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Tracing Hebrews
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The book of Hebrews opens up by addressing the audience to be those whom, by profession and in reality (the author including himself), have had the purging work of salvation (2 Peter 1:9) through the blood of Christ, Who, “by Himself purged our sins” (Heb. 1:3). The OT was delivered, “by the disposition of angels” (Acts 7:53, Gal. 3:19), therefore the first chapter compares the excellence and majesty of angels with that of Jesus Christ. The Law was given by “the angel which spake” (Acts 7:38), but God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds” (Heb. 1:2). At the outset of the 2nd chapter of Hebrews, the author introduces the first of many warnings of damnation which appear throughout the book of Hebrews.
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"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:1-4)
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Seeing that Christ is so much greater than angels (Heb. 1), and “the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward” (Heb. 2:2), how much more steadfast is the word of One greater than angels – the Son of God Himself? The superiority of Christ over the angels is not revealed to mean that His grace disallows the consequence of wrath for the fallen, but rather, a greater wrath for the fallen. How much greater and surer is the “just recompence” of those who are in “disobedience” to the voice of the Son of God, Whose voice, not the angels, did usher in the New Covenant? Christ, from “the bosom of the Father” (Jn. 1:18), Who alone is sufficient to declare, express, and show forth the image, declaration, and Person of the Father – He hath spoken the New Covenant as One that “speaketh from heaven” (Heb. 12:25). The author argues that we must be sure of Christ’s greatness, specifically more so than the greatness of angels, to what end? Christ’s word is more severe in its recompense of just wrath when it is disobeyed, beyond what the angel’s word was. How much more promising is wrath to those who hear the word of Christ, and then neglect it (though they were saved), so as to “hear His voice” “today” and yet they “harden” their “hearts” (Heb. 4:7, 3:15)?! The author desires to show the surety of damnation, the inability to “escape” (Heb. 2:3, 12:25) damnation, if indeed, those who are “purged” and saved do “neglect” (Heb. 2:3) or “refuse” (Heb. 12:25) to continue in the Covenant of grace, or in other words, “draw back” from faith (Heb. 10:38). As it was with the OT, even so, much more now, “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief” (Prov. 28:14). This is the first warning of the book of Hebrews (Heb. 2:1-4), and, it is parallel to the last (Heb. 12:25-29). From chapter 2 through 12, the book of Hebrews writes an argument to prove the utter inability to escape eternal damnation if, when you are presently saved, you do lose faith. This is to no wonder, for, we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).
The next warning is in chapters 3-4. The audience of this severe warning are those who are called, “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1), who are also called the house of Christ on earth (Heb. 3:6); “made partakers of Christ” (Heb. 3:14). It cannot be argued that this warning is for counterfeit, professors of the faith (or false believers), for then they would be men who claim to believe but are not really holy. The text says that it is written to a people who are called “holy brethren” (Heb. 3:1). I repeat, this is not a crowd or congregation of mingled unbelievers and believers that the author is writing to; THEY ARE CALLED “holy brethren.” Hebrews 3-4, as formerly addressed in detail, preaches the fear of losing salvation by referencing the OT breach of promise (Num. 14:34) as a NT reality (Heb. 4:1), applying it to NT Christians in the verse – “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Unbelief is manifest through a hardened heart (Heb. 3:13, 15, 4:7). Hardness is manifest in disobedience of the heavenly voice that a Christian does hear, therefore – “To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:7, 3:15). If one fears coming short of the promise (through unbelief, Heb. 4:1), he is then exhorted to hold fast and maintain his faith by seeing the great grace of Jesus (Heb. 4:14-16). This grace is help to the hardened. It is ever-accessible at the “throne of grace”, so that, if a man has faith, then he can draw near to it without the fear of rejection (or boldly, see Heb. 4:16). Therefore if a man fears losing his salvation, let him fearlessly, or “boldly” (Heb. 4:16), come to the throne of grace to receive power to obey, softness of heart, and the ability to fulfill the mandate – “let us labour therefore” (Heb. 4:11). There is sufficient “help” to all our “needs” (Heb. 4:15-16) of heart change, right there, at the throne of grace, but there is no hope for a man who departs from grace, becomes fearless in disobedience, in continuance, until the day of his own provocation. Indeed, we have a need to obey His voice! Therefore regenerate reader, look to the throne of GRACE! The throne – the place of power, authority, rule, victory, and righteousness in God – has become for us a place where we can fearlessly and confidently draw near for helping power to obey, because, it has become a Throne of GRACE by the blood of Jesus. It is a Throne of unmerited favor and undeserved acceptance – God’s pity for personal power! We are undeservedly accepted in unmerited favor, that we might serve and obey the active voice of God – herein is the end of saving faith!
