he Hebrews are urged to go forward in the doctrine of Christ,
and the consequences of apostacy, or turning back, are
described. (1-8) The apostle expresses satisfaction, as to the
most of them. (9,10) And encourages them to persevere in faith
and holiness. (11-20)
Verses 1-8: Every part of the truth and will of God should be set
before all who profess the gospel, and be urged on their hearts
and consciences. We should not be always speaking about outward
things; these have their places and use, but often take up too
much attention and time, which might be better employed. The
humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have
no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his
conscience may accuse him of. Nor does it prove that any one who
is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate
from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of
mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel.
Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or
hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial
declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as
Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the
power of some worldly or fleshly lust. But the falling away here
mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from
enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men
approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all
this after they have received the knowledge of the truth, and
tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is
impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the
blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin;
but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and
every thing that leads to it. If those who through mistaken
views of this passage, as well as of their own case, fear that
there is no mercy for them, would attend to the account given of
the nature of this sin, that it is a total and a willing
renouncing of Christ, and his cause, and joining with his
enemies, it would relieve them from wrong fears. We should
ourselves beware, and caution others, of every approach near to
a gulf so awful as apostacy; yet in doing this we should keep
close to the word of God, and be careful not to wound and
terrify the weak, or discourage the fallen and penitent.
Believers not only taste of the word of God, but they drink it
in. And this fruitful field or garden receives the blessing. But
the merely nominal Christian, continuing unfruitful under the
means of grace, or producing nothing but deceit and selfishness,
was near the awful state above described; and everlasting misery
was the end reserved for him. Let us watch with humble caution
and prayer as to ourselves.
Verse 9,10: There are things that are never separated from salvation;
things that show the person to be in a state of salvation, and
which will end in eternal salvation. And the things that
accompany salvation, are better things than ever any dissembler
or apostate enjoyed. The works of love, done for the glory of
Christ, or done to his saints for Christ's sake, from time to
time, as God gives occasion, are evident marks of a man's
salvation; and more sure tokens of saving grace given, than the
enlightenings and tastings spoken of before. No love is to be
reckoned as love, but working love; and no works are right
works, which flow not from love to Christ.
Verses 11-20: The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things
promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing
of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of
blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal
purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit.
These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we
have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of
God, in which it is not possible for God to lie; it would be
contrary to his nature as well as to his will. And as He cannot
lie; the destruction of the unbeliever, and the salvation of the
believer, are alike certain. Here observe, those to whom God has
given full security of happiness, have a title to the promises
by inheritance. The consolations of God are strong enough to
support his people under their heaviest trials. Here is a refuge
for all sinners who flee to the mercy of God, through the
redemption of Christ, according to the covenant of grace, laying
aside all other confidences. We are in this world as a ship at
sea, tossed up and down, and in danger of being cast away. We
need an anchor to keep us sure and steady. Gospel hope is our
anchor in the storms of this world. It is sure and stedfast, or
it could not keep us so. The free grace of God, the merits and
mediation of Christ, and the powerful influences of his Spirit,
are the grounds of this hope, and so it is a stedfast hope.
Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope. Let us
therefore set our affections on things above, and wait patiently
for his appearance, when we shall certainly appear with him in
glory.
he Hebrews are urged to go forward in the doctrine of Christ,
and the consequences of apostacy, or turning back, are
described. (1-8) The apostle expresses satisfaction, as to the
most of them. (9,10) And encourages them to persevere in faith
and holiness. (11-20)