Chapter 10 begins a pointed critique of the old covenant and it's inability to remove sin and lead to sanctification. The author does this to show the superiority of the new covenant in Jesus to the old Mosaic Law.
After this discourse on the superiority of the new covenant, the author brings us back again into the Holy of Holies and our invitation to enter deeply into the presence and service of God, "Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:19-25 NRSV. It is important to my faith that these two things go hand in hand, holiness and good deeds. It is not enough to live a sanctified life that is devoid of service and love for the least the last and the lost. It is not enough to live a life of service while neglecting the personal holiness call of our savior (although even as I type this I know I would rather err on the side of service than private holiness). it can not be either or, but must be both and!
Verse 31 brings us a call with teeth - a threat is probably not too harsh a term to use. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31 NRSV. I understand this and agree with the sentiment and the call to push in deeper to God, but I find the unconditional love of God a more compelling and attractive witness to my need to draw closer to God than the threat of "fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire," Hebrews 10:27 NRSV. I suppose both are necessary to move us as a people. But I do not resonate and move to this angry God talk.
Chapter 10 ends with a perfect setup for chapter 11's stirring "Hall of Faith", Chapter. "But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved." Hebrews 10:39 NRSV. I believe a simple reading of chapters 10,11 and 12 would make a wonderful wonderful sermon!
About Me
- Pastor Bill
- I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ, a happy husband, father and grandfather!
5 comments:
Great sermon on chapter 10 Bill, and a good testamony on faith and good deeds. awesome chapters 10-13...
Hey Servant of the King!
Thanks for checking in. I really think a pastor could stand up and just read this section any given Sunday and that would be sufficient!
I appreciate your balance of holiness and service friend.
Bill
I love the part about not forgetting to meet with each other, and being sure to encourage one another to love and have good deeds (vs. 24-25 I think). How often do we have to remember to be that way towards one another? Let us not complain all the time and be self-centered, but love one another with love and good things.
Also, we can't forget to meet with one another - we don't want to get cocky and forget that fellowship is an essential part of having a strong faith...ever do that? I know it's happened to me before.
Thank God for the Blood of Jesus and what the new covenant has done for us. It's a whole new world than they lived pre-Jesus, eh?
Talk to you soon.
Thanks for the on-line fellowship. There's a lot of other things out there that people do online that isn't so good for you!
Ttys, brother,
Marshall Bailey
Hey Marshall,
THe felowship is good, but face to face is better!
While our lives are running in different circles this will have to do!
Bill
I like the first part of the chapter - I sense the fatigue, the exhaustion we'd face if we had to over and over seek to know if God would forgive us again.
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