The biblical life of saving faith does “labour” (Heb. 4:11) with “diligence” (Heb. 6:11, 11:6, 12:2, 15, 2 Peter 1:5, 10), therefore it is not “slothful” but steadfast (or patient, see Heb. 6:12). Faith fears a laborless life! The unction teaches us that faith without works would accuse the grace of God to be vain (1 Cor. 15:10, Matt. 25:26, 1 John 2:27). The terrifying fear of God did drive Paul to “labour” that he might “be accepted” of Christ at His “Judgment Seat” (2 Cor. 5:9-11). His faith gave him a confident awareness that he will, one day, appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is what he meant in 2 Cor. 5:8 when he said that he is “confident” he will be “present with the Lord.” Because Paul will be present with the Lord at the “Judgment Seat” (2 Cor. 5:10), he is driven to “labour,” that whether on earth or in heaven, or as he phrased it, “that whether present or absent we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:9-10). Paul and the apostles knew this “terror of the Lord” personally. They taught this terror of the Lord corporately, like as Peter said - “If ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17). Fatherhood and adoption does not mean we are to behave in fearlessness before God, as many incorrectly argue; this is a misinterpretation of Romans 8:15 (Furthermore, for an answer to the passage, “perfect love casts out fear”, see the section entitled, “GOD IS LOVE”). “Let us therefore fear,” Hebrews 4:1 commands, that we may fearlessly stay near God in obedience! Herein is the goal of all fear taught in Hebrews 4:1-16 – Faith fights to “lay hold on eternal life,” not rewards, to “work out salvation,” not rewards, therefore there is a “fear and trembling” (1 Tim. 6:12, Php. 2:12) in this work! The “acceptable” (Heb. 12:28-29) fear due unto His holiness is that He “is able” (Matt. 10:28) to cast us into hell, therefore let us “labor” (Heb. 4:11, 2 Cor. 5:9-10) and “work” (Php. 2:12, Jas. 2:21-24) by reigning grace “through righteousness” (Rom. 5:21), so that He Who “is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” does not destroy us (Matt. 10:28). Moving into the next warning, read Hebrews 5:11-6:1…
The next warning is in chapters 3-4. The audience of this severe warning are those who are called, “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1), who are also called the house of Christ on earth (Heb. 3:6); “made partakers of Christ” (Heb. 3:14). It cannot be argued that this warning is for counterfeit, professors of the faith (or false believers), for then they would be men who claim to believe but are not really holy. The text says that it is written to a people who are called “holy brethren” (Heb. 3:1). I repeat, this is not a crowd or congregation of mingled unbelievers and believers that the author is writing to; THEY ARE CALLED “holy brethren.” Hebrews 3-4, as formerly addressed in detail, preaches the fear of losing salvation by referencing the OT breach of promise (Num. 14:34) as a NT reality (Heb. 4:1), applying it to NT Christians in the verse – “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Unbelief is manifest through a hardened heart (Heb. 3:13, 15, 4:7). Hardness is manifest in disobedience of the heavenly voice that a Christian does hear, therefore – “To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:7, 3:15). If one fears coming short of the promise (through unbelief, Heb. 4:1), he is then exhorted to hold fast and maintain his faith by seeing the great grace of Jesus (Heb. 4:14-16). This grace is help to the hardened. It is ever-accessible at the “throne of grace”, so that, if a man has faith, then he can draw near to it without the fear of rejection (or boldly, see Heb. 4:16). Therefore if a man fears losing his salvation, let him fearlessly, or “boldly” (Heb. 4:16), come to the throne of grace to receive power to obey, softness of heart, and the ability to fulfill the mandate – “let us labour therefore” (Heb. 4:11). There is sufficient “help” to all our “needs” (Heb. 4:15-16) of heart change, right there, at the throne of grace, but there is no hope for a man who departs from grace, becomes fearless in disobedience, in continuance, until the day of his own provocation. Indeed, we have a need to obey His voice! Therefore regenerate reader, look to the throne of GRACE! The throne – the place of power, authority, rule, victory, and righteousness in God – has become for us a place where we can fearlessly and confidently draw near for helping power to obey, because, it has become a Throne of GRACE by the blood of Jesus. It is a Throne of unmerited favor and undeserved acceptance – God’s pity for personal power! We are undeservedly accepted in unmerited favor, that we might serve and obey the active voice of God – herein is the end of saving faith!
