Hebrews 10:36-39
[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.
To overview chapter 10: verses 1-4 describe the insufficiency of animal sacrifice. While animal sacrifice was established to atone or “cover” sin, it perpetuated the memory of man's sinful state before a holy God and anticipation of sin's removal. It was prophesied that the Messiah, the Christ would come and do just that. Verses 5-10 provide the framework for this, quoting Psalm 40:6-8 and applying it to the coming advent of Jesus Christ who would be born as Savior. The Jews knew that the sacrifice of an animal would atone for them; they were saved from their sins by shed blood, Leviticus 17:11. Now a man was born who would save them from their sins by abolishing the system of works in Judaism and establishing a new covenant ratified in His own blood. The offering of Christ before the Father was efficacious once for all.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A Considerate Sequel to Hebrews, Part 5
Hebrews 10:32-35
[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 a companion 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.
[35] Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
The Hebrew Christians were faltering. They needed to be reminded of the efficacy, the purity, majesty and perfection of Jesus Christ. The entire epistle of Hebrews glows with the grandeur of Christ's superiority to angels, Moses, the law, the priesthood, and animal sacrifice. They would be departing from the truth and returning to a shadow of what had already appeared. The cross of Christ was a great burden, and still is for many today; which is largely the reason for so much compromise within the professing church as liberals and universalists try to reconcile the doctrines of the faith with outside influences. The antidote, the writer is stating, is a clear and powerful picture of Jesus Christ as our Mediator, High Priest and Apostle.
[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 a companion 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.
[35] Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
The Hebrew Christians were faltering. They needed to be reminded of the efficacy, the purity, majesty and perfection of Jesus Christ. The entire epistle of Hebrews glows with the grandeur of Christ's superiority to angels, Moses, the law, the priesthood, and animal sacrifice. They would be departing from the truth and returning to a shadow of what had already appeared. The cross of Christ was a great burden, and still is for many today; which is largely the reason for so much compromise within the professing church as liberals and universalists try to reconcile the doctrines of the faith with outside influences. The antidote, the writer is stating, is a clear and powerful picture of Jesus Christ as our Mediator, High Priest and Apostle.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
A Considerate Sequel to Hebrews, Part 4
Hebrews 10:29-31
[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.
The more one knows, the more one is held accountable for that knowledge. Being saved by grace through faith in Christ is infinitely more valuable and efficacious than animal sacrifice; if the Hebrew Christians reverted to offering animal blood on Jewish altars they were, in essence, trampling the Son of God underfoot and insulting the Spirit of Grace; compare with Ephesians 4:30 and 1st Thessalonians 5:19. It would be worse than offering defiled animals in place of unblemished ones, as it was during Malachi’s day, Malachi 1:6-8. Instead, the Hebrews would revert to offering redundant sacrifice after God finished sacrifice with the offering of His Son; it is a rejection of God’s salvation, an insult to His trustworthy name. God has warned that He will judge His people. Peter writes: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1st Peter 4:17.
[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.
The more one knows, the more one is held accountable for that knowledge. Being saved by grace through faith in Christ is infinitely more valuable and efficacious than animal sacrifice; if the Hebrew Christians reverted to offering animal blood on Jewish altars they were, in essence, trampling the Son of God underfoot and insulting the Spirit of Grace; compare with Ephesians 4:30 and 1st Thessalonians 5:19. It would be worse than offering defiled animals in place of unblemished ones, as it was during Malachi’s day, Malachi 1:6-8. Instead, the Hebrews would revert to offering redundant sacrifice after God finished sacrifice with the offering of His Son; it is a rejection of God’s salvation, an insult to His trustworthy name. God has warned that He will judge His people. Peter writes: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1st Peter 4:17.
Friday, July 2, 2010
A Considerate Sequel to Hebrews, Part 3
Hebrews 10:26-28
[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 that will devour the adversaries.
[28] Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
The next section begins with an ardent warning about living in a state of willful sin after receiving the truth. Verse 19 informs us that through the blood of Christ we have boldness to enter the Holiest. The concept is one of a close-knit fellowship with God; you are dwelling with Him in the Holiest. Verse 26 warns that it is only by this same blood that one is cleansed from willful sin. Since sin separates, a believer who indulges in willful sin is without the Holiest; they retain salvation but must come to Christ for cleansing, so they may walk with Him in renewed fellowship, 1st John 1:7. The writer includes himself in this passage by saying “we,” intending to convey the idea that what he is about to relate could even come upon him through habitual sin. A willful sin would be to continue living in the lifestyle (or to practice the vice) that Christ died to set us free from after receiving salvation by faith.
[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 that will devour the adversaries.
[28] Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
The next section begins with an ardent warning about living in a state of willful sin after receiving the truth. Verse 19 informs us that through the blood of Christ we have boldness to enter the Holiest. The concept is one of a close-knit fellowship with God; you are dwelling with Him in the Holiest. Verse 26 warns that it is only by this same blood that one is cleansed from willful sin. Since sin separates, a believer who indulges in willful sin is without the Holiest; they retain salvation but must come to Christ for cleansing, so they may walk with Him in renewed fellowship, 1st John 1:7. The writer includes himself in this passage by saying “we,” intending to convey the idea that what he is about to relate could even come upon him through habitual sin. A willful sin would be to continue living in the lifestyle (or to practice the vice) that Christ died to set us free from after receiving salvation by faith.
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