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out our own salvation". The body of our humiliation is soon to be fashioned like unto the
body of His glory. A little while and the time will come, "the appointed time" for which
we wait. Let us then take heart. We have need of patience. Let patience have her perfect
work, that we may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.
No.43.
Let us draw near . . . . . not draw back (10: 19 - 39).
pp. 61 - 64
We have seen that the whole teaching and exhortation of the epistle to the Hebrews
may be summed up under two phrases:
(1)
Let us go on unto perfection, or
(2)
Draw back unto perdition.
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 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. 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. 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".