The biblical life of saving faith does “labour” (Heb. 4:11) with “diligence” (Heb. 6:11, 11:6, 12:2, 15, 2 Peter 1:5, 10), therefore it is not “slothful” but steadfast (or patient, see Heb. 6:12). Faith fears a laborless life! The unction teaches us that faith without works would accuse the grace of God to be vain (1 Cor. 15:10, Matt. 25:26, 1 John 2:27). The terrifying fear of God did drive Paul to “labour” that he might “be accepted” of Christ at His “Judgment Seat” (2 Cor. 5:9-11). His faith gave him a confident awareness that he will, one day, appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is what he meant in 2 Cor. 5:8 when he said that he is “confident” he will be “present with the Lord.” Because Paul will be present with the Lord at the “Judgment Seat” (2 Cor. 5:10), he is driven to “labour,” that whether on earth or in heaven, or as he phrased it, “that whether present or absent we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:9-10). Paul and the apostles knew this “terror of the Lord” personally. They taught this terror of the Lord corporately, like as Peter said - “If ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17). Fatherhood and adoption does not mean we are to behave in fearlessness before God, as many incorrectly argue; this is a misinterpretation of Romans 8:15 (Furthermore, for an answer to the passage, “perfect love casts out fear”, see the section entitled, “GOD IS LOVE”). “Let us therefore fear,” Hebrews 4:1 commands, that we may fearlessly stay near God in obedience! Herein is the goal of all fear taught in Hebrews 4:1-16 – Faith fights to “lay hold on eternal life,” not rewards, to “work out salvation,” not rewards, therefore there is a “fear and trembling” (1 Tim. 6:12, Php. 2:12) in this work! The “acceptable” (Heb. 12:28-29) fear due unto His holiness is that He “is able” (Matt. 10:28) to cast us into hell, therefore let us “labor” (Heb. 4:11, 2 Cor. 5:9-10) and “work” (Php. 2:12, Jas. 2:21-24) by reigning grace “through righteousness” (Rom. 5:21), so that He Who “is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” does not destroy us (Matt. 10:28). Moving into the next warning, read Hebrews 5:11-6:1…
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“Of Whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 5:11-6:1)
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The next warning begins in Hebrews 5:11-12, and here we can see a clear address of the intended audience. Again, it is not counterfeit believers, but rather, “a babe,” “milk”-drinking, “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11-12), “carnal” Christian who is called a “babe in Christ,” yet most argue that such persons written to are outside of Christ (1 Cor. 3:1-3). These individuals are babes because they have fallen from the state of “perfection.” This is referenced in Hebrews 6:1 and in 1 Corinthians 2:6. A babe is one who needs to establish, teach, or receive again “the first principles of the oracles of God”, or otherwise called, “doctrine of Christ” (Heb. 5:12, 6:1). The first principles are those doctrines which are inherent in the gospel message. In other words, it is those things a man must receive, understand, retain, and believe to be saved – for it is “repentance from dead works” and “faith toward God” (Heb. 6:1). This is milk, thus Paul only preaches “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” among them that are not perfect, because the gospel is the first principles. He preaches “wisdom” or “meat” “among them that are perfect” (1 Cor. 2:6, 3:1-2). This fallen state of the regenerate believer is a state that, in practice and conversation, he does walk after the flesh and not the spirit, therefore they are called “carnal” men who “walk as men” (1 Cor. 3:3-4), instead of “as Christ” (Php. 1:21, Col. 2:6) or “in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16). Remember how it was said, “be not deceived” (1 Cor. 6:9, Eph. 5:6, Gal. 6:7), “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1), “for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die” (Rom. 8:13)? Many people quote the promise of Romans 8:1 without the condition (the latter half of the verse), which is, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (King James Version), but this half of the verse is taken out of most bibles because of the differing underlying manuscripts. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of the Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:19), and those that depart from Him shall die (Heb. 3:12).
