Page 2 - Is Church an Option?

OPTION SERIES | CASM
Marvin R. Knight
Senior Pastor, The Church at South Mountain
2
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:23-25
Introduction:
We cannot rightly understand these verses apart from their context. Beginning in verse 19, we have a sudden shift from the high teaching of the person and work of Christ to the practical application of the Christian in everyday living. In the entire first half of this informative book, the Apostle has been unfolding and displaying, in his own marvelous way, the great salvation that belongs to those who know Jesus Christ in a warm, personal, and life-transforming way.
Having done that, the Apostle now turns our attention to the practical part. This is always the apostolic method: doctrine before duty; belief before behavior. He has laid out the doctrine: Jesus is the Eternal Son (1:2) and the Great High Priest (3:1); His death has paid our sin debt and made atonement for our sins (5:3, 9:11-12); His work on the cross and His resurrected life have opened a way for us into the presence of God (10:19- 22). Now we must apply it. What are you going to do now? This is the question the writer has been laboring to present before these Hebrews.
Our Lord has already done all that was necessary for the readers to go on in the faith. The promise has been given (4:16), the provision has been made. Christ atoned for our sin and poured out His Spirit at Pentecost. However, some of these Hebrews were living in doubt, living a life of unbelief and sloth; so the Apostle calls them to action. He says, in essence, “Now it’s time to move out of this condition that you’re in. It’s