is everyone and anyone saved by grace through faith in the Son of God. When we gather, even a few of us, we have assembled ourselves to worship, fellowship, learn and teach. The writer cautions by implication that there should be no legitimate excuse for forsaking the assembly of ourselves, and not to follow the example of those that do. Perhaps this was part of the reason also why Paul counseled against marrying an unbeliever. If you are married to a fellow saint, you may always attend church, every day, any time, because two of you may gather in Jesus’ name.

 

The writer commends exhortation. To exhort generally means to encourage, which is how the ESV, NASB, and RSV translate the term. This exhortation is to increase more and more as we—God’s people—see the Day approaching. This is, of course, the Day of the Lord, and the day of Chris’s return in glory, the thousand-year reign. It is our sanctification. John writes, “but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is, and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure,” 1 John 3:2, 3. The Christian life is motivated by the imminent return of our Lord in glory, and that we ought to hasten the Day of the Lord and love His appearing. Jesus’ Second Coming is meant to excite and stir us up to holy living, because we want to be found watching and obeying, rather than abusing our fellow servants and falling in with drunkards because He tarries, Matthew 24:48-51, see also 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10.