July 25, 2010 Lesson 14 of Hebrews 10:19-39

Having finished his doctrinal exposition, the writer proceeds to give practical counsel for the life we are to live under the new covenant.
V19-25. How are we exhorted here to give expression to our faith, hope and love? Seek in your own life to discern ways in which these exhortations demand your obedience. Answer: The exhortations, as noted in the NIV study Bible, are 1) Let us draw near to God (v22), 2) Let us hold unswervingly to… hope (v23), 3) Let us consider how we may spur on another on (v23), 4) let us not give up meeting together (v25), and 5) Let us encourage one another (v25). For me all 5 of these items are a daily battle. Some more than others and some more on one day than another. Living the Christian life is not something that we want to do by human nature. It is something that we pray for continually, that transforming by the Holy Spirit to be more like God that He may be glorified in us. That we are drawn nearer to God and sometime (i.e. during trying times) that requires the help and support of another believer.


V26-39. For those who have God given light concerning the way of salvation, what is the only alternative to going on with God? Why are its consequences so serious? On what grounds does the writer here expect, and appeal for, the best from his readers? Answer: If you turn your back on God, once you have been given the light, you have turned you back on the only way to salvation. You will have no way of returning. The passages says, it is as if you have crucified Christ all over again. The writer says that if we persevere in our faith we will be richly rewarded.


Notes
V22. As the high priest and his sons at their consecration for service in the earthly sanctuary were washed with water and sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice (Exod 29:4, 21), so we in ‘heart’ and ‘body’ (that is, inwardly and outwardly, in our whole being) have been ‘sanctified’ by Christ’s sacrifice.
V26, 29. The writer has in mind deliberate and persistent apostasy – self-chosen denial and defiance of both the Son of God and the Spirit of Grace. The closing words of verse 26 mean that no second atoning sacrifice is provided for those who reject the sacrifice of Christ and his sanctifying blood.