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“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:1-6)
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In Hebrews 6, the unperfected Christian has an urgent need to renew “faith” and “repentance” (Heb. 6:1) lest his “end is to be burned” (Heb. 6:8). This is a loss of the “assurance of hope unto the end” (Heb. 6:11). Most Calvinists seek to pervert these passages by arguing that the men in description were never saved. They argue that those who were – “once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come” – are unbelievers, therefore these experiences are said to be pre-conversion experiences. This cannot be! It is said of these individuals that, after they do “fall away,” they are reprobated from God, which means that they are unable to find the repentance that they once had – thus it says that it is “impossible…to renew them again unto repentance” (Heb. 6:4-6). They did “fall away,” it says, meaning they fell away from a previous “repentance” that they did have, therefore in this “fall away” they cannot be renewed again to the former repentance which was acceptable to God, that they once had, and only a saved man can have an acceptable repentance in the sight of God. Therefore the experiences written Hebrews 6:4-5 cannot be the pre-conversion grace of God striving with a lost man. The man who was – “once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come”– is a saved man, for this is an experience which works within a man an acceptable repentance.
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“For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:7-8)
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Furthermore, the experience described in Heb. 6:4-5 is metaphorically described as spiritual rain. Have you ever read of the “former rain” and the “latter rain” (Joel 2:23)? The same rain that Peter says is being poured out upon NT converts? Read Acts 2:16-21. With such an experience as Hebrews 6:4-5, the Christian is in the blessed wealth of life-giving power – UNDER THE RAIN – the very same rain that Joel prophesied would come, that Peter reaffirmed in Acts 2:16-21, and finally, it is spoken of again in Hebrews 6:7 in the same language – “the rain that cometh oft” (Heb. 6:7)! “The rain that cometh oft,” IT IS UPON US! Therefore, if there are no “herbs meet” for so great a rain, but rather, there are “thorns and briers,” this unrepentant Christian is “rejected” of God and “nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned” (Heb. 6:8). The author’s desire is that they would not be like the cursed field, that they would rather bear fruit by keeping repentance. He pleads with them to be renewed again in repentance, “if God permit,” for only He can grant repentance to them (Heb. 6:3, 2 Tim. 2:25). A renewed faith and repentance is the same thing as being renewed again “unto perfection” (Heb. 6:1). This renewal would make the Hebrew saints no longer “slothful” (Heb. 6:12) but rather “diligent” (Heb. 6:11), and therefore fruitful (see 2 Peter 1:5-17, Heb. 6:7-8) and obedient, having a justifiable (James 2:21) “full assurance of hope unto the end” (Heb. 6:11), because they are walking in the working of “faith and patience” which does “inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12). What is the burden of the author? That they would “inherit
the promises,” like Abraham, who did perfect his faith (James 2:21-22) by obedient works, and thus he was found worthy to obtain the promises (Heb. 6:15). As the Lord hath said, “he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end,” he it is that will go to heaven. But what can be said of the man who Christ judges, and says, “I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Rev. 3:2)? This is sure death (Rev. 3:1), unworthiness (Rev. 3:4), and damnation, because the Lord will “blot out his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3:5). Moving on to the next warning, read Hebrews 10:19-31…
the promises,” like Abraham, who did perfect his faith (James 2:21-22) by obedient works, and thus he was found worthy to obtain the promises (Heb. 6:15). As the Lord hath said, “he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end,” he it is that will go to heaven. But what can be said of the man who Christ judges, and says, “I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Rev. 3:2)? This is sure death (Rev. 3:1), unworthiness (Rev. 3:4), and damnation, because the Lord will “blot out his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3:5). Moving on to the next warning, read Hebrews 10:19-31…
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“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; 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. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:19-31).
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The next warning is in Hebrews 10:19-39. The audience in address is the “brethren” (Heb. 10:19), for only they would have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way” (Heb. 10:20). Only by the blood of Jesus Christ are men enabled to “draw near” to God by “faith” – a faith which makes their “hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,” a faith which makes their “bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22). Can an unbeliever be thus admonished? Do they have a sprinkled heart? Nay! The blood of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:20) that sprinkles (Heb. 9:19), purges (Heb. 9:22), sanctifies (Heb. 10:29), and justifies, is the blood of the Testator Himself (Heb. 10:19): Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:16). The brethren are appealed to on the basis of the Covenant of God’s forgiveness (Heb. 10:16-17), wherein God does “remember no more” (Heb. 10:17) the brethren’s sin – thus a Christian ought to “hold fast the profession of faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)” (Heb. 10:23), and he ought to forget about the sins which God has forgotten about!
