The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 181

possessi,m of vital godliness, only continuance is the test of vitality. All outward Chri~tian ?hRracteristics may be ours, yet the apostate's guilt and doom ma.y be ourr 2. But this "falling away" is in reality the rejection of Christ. "They cruciry to themselves the Son of God afresh;" ,.e. reject him, repeat in effect for themselves the old cry, "A.way with him! crucify him I" Note that to turn the back on Christ is to repea.t th~ ~1lt_of the men of eighteen centuries ago, and the Saviour's grief. 3. .And this reJectwn is .followed by the final judgment of God. " For the land which ha.th drunk in the rain," etc., equivalent to" to receive God's good gifts, and bring forth fruit as tb~ res1~lt," is to e?sure the Divine blessing; but t-0 receive them and only produce thistles 1s to stand m da.nger of God's curse. Wba.t ca.n be tho hope of the rejecter of God's Son? What sin can be greater, or doom more terrible? The rejection of Christ is the izreat damning sin of all. 11. THE GRACIOUS HOPE OF THEIR PRESERVATWN FROM TIIE SIN OF APOSTASY. "But, beloved, we a.re persuaded," etc. 1. Self-denying service for God may be an evidence of tr1UJ Christian life. Religious activity is no proof of Christia.n life, but it affords reason for hope that the life is there. Where there is no religious activity there is little reason to believe in the existence of vital piety, for it is the genius of Christia.nity to spread itself. 2. One reward of this service is the bestowment of sustaining and delivering grace,. Our works cannot claim anything of God, but he is pleased to reward them ; ao<l what if the rewa.rd for fidelity in a few things should be grace to be faithful in ma.ny thiogs ! In heaven, more glory will be the reward of service ; on earth, more grace. III. THE :1-"ECESSARY EFFOnT, IF APOSTASY IS TO DE AVOIDED. The tenth verse shows that we are only kept from " falling away" by Divine grace; but since God gives grace through human instrumentalities, there is something for us to do if we are to be kept from this fatal evil 'l'hat fact is recognized here, for the former pa.rt of the parenthesis must be rea.d with this ; there we get the antidote to the tendency to apostatize. 1. Growth in the Divine life. You must either grow or decline. Growth ie the only safeguard to " falling away." Those whose early vigour is becoming feebler and feebler are on the road to prove they never possessed Divine vitality, and to the crucifixion to themselves of the Son of God. 2. This growth is only possible through the deeper knowledge of (Jhrist. Growth needs solid food. Milk may sustain life ; only solid food can build up life. Growth in the knowledge of Christ is the secret of growth in his likeness.-C. N. Vere. 11-20.-The inftu,ence of hope on (Jhristian steadfastness. The third part of the parenthesis. To the solemn warning against apostasy he hastens to add how they can be delivered from the evil, and tells them of the power of hope on Christian stead- fastness. I. THE WRITEll ENC0UJlAGES THE CULTIVATION OF CHRISTIAN HOPE. He says he is full of hope with regard to them, and desires that they would cherish that hope for themselves. (Note: It is remarkable, if the previous verses are aimed against assur- ance, that they should occur in a. passage which revea.1s the writer's ardent desire not to destroy assurance, but to increase it!) 1. Hope must be preceded by faith. The Epistle is addressed to those who have faith, and to these it is said-Go on to hope. Hope is higher than faith. Faith reveals ; hope ant.icipates. 2. Hope is, to a great extent, thefroit of spiritu,a,l diligenr-e. " Diligence unto," etc. It is the work of the Spirit(" Abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost"), but it is also spoken of as thou.,.h it were secured by human diligence. God gives this fruit in the soul's vineyard~ human toil. Hope can be cultivated by an increase of Christian know- led"'e • its lack is due to neglect of Scripture. Also by constant meditation-meditation on th; thin.,.s we know ebout. Also by the right use of the discipline of sorrow, for sorrow carri~s in it the message, "Set your affections on things above." We can ha.ve hope if we are willing to pay the price for it. 3. Hope tends to the production of full asswrwnce. It ill the fruit of assurance, and bears a. seed which sows itself in the heart, and produces assurance in its turn. Earthly hopes do not tend to assurance-they may di..sa.ppoint; but the hope based on SC1'ipture is declared to be the work of the Spirit; and 6ince he could not deceive w, there must be a reality corresponding to this. "If it were not 110, I would have told you." CU. VJ. 1-20.) 'l'HE EPISTLE ·ro THE mrnREWB. li:3