Hebrews 10:22-24 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience… I. DRAWING NEAR. Observe by way of contrast — 1. Moses at the burning bush. "Draw not nigh hither." Fire symbolic of judgment. God cannot thus be approached unto. 2. Children of Israel of Mount Sinai. The injunction given to stand off from the mount, God present in holiness, requiring perfect obedience to His law. This man could not render. Therefore there was no hope of being reconciled to God by the law. 3. Yet now the apostle says, "Let us draw near." How is this? Because (1) Christ hast fulfilled the law — He has become a daysman between us and God, (2) God has drawn near to us. (3) He Himself has invited us to draw near-"Come unto Me," &c. II. HOLDING FAST. A very necessary injunction in these days of apostasy from the faith. 1. What not to hold fast — (1) Human traditions. These are useful in so far as they are in accordance with Divine revelation, but are to be specially shunned when they make the Word of God of none effect. (2) The speculations of theologians. These vary as the wind, and are not to be relied upon. 2. But — (1) The profession or confession of our faith without wavering — "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus thou shalt be saved." (2) The faith itself once delivered to the saints. Why? That others may see the good works that spring from a lively faith, and be led to ask for the old paths. III. CONSIDERING ONE ANOTHER. 1. HOW may we do this? (1) By loving rebuke — not from the love of fault-finding. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. (2) By showing love to our fellows. Christ's new commandment: "Love one another." (3) By obeying the injunction — "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Bear one another's burdens. Wash one another's feet. 2. What would be the result of thus considering one another? (1) More unity among believers. (2) More power in the Church. (3) More blessing in the world. (4) More glory to God. Application: 1. To the sinner. You are yet afar off. Christ invites you to Him. He will abundantly pardon. 2. To the believer. You need, every day — yea, every hour — to be coming to Christ for blessing. (H. Whittaker.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. |
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