If these saints do not judge God to be faithful (Heb. 11:11), but rather think He is a liar (1 John 5:10), then they will think of themselves to be un-purged, un-sanctified, and un-washed. These same individuals know that they were formerly under the blood, but they have not held fast their first profession of faith. They are wavering…to them the blood of Jesus Christ has become unholy. Therefore it is said of such a man who continues in this, that he has “counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing” (Heb. 10:29). These individuals have been “sanctified” by “the blood of the Covenant” (Heb. 10:29), which is “the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19), THEY ARE NOT UNBELIEVERS! They are regenerate believers who have not held fast the faith which would embolden them to draw near to God, the faith that the blood is holy and able to cleanse from sin!
On “the Day approaching,” – Judgment Day – they will undergo the fearful judgment of Hebrews 10:26-27. These individuals were “sprinkled” and “washed” (Heb. 10:22) at salvation, but they failed to continue in this holy way by presently and progressively appropriating the gospel purchase of cleansing. A man must presently and progressively hold confidence in the purging power of the blood to persevere in Christ, so it is said in other terms which refer to gospel purchased power - at regeneration we are crucified and dead (Rom. 6:3-4), yet we must continue to mortify, crucify, and die (Rom. 8:13, Col. 3:5, Gal. 5:24). The Christians were charged, at present, to have their “bodies washed with pure water,” and this is a salvific washing by present-tense appropriation, for, “we are kept by the power of God THROUGH FAITH.” The beginning must endure to the end, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). The present-tense command to mortify, crucify, and die (Rom. 8:13, Col. 3:5, Gal. 5:24) is just alike to the present-tense command to be washed. It is a work of the Spirit of God, the substance that the OT shadow of washing did declare, as it is written, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).
The audience is those who are of “the house of God” (Heb. 10:21), fit to come into the holy place (Heb. 10:19), thus they must continue to assemble together (including the author), “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25). Daily exhortation is a secret key for grace so that a man does not “draw back” in faith (Heb. 3:13). Knowing this, the conduct of their assembly is for the grave purpose of maintaining salvation by “exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching,” when the Judgment of God will be irreversibly given. A true Christian that discontinues his belief that he is “purged” by the blood of Christ (2 Peter 1:9), according to 2 Peter 1:4-11, is unable to walk in the obedience of abounding fruits (2 Peter 1:8), and therefore he is in danger of being “cast forth” from “The Vine” of Christ (John 15:1-7) – consequentially then, he will no longer be a partaker of the “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1, 2 Peter 1:10) which came by “election” (2 Peter 1:10) in Christ. Such men are compelled into the bondage of willful sin because they cannot draw near to God! Therefore they will be judged as Hebrews 10:26-27 warns. To “sin willfully after” receiving “the knowledge of the truth,” is to “fall” from “repentance” without “renewal again” (Heb. 6:6). The comparative citation of the author is to “Moses’ law” (Heb. 10:28). THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. In this chapter, merciless, eternal death is warned for the NT Christian, just like merciless death is executed upon the OT Jew. What was the crime in Moses’ law that would deserve a merciless death?
If these saints do not judge God to be faithful (Heb. 11:11), but rather think He is a liar (1 John 5:10), then they will think of themselves to be un-purged, un-sanctified, and un-washed. These same individuals know that they were formerly under the blood, but they have not held fast their first profession of faith. They are wavering…to them the blood of Jesus Christ has become unholy. Therefore it is said of such a man who continues in this, that he has “counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing” (Heb. 10:29). These individuals have been “sanctified” by “the blood of the Covenant” (Heb. 10:29), which is “the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19), THEY ARE NOT UNBELIEVERS! They are regenerate believers who have not held fast the faith which would embolden them to draw near to God, the faith that the blood is holy and able to cleanse from sin!
On “the Day approaching,” – Judgment Day – they will undergo the fearful judgment of Hebrews 10:26-27. These individuals were “sprinkled” and “washed” (Heb. 10:22) at salvation, but they failed to continue in this holy way by presently and progressively appropriating the gospel purchase of cleansing. A man must presently and progressively hold confidence in the purging power of the blood to persevere in Christ, so it is said in other terms which refer to gospel purchased power - at regeneration we are crucified and dead (Rom. 6:3-4), yet we must continue to mortify, crucify, and die (Rom. 8:13, Col. 3:5, Gal. 5:24). The Christians were charged, at present, to have their “bodies washed with pure water,” and this is a salvific washing by present-tense appropriation, for, “we are kept by the power of God THROUGH FAITH.” The beginning must endure to the end, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). The present-tense command to mortify, crucify, and die (Rom. 8:13, Col. 3:5, Gal. 5:24) is just alike to the present-tense command to be washed. It is a work of the Spirit of God, the substance that the OT shadow of washing did declare, as it is written, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).
