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The examples of those that draw back to perdition are those whose carcasses fell in the
wilderness (Heb. 3:), those who are "dull of hearing" and never advance from being
"babes" (Heb. 5:), or who like Esau despise their birthright (Heb. 12:), or prefer Sinai to
Sion (Heb. 12:). Here we find such alternatives as:--
SHADOW and VERY IMAGE.
FIGURE and TRUE.
WORLDLY SANCTUARY and HEAVENLY HOLIEST 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. Heb. 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.
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Let us draw near.
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In full assurance of faith.
A | 38, 39.
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We are not of them who draw back.
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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".
"Having therefore boldness . . . . . /
Let us draw near.
high priest."
{
Let us hold fast.
\
Let us consider one another (10: 19-24).
"Seeing we are encompassed."
/
Let us lay aside.
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Let us run with patience (12: 1, 2).
"Wherefore we receiving
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Let us have grace.
a kingdom."
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Let brotherly love continue (12: 28--13: 1).
"Wherefore Jesus suffered
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Let us go forth therefore.
without the gate."
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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.