160
PERFECTION
PERDITION
160
OR
SHADOW
and
VERY IMAGE
FIGURE
and
TRUE
WORLDLY SANCTUARY
and
HEAVENLY HOLLIEST OF ALL
OLD COVENANT
and
NEW COVENANT
FLESH CLEANSED
and
CONSCIENCE CLEANSED
MOUNT SINAI
and
MOUNT SION
VANISHING
and
REMAINING,
all set forth, with earnest instruction and entreaty, to urge along the upward path to perfection, and to shun apostasy
and perdition. Hebrews 10:19-39, the passage before us, takes up this double exhortation. Doctrine has reached its
zenith at verse 18, and from verse 19 to the end of the epistle it is largely a matter of exhortation. The double theme
sets the bounds of the section before us.
A 22.
Let us draw near
In full assurance of faith.
A 38,39. We are not of them who draw back but
Believe to the saving of the soul.
Having ... let us
No exhortation in Scripture stands alone. Beneath the feet of practice stands privilege. The fruit of good works
derives its nourishment from the root of grace. If the apostle says, `Let us', he will also say, `Having therefore'.
Let us draw near
`Having therefore boldness ...
Let us hold fast
High Priest'
Let us consider one another
(10:19-24).
`Seeing we are encompassed'
Let us lay aside
Let us run with patience
(12:1,2).
`Wherefore
we
receiving
a
Let us have grace
kingdom'
Let brotherly love continue
(12:28 to 13:1).
`Wherefore
Jesus
suffered
Let us go forth therefore
without the gate'
Unto Him without the camp
(13:12,13).
Here are four groups of teaching which space out the remainder of the epistle, and each group manifests the
same feature. The strongest preventative against `drawing back' is evidently to `draw near', and we have every
reason to draw near seeing that we `have therefore' boldness of access. and a great High Priest.
The new and living way
The old typical way into the holiest is not the way that one must pass who desires to go on unto perfection.
`The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a
figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did
the service PERFECT, as pertaining to the conscience' (Heb. 9:8,9).