The audience is those who are of “the house of God” (Heb. 10:21), fit to come into the holy place (Heb. 10:19), thus they must continue to assemble together (including the author), “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25). Daily exhortation is a secret key for grace so that a man does not “draw back” in faith (Heb. 3:13). Knowing this, the conduct of their assembly is for the grave purpose of maintaining salvation by “exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching,” when the Judgment of God will be irreversibly given. A true Christian that discontinues his belief that he is “purged” by the blood of Christ (2 Peter 1:9), according to 2 Peter 1:4-11, is unable to walk in the obedience of abounding fruits (2 Peter 1:8), and therefore he is in danger of being “cast forth” from “The Vine” of Christ (John 15:1-7) – consequentially then, he will no longer be a partaker of the “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1, 2 Peter 1:10) which came by “election” (2 Peter 1:10) in Christ. Such men are compelled into the bondage of willful sin because they cannot draw near to God! Therefore they will be judged as Hebrews 10:26-27 warns. To “sin willfully after” receiving “the knowledge of the truth,” is to “fall” from “repentance” without “renewal again” (Heb. 6:6). The comparative citation of the author is to “Moses’ law” (Heb. 10:28). THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. In this chapter, merciless, eternal death is warned for the NT Christian, just like merciless death is executed upon the OT Jew. What was the crime in Moses’ law that would deserve a merciless death?
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Without MERCY With MERCY Without MERCY |
Hebrews 10:25-29 (NT Law)
“…exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Numbers 15:28, 30-31 (Moses’ Law) “And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him” “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people, because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken His commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him” |
Hebrews 10:28 references the teaching of the law found in Numbers 15. The 15th chapter of Numbers teaches that a man is worthy to obtain forgiveness by an atoning sacrifice if the sin which was committed was not done willfully (or presumptuously), but rather it was committed in ignorance. Willful or presumptuous sins are said to be (as in Hebrews 10:28) despising the word of God. This man, God said, “hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken His commandment,” and so it is referenced in Hebrews 10:28 that they, “despised Moses’ law,” and finally in Hebrews 10:29, that they have done “despite unto the spirit of grace.” Do you see how “despised,” “despised,” and “despite” are in direct parallel? He that “sinneth by ignorance” can have “atonement” and be “forgiven” (Numbers 15:28), but he that continues sinning “willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” in the New Covenant or Old Covenant! This is a condition given for atoning mercies with OT sacrifices, and by NT inspiration this is carried over to the NT sacrifice of Christ. Willful sin is unatonable sin. If this was the severity of the Judgment of God in the Mosaic Covenant, how much more severe is the justice of God toward the rejection of a greater and more wonderful Covenant in Christ – thus it is said, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29). If one wishes to argue that Hebrews 10 is a warning to an unregenerate unbeliever, then one must conclude that an unbeliever can be sanctified by the blood of the Covenant (the blood of Jesus, Heb. 10:20)! If one wishes to argue that Hebrews 6 is a warning to an unregenerate unbeliever, then one must conclude that an unbeliever can repent acceptably and savingly before God (Heb. 6:6, note “renew again”).
Nay, this is to regenerate believers who have become “adversaries” (Heb. 10:27), to whom will undergo the “vengeance” of God, and why? They are “enemies of God” through the crime of adultery (James 4:4), as it is written, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). You cannot commit adultery as an unregenerate unbeliever; they were never betrothed to God in a Covenant like unto marriage in the first place. God’s people (Heb. 10:30) can become “enemies,” or “adversaries” (James 4:4, Heb. 10:27), who will have “judgment and fiery indignation” (Heb. 10:27) devouring them! Oh, but the burden of the author is that this would not happen! He does not leave them without encouragement (Heb. 10:32-34, 6:9-10)… rather, he would have them revive their former faith to obtain a steadfast patience, to the end that they “might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35-36). He says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35-36). Receiving the promise of eternal life, rather than coming short of it (Heb. 4:1), is and has been the burden of the author from the beginning.
