Bible Commentaries

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS

-- Hebrews 10:1-39 --

The Jews were very wrapped up in the Levitical dispensation. However, the writer here again reminds them that the sacrifices of that old time were insufficient to take away sin. The purpose and will of God was to provide salvation for the world. Man was to serve God and thus prepare for heaven. This salvation and service was made possible by the incarnation of the Christ, His death for our sins, and His priesthood.

Let us understand the honor of being a Christian and the responsibilities which go with that honor. We are blessed to live under the New Covenant, with Jesus Christ as our High Priest. Under this New Covenant we have access to the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

The result of having Jesus as High Priest over the Church is that we should walk faithfully, walk uprightly, hold fast our profession, exhort other Christians to stay faithful, and never forsake the assembly of the saints. We will stay faithful when we understand the danger and awful consequences of apostasy.

In order to stay faithful we should meditate on God's past mercies. We should focus on the help He has provided us as we have faced temptations. If we will be careful to not cast away our confidence, then we shall receive God's promise if we patiently fulfill His will while we live. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." (Hebrews 10:38)

The purpose and the will of God -- Hebrews 10:1-10 : The law, with all its ceremonies and sacrifices, was only a shadow or type of what was to come under the gospel dispensation. The legal sacrifices, offered year by year under the law, could never make the sinners perfect or free from guilt. If those sacrifices had satisfied the demands of justice, and made reconciliation for sins they would have ceased to be offered.

God stated simply that, "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4) Jesus was incarnated with a body so that a proper sacrifice could be made that would eliminate man's sin problem. How wonderful it is to know that a New Covenant with a new sacrifice now makes salvation possible. "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:9-10)

The new and living way -- Hebrews 10:11-20 : The Levitical priesthood consisted of many priest and many sacrifices. The sacrifices were many in number, and also many in kind, bulls, lambs, and goats. But the sacrifice of "This Man" was a one of a kind sacrifice. He sacrificed that body which had been prepared for Him. Now, through His sacrifice we have partaken of what Christ has done for us. We are called, converted, sanctified, united to Christ, and partakers of the benefits of His redemption.

The riches of divine grace, and the sufficiency of Christ's satisfaction is again shown in the statement, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17) The joy of what has transpired in the Christian is that there shall be no more be a remembrance made of sin against true believers. "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." (Hebrews 10:18)

The danger of willful sin -- Hebrews 10:21-31 : As a Christian our duty is simply stated that we "draw near to God." With boldness let us draw near with a true heart. We must draw near to God in general, but especially in worship to Him. We must draw near to God with a pure heart, and in full assurance of faith. Sincerity of heart is the life and soul of all acceptable worship and service to God. This full assurance of faith is grounded upon the fidelity of God, and the immutability of His promise.

The person who draws near to God must have his soul cleansed by the blood of Christ. This provides freedom from a condemning conscience. How blessed we are to have a new and living way unto the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Our bodies were washed with pure water, that is, with the water of baptism. It is at that point that we could be numbered among the followers of Christ, members of His blood bought body.

In this text we have the means which God prescribed for preventing apostasy, and promoting our faithfulness to God and perseverance in His cause. In order to prevent apostasy we should: (1) "Consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works," and (2) we should "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." Those who willfully forsake the assembly are guilty of grievous sin.

When you willfully forsake the assembly you are guilty of having trodden under foot the Son of God. That is, you have treated Him with the utmost contempt and blasphemy. You have shown no more respect for His precious blood than if that blood was unholy. This means you are expecting nothing from that blood in a sacrificial or atoning way. What worse spiritual crime could one commit than this? When one deliberately forsakes the assembly they have insulted the Holy Spirit of grace. No wonder the writer would say of this person, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)

The just shall live by faith -- Hebrews 10:32-39 : You can easily remain faithful when you remember how God blessed you through former trials and troubles. Christians are many times exposed to all kinds of things as they live in this world. You may have to suffer all kinds of afflictions, but heaven is worth it! The Christian must never be like the cowardly soldiers that in the heat of the battle cast down their shields and armor, and run away.

The Christian is a spiritual soldier. He must never turn back, but he must die a conqueror rather than be taken prisoner by Satan. After we have done the will of God in becoming a Christian, we have need of patience to enable us to wait for the receiving of the promise of God. You can rest assured that Christ will come to call His faithful home and thus end all suffering.

The just shall live by their faith. Those who lack faith "draw back" and cause God to have no pleasure in them. A Christian must live His life with assistance of his faith and in accordance with the faith once for all revealed to the saints. The influence of faith on our life is the saving of our soul.