Hebrews 10:19-39

Hebrews 10:19-39

We come to, at this point, a transition in the letter to the Hebrews. We also come to what is certainly one of the direst warnings of the New Testament. The shift at this point is from doctrine or theology to practical Christian living. In the context of the Jewish Christians leaving the faith because of hardship and persecution and the superiority of Christ over the law, in which we see He is the only way to God, the author turns to an exhortation to remain faithful. 

In verses 19-22 he describes the process of conversion. Then in verses 23-25 he outlines how we remain faithful in three key points. First, “hold fast to the confession of Our Hope,” in other words, keep the truth of what it means to be a disciple. This requires us to know and believe certain doctrines. We must not only feel certain things but also know what is true. We hear a great deal about practical or relevant teaching these days. The most practical thing we can possibly know is the truth. Second, we are required to be engaged in the lives of other believers. In verse 24 we must think of ways to stimulate one another to faithfulness. The word here is “provoke” in the King James Version or “stimulate” in a New American Standard Bible. Literally it means ‘beside to cut.’ It means we are close enough to a person to cut them. The anonymous nature of the seeker-driven church is the damnable opposite of what we see here. Like it or not, we get up in our fellow believers' business to help them love and do good deeds. The third part brings these first two together. The commitment to truth and motivation to love and good deeds will not last long without the gathering of the saints together. The doctrines of the faith will be undermined by our world. The motivation for holy living will not last long without support. The pride of our own thinking will lead us off, and the appetites of the body will compromise us, unless we have the ongoing connection with fellow disciples.

Most terrifying is the real possibility that without the constant influence of the truth in our lives and the ongoing positive motivation of fellow disciples, we can leave the faith. This is more than individual sins or even a pattern of sin. It is a change of loyalty in which we willfully reject Christ. When that happens, there is no future for the person except the anticipation of hell.

“Lord, help me connect deeply with other disciples. AMEN”