Urging them to patience is urging them to perseverance. He did urge them in Hebrews 6:11-12, that they would be patient to “inherit the promises” as Abraham was perseverant to inherit his promises (Heb. 6:13-15, Jas. 2:21-25). In Hebrews 10:37-39, the author urges the readers in the same manner - that they would keep the faith with patience (perseverance) to “receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36), even as “the elders” of Hebrews 11 did persevere and obtain their promises. The author says that “we are not of them who draw back unto perdition,” for, saints have an “unction” (1 John 2), a “Divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), and the indwelling Spirit (Rom. 8:14), and it is these which we are “of.” Thus God would lead us to follow those who “through faith” “obtained promises” (Heb. 11:33). “These all” “obtained a good report through faith” (as Abraham did), for their faith did “evidence” itself in the “substance” of persevering works, deeds, and labors of patient faith (Heb. 11). We are of the same Spirit, and therefore we are “of them [the elders] that believe to the saving of the soul,” therefore let us follow their faith and not draw back from our nature “unto perdition” (Heb. 10:39-11:2). Let us, as they did, “lay aside very weight, and sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” “diligently, lest any man fail the grace of God” (Heb. 12:1-2, 15) – becoming “cast away” (1 Cor. 9:27). Oh to escape the fate of one who is called, “a root that beareth gall and wormwood,” “whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God” (see Deut. 29:18)! The author of Hebrews references this passage to describe the damnable deed at hand, and warns the people of God to look unto Jesus as those elders of the faith did in the Hall of Faith – “looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb. 12:15).
Nay, this is to regenerate believers who have become “adversaries” (Heb. 10:27), to whom will undergo the “vengeance” of God, and why? They are “enemies of God” through the crime of adultery (James 4:4), as it is written, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). You cannot commit adultery as an unregenerate unbeliever; they were never betrothed to God in a Covenant like unto marriage in the first place. God’s people (Heb. 10:30) can become “enemies,” or “adversaries” (James 4:4, Heb. 10:27), who will have “judgment and fiery indignation” (Heb. 10:27) devouring them! Oh, but the burden of the author is that this would not happen! He does not leave them without encouragement (Heb. 10:32-34, 6:9-10)… rather, he would have them revive their former faith to obtain a steadfast patience, to the end that they “might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35-36). He says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35-36). Receiving the promise of eternal life, rather than coming short of it (Heb. 4:1), is and has been the burden of the author from the beginning.
Urging them to patience is urging them to perseverance. He did urge them in Hebrews 6:11-12, that they would be patient to “inherit the promises” as Abraham was perseverant to inherit his promises (Heb. 6:13-15, Jas. 2:21-25). In Hebrews 10:37-39, the author urges the readers in the same manner - that they would keep the faith with patience (perseverance) to “receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36), even as “the elders” of Hebrews 11 did persevere and obtain their promises. The author says that “we are not of them who draw back unto perdition,” for, saints have an “unction” (1 John 2), a “Divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), and the indwelling Spirit (Rom. 8:14), and it is these which we are “of.” Thus God would lead us to follow those who “through faith” “obtained promises” (Heb. 11:33). “These all” “obtained a good report through faith” (as Abraham did), for their faith did “evidence” itself in the “substance” of persevering works, deeds, and labors of patient faith (Heb. 11). We are of the same Spirit, and therefore we are “of them [the elders] that believe to the saving of the soul,” therefore let us follow their faith and not draw back from our nature “unto perdition” (Heb. 10:39-11:2). Let us, as they did, “lay aside very weight, and sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” “diligently, lest any man fail the grace of God” (Heb. 12:1-2, 15) – becoming “cast away” (1 Cor. 9:27). Oh to escape the fate of one who is called, “a root that beareth gall and wormwood,” “whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God” (see Deut. 29:18)! The author of Hebrews references this passage to describe the damnable deed at hand, and warns the people of God to look unto Jesus as those elders of the faith did in the Hall of Faith – “looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb. 12:15).
