[Linux4christians] B7 - Wednesday - Hebrews 10:19-39

Tue Apr 24 21:49:46 EDT 2012

    Wednesday

      Hebrews 10:19-39

Drawing Near to God in Enduring Faith

10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter 
the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

10:20 by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the 
curtain, that is, through his flesh,

10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith 
brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil 
conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

10:23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the 
one who made the promise is trustworthy.

10:24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and 
good works,

10:25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of 
doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the 
day drawing near.

10:26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the 
knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,

10:27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and /a fury/ 
/of fire that will consume God's enemies/. 10:28 Someone who rejected 
the law of Moses was put to death without mercy /on the testimony of two 
or three witnesses/.

10:29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who 
has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant 
that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?

10:30 For we know the one who said, "/*Vengeance is mine*//, //*I will 
repay*/," and again, "/*The Lord will judge his people*/."

10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

10:32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of 
suffering after you were enlightened.

10:33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and 
at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.

10:34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you 
accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew 
that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.

10:35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward.

10:36 For you need endurance in order to do God's will and so receive 
what is promised.

10:37 For /*just a little longer*/ and /*he who is coming will arrive 
and not delay*/.

10:38 /*But my righteous one will live by faith*//, //*and if he shrinks 
back*//, //*I*/ /*take no pleasure in him*/.

10:39 But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but 
are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.

      Prayer

Lord, You saved us, You disciple us, You defend us, You bless us, You 
have given to us Your indwelling Holy Spirit, and You allow us to be 
Your instruments in this world -- You expect that we will not 
deliberately rebel. May I continue to mature so that I will contemplate 
rebellion less-often and stand when tested (so I am not tempted) more-often.

      Summary & Commentary

The text encourages believers to draw near to God because our faith is 
in the One Who opened the way to Him and Who has made us spiritually-pure.

We are exhorted to "spur one another on to love and good works ... not 
abandoning our own meetings"

[Note: This necessarily requires that we be intentional about what we 
say and do - in order to both present a positive role model and 
effectively teach and encourage others. There is also an implication 
that believers were choosing to gather with non-believers instead of 
gathering with believers, for reasons not clear in the text, but the 
need to gather-together is emphasized again here as elsewhere in the NT. 
The Lord God repeats messages He wants us not to miss.]

The text then gives a warning to those who remain in rebellion, through 
intentional and unrepentant sin, despite receiving the Word of truth. It 
reminds the reader of the OT consequences of rebellion against "the law 
of Moses", summarizing "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands 
of the living God."

Believers are cautioned to remember that they endured troubles early on 
in their faith, and that more endurance may be required of them, but 
despite their losses they have remains standing "... because you knew 
that you certainly had a better and lasting possession."

Hebrews 10 concludes with a contrast between those who have heard the 
Word yet failed to respond and live with perseverance through faith "... 
if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him" versus those who heard 
and responded and persevered "But we are not among those who shrink back 
and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their 
souls."

      Interaction

        Consider

It is a remarkable contrast between those who have heard the Word yet 
failed to respond and live with perseverance through faith "... if he 
shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him" versus those who heard and 
responded and persevered "But we are not among those who shrink back and 
thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls."

        Discuss

What are some practical ways to "spur one another on to love and good 
works ... not abandoning our own meetings"?

        Reflect

The consequence for those who do not live under the grace of the 
salvation of Christ is that they remain in slavery to sin and under the 
judgment of law-without-mercy of the former covenant.

        Share

When have you experienced or observed a practical example of being 
intentional about what is said and what is done in order to both present 
a positive role model and effectively teach and encourage others?

      Faith in Action

        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your faithfulness in spurring "one 
another on to love and good works ... not abandoning our own meetings" 
and in being intentional about what you say and do.

        Action:

Today I am choosing to both present a positive role model and 
effectively teach and encourage others. Where I find a lapse in my 
faithfulness to the Word of God I will ask the Holy Spirit to find me a 
willing follower of His leading to a more righteous place in my daily walk.

        Be Specific ______________________________________________________

    Thursdays text will be:

      Hebrews 11

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
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Bible Resources: bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Personal Site: bibleseven.com
I don't google I SEARCH! ddg.gg
1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
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