The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 78

untled with "the heirs of salvation;" tile writer has brought his hearers to this point -the grandeur of the salvation they inherit. But, remember, he has one object before him, the confirmation of the Hebrews wavering under the pressure of persecution, He doesn't write merely as a logician, but as an anxious friend; be cannot, therefore, wait to enforce the application of his argument when he reaches the end, but drops the thread of his idea for a moment to break out in an earnest appeal that this great salvation should be cleaved to. 1. Observe that he is not writing to the ungodly, but to a Christian Church. However suitable these words as an address to the ungodly, they are here spoken to professing Christians who bad taken a bold stand for Christ and the gospel (eh. x. 32--34). 2. Observe that the literal ,·endering of the end of the first verse is "lest at any time we drijt away." 'l'he words, "from them," italicized in the Revised Version, are misleading. 'l'he drifting away that is deprecated is, not "from the things that were heard,'' but from C/1ri~t. Subject-An exhortation against d1ifting away from the gloriow Son of God. I. To DRIFT AWAY FROM CHRIST IS FEARFULLY POSSIBLE. It is so: 1. BecauBtJ the sO'Ul is not always moored to Christ when it is brought to Christ. We regard it a doctrine of the New Testament that the true believer cannot be lost, that the salvation which on faith in Christ he receives is for ever, the might of Christ to supply all that is necessary to salvation being the warrant of it. W'hy, then, are these professing Christians warned against drifting away from Christ? It is possible to be brought to Christ without being anchored to him. A number of influences may lead one close to the Hedeemer, between whom and Christ there is, nevertheless, no vital union, and as long as the tide runs that way his safety may not be suspected even by himself, but let the title turn and his lack of union becomes apparent and he may drift away and be lost. 2. Because powerful adverse currents tend to carry the soul from the Saviour. Some- times the current leads toward Christ, It had been so with these professing Hebrews. But it is not always that way; difficulties occur, winds of temptation blow, the tide of worldly custom runs high, the unseen force of depraved inclination gathers power; and then, however strong the cable, however firmly it may bind shore and ship together, it will creak and strain, and every fibre of it be needed to hold the ship in safety. But what if there be no cable, no vital faith, in that day? Then the soul will inevi- tably part company with Christ, leaving the harbour where it has lain so long, and be seen (when such a storm shall blow as has never blown on it yet) drifting away. 3. Because the departure of the soul from Christ may be for some time imperceptible. Drifting away is a departure silent, gradual, unnoticeable. At sunset the ship is close to shore and all is safe ; without a warning it drops into the tide, and swings round, and with no sound but the ripple of the water is carried down the Mtree.m to the open sea, and the crew mi.y sleep through it all. So, departure from Christ may ho e.s involuntary and quiet all that; a silent, ceaseless, unconscious creeping back to old habits. There is its danger. Drifting away means leaving Christ without knowing it, till we fiud ourselves far out at sea, and a tide we cannot resist bearing us still furLher away. You have seen men who were once close to Christ, but whilst they slept they have unconsciously glided away, and by the current of worldliness been carried into the rapids and whirled along faster and faster, only waking to i;tare wildly e.t their helplessness, and close hancls and eyes iu despair for the final plunge into the eternal gulf. II. 'Jo DRIFT AWAY FROM CHRIST MUST END IN HOPELESS RUIN. If we drift awo.y u how shall we escape"? 1. 'l'o drift away from Christ is to leave the only Refuge from our sin's consequences. "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every 'transgression, . . . how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvati?n?" 'l'~e_puint is we are condemned already; apart from the great salvation we are m the pos1t1on of those whose transgressions and disobediences were followed by righteous judgment, Hut under these circumstances a "great salvation" has been provided, "Great," iudeed I A full and everlasting remission of all sin, the enjoyment ol Go<l's fatherly favour, the transformation of our moral nature, a tranquil conscience, a bright and glorious hope for eternity; and all this free to whosoever will accept it. Now, if man is under condemnation apart from this, what must ho be if, this having been secured and offered to him, he ignores and neglects it? 'l'o snffor our:;elves to drift away from Christ is to add to the madness of leaving the oaly haven of security, the guilt of OIi. D, 1-18.] THE EPJSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 69