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“A root that beareth gall and wormwood” - Deut. 29:19
“Root of bitterness springing up” - Heb. 12:15 |
“the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven” – Deut. 29:20
“blot out his name out of the book of life” – Rev. 3:5 |
Many a man, though they are beset by sin, though they are not diligent in the business of looking unto Jesus, though they hear all the words of these NT curses, even still, “when he heareth the words of this curse, that he blesseth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven” (Deut. 29:19-20). Why? These men have become “a root that beareth gall and wormwood” (Deut. 29:18). Therefore the NT Covenant warns us of the same curses, how we might become this “root of bitterness springing up” (Heb. 12:15), that is (being interpreted), a man whose “heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God” (Deut. 29:18), failing to “look diligently,” and failing “the grace of God” (Heb. 12:15). Oh, the horrifying reality! “Eternal security” teaches men to be as he that “blesseth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace,” even though God warns of a curse upon men who are in unrepentant sin (Deut. 19:19). Preacher of peace to carnal Christians, preacher of eternal security, you are “making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mar. 7:13)! You are blinding the eyes of the saints of God so that, even while they are beset by sin, they cannot apply the New Covenant “words of this curse,” because they believe they are eternally secure. They do bless themselves in their heart, but lo, the vengeance of God hovers overhead. To such a man in the NT, God warns that He will “blot out his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3:5), but this is just like the warning in the OT which was given to the Jews that God will “blot out his name from under heaven” (Deut. 29:20). It is a false prophet’s “flattery” (Prov. 6:24, Ezek. 12:24) to preach that a true Christian cannot “fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, 2 Peter 1:10, 3:17, Heb. 4:11, 6:6, 1 Tim. 3:6, 6:9), and when he does fall into Covenant-breaking adultery, will you say that God’s “jealousy” does not “smoke against that man” (Deut. 29:20)?!?
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The Exodus Generation
NT saints Esau |
“And ye returned and wept before the LORD;
But the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you” – Deut. 1:45 “For it is impossible…if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance” – Heb. 6:4-6 “For he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” – Heb. 12:17 |
Who is the “adversary” of Hebrews 10:26-27? Who is the “enemy” of James 4:4? It is those who have entered into the saving Covenant of God and have broken it; as adulterers. Such a man is no better than an adulterer against God (James 4:4), even a “fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Heb. 12:16). So we, who by birthright (being born again) are bound by promises to an inheritance of our Father’s Kingdom, glory, and salvation, yet if we do turn back from the faith we too will be reprobated without possibility to repent again (Heb. 6:4-6, 10:38). Then we will be as the Israelites (Deut. 1:40-45) and Esau, who, after their reprobation, sought to be as one who “inherited the blessing,” and yet, both of them were “rejected”…they “found no place of repentance, though [they] sought it carefully with tears” (Heb. 12:17). Though the Israelites regretted their rebellion against God, though they sought repentance and “wept before the LORD,” they could not find repentance (Deut. 1:40-45)! “If God permits” (Heb. 6:3), “peradventure,” one will find repentance again (2 Tim. 2:25), but after the “tenth temptation” there will be a total annihilation (Num. 14:22) by reprobation.
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“For the LORD thy God is a Consuming Fire, even a jealous God” – Deut. 4:24
“For our God is a Consuming Fire” – Heb. 12:29 |
The final warning is given in Hebrews 12:25-29, but to understand it we must understand what is meant by the author when he says, “our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). The Consuming Fire which is in reference is from the scene of the former Church of God (Acts 7:37) which was gathered at Mount Sinai, also described in Hebrews 12:18-21. We must understand what it was like for the Old Covenant Church of God to come to Mount Sinai, that we who are of the New Covenant Church will know what is the significance of coming to a holier Mountain, called “Mount Sion,” or Zion (Heb. 12:22).
The Calling of Moses was out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and to Mount Sinai, whereat the Covenant was established by God, “a Consuming Fire”. This scene was of immense significance! Henceforth we must closely note: 1) How holy was the Mountain of Sinai, 2) of what significance and necessity is the fear of God at the inauguration of the Covenant, and 3) was this fear maintained? Things to be understood in the comparatively greater New Covenant are: 1) How much more holy is Mount Zion, 2) how much more fearful ought we to be in the Covenant of the Last Days, 3) and what fear are we commanded to (by grace) maintain, and likewise, what are the consequences if it is not maintained?
The Calling of Moses was out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and to Mount Sinai, whereat the Covenant was established by God, “a Consuming Fire”. This scene was of immense significance! Henceforth we must closely note: 1) How holy was the Mountain of Sinai, 2) of what significance and necessity is the fear of God at the inauguration of the Covenant, and 3) was this fear maintained? Things to be understood in the comparatively greater New Covenant are: 1) How much more holy is Mount Zion, 2) how much more fearful ought we to be in the Covenant of the Last Days, 3) and what fear are we commanded to (by grace) maintain, and likewise, what are the consequences if it is not maintained?