The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 290

Epistle to the Hebrews had, who to the questions, 'Is Jesus the Messiah? Is he the Bo1;1 of God.?' replied i':1 the nffirm~tive indeed with ~ead and mouth, but yet were not satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ, but thought 1t necessary still to lean on the crutches of the Levitical sacrifices, and on these crutches would limp into heaven." We fear that there is much of this divided faith at present, or at least a crreat lack of "fulness of faith" in the Saviour. The faith of some is divided between ~he Christ nnd the Church, or some human priesthood; others, between the Christ and the sanc- tions of reason or philosophy; and others, between the Christ and what they conceive to be their own personal merits. If we would draw near to God acceptably, we must do so "in full assurance of faith" in our great Priest as the only and all-sufficient Mediator. 3, With purity of heart a,nd, life. "Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water." There is a reference here to the Levitical purifications (cf. Exod. xxix. 21; Lev. viii. 30; xvi. 4, 24; eh. ix. 13, 14, 21, 22 ; 1 Pet. i. 2). And in the last clause of the text there is probably a reference to Christian baptism, which is symbolic of spiritual cleansing (cf. Acts xxii. 16). The idea seems to be that to approach God acceptably we must be morally pure in heart and in action. But "who can say, I have made rny heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" And so we draw near to God at present trustin" in the Christ for pardon and for purity. Through him we are jnstified before God. by faith, and have daily cleansing for daily impurities. And hereafter we shall draw near to his blessed presence" having washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,'' and shall appear before him as members of "a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish." CONCLUSION. 1. How great are our privileges of present access to God in prayer, and hope of future approach to him in person! 2. How solemn are our obligations to avail ourselves of our privileges, and to walk worthily of them !-W. J. Ver. 23.-<Jhristianfidelity. "Let us hold fast the profession of onr faith," etc. I. THE EXHORTATION TO CHRISTIAN FIDELITY. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, that it waver not."· 1. The ob:ject of our hope. That in Christ we have at present forgiveness of our sins, the right of approach unto God, sanctifying influences, etc. That through Christ we shall attain unto the future and perfect rest-the sabbath- keeping which remains for the people of God. Or in brief, that Jesus is the Christ of God, and that in him we have salvation in its beginnings here and now, and shall have it in perfection hereafter. 2. The confession of our hope. (1) The confession made. The Christian baptism of these Hebrew Christians was a confession of their faith in Christ. When the hope is clear and assured, it "cannot remain dumb; it must speak, end give a reason of its own existence. It otters itself in a frank confession, which we are to hold fast." This confession is obligatory upon believers in Christ Jesus (cf. Matt. x. 32, 33; Luke xii. 8, 9; Rom. x. 9, 10; 1 John iv. 15). (2) The confession maintained. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, that it waver not." It is implied that there was a danger of their relinquishing it. They were in danger by reason of persecution (cf. John ix. 22); and by , iason of the ritualistic and other attractions of Judaism, and the simplicity and spirituality of Christianity. And a clear, consistent, and steadfast confession of our Christian hope is imperilled to-day by not a few influences. There is danger from Satanic solicitation, from worldly suggestion and example, and from the inclinations and disinclinations of our lower nature. Visible and material interests would draw us away from the claims of the invisible and spiritual. Having eo much to do with seen and temporal things, there is danger lest we relax the firmness of our grasp on the unseen and eternal verities. There is danger, too, of attempting to base our hope upon Christ nnd something else, rather than upon qhrist and qh_rist. alone. "Let us hold fast the confession," etc. Let there be no uncertamty, no t1mHhty, no wavering, in our acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. (a) Our own true interests enforce the exhortation of the text. (b) The great company of the glorified call upon us to " hold fast the confes~ion of our hope," etc. ( cf. eh. vi. 11, 12). (c) God himself summons us to fidelity and perseverance. "Be ~hou faithful unto deuth, and I will give thee the crown of life." "Hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown." 11 lL 1'uE ENCOUBAGE.14ENT TO C1.1msTUN FIDELITY. "For he is faithful that promised. 280 'flHE Ei>tS'rLE 'I'O 'I'B'.E ltEDllEWS. tott. x. 1-39.