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NOVEMBER 15
Hebrews 10:19–39 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there no longer
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to
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enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fear-
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new and living way which He consecrated for ful expectation of judgment, and fiery indigna-
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us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and tion which will devour the adversaries. Any-
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having a High Priest over the house of God, one who has rejected Moses’ law dies without
let us draw near with a true heart in full
22 mercy on the testimony of two or three wit-
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assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled nesses. Of how much worse punishment, do
from an evil conscience and our bodies you suppose, will he be thought worthy who
washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the has trampled the Son of God underfoot, count-
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confession of our hope without wavering, for ed the blood of the covenant by which he was
He who promised is faithful. And let us con- sanctified a common thing, and insulted the
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sider one another in order to stir up love and Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said,
good works, not forsaking the assembling of “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the
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ourselves together, as is the manner of some, Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His peo-
but exhorting one another, and so much the ple.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
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more as you see the Day approaching. of the living God.
32 But recall the former days in which, after
you were illuminated, you endured a great
struggle with sufferings: partly while you were
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10:20 new. In Greek, this word originally made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribu-
meant “newly slain,” but was understood as lations, and partly while you became compan-
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“recent”when the epistle was written.The way ions of those who were so treated; for you had
is new because the covenant is new. It is not a compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully
way provided by the Levitical system. living accepted the plundering of your goods, know-
way.Though it is the path of eternal life,it was ing that you have a better and an enduring pos-
not opened by Christ’s sinless life—it required session for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do
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His death. The Hebrews were invited to
embark on this way which is characterized by not cast away your confidence, which has great
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the eternal life of the Son of God who loved reward. For you have need of endurance, so
them and gave Himself for them (John 14:6; that after you have done the will of God, you
Gal. 2:20). The Christian faith was known as may receive the promise:
“the Way” among the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts
9:2), as well as among the Gentiles (Acts 37 “For yet a little while,
19:23).Those receiving this epistle understood And He who is coming will come
quite clearly that the writer was inviting them and will not tarry.
to become Christians—to join those who had 38 Now the just shall live by faith;
been persecuted for their faith. True believers But if anyone draws back,
in their midst were even then suffering perse- My soul has no pleasure in him.”
cution, and those who had not committed
themselves to the Way were asked to become 39 But we are not of those who draw back to
targets of the same persecution. perdition, but of those who believe to the sav-
ing of the soul.
DAY 15: How do we draw near to God?
“Let us draw near with a true heart”(Heb.10:22).Based on what had been written,this was the
heart of the invitation to those in the assembly who had not come to Christ.The same invitation is
found in the first New Testament book to be written (James 4:8), where James reveals the corollary
of drawing near to God:God will draw near to you.Asaph taught that it is a good thing to draw near
to God (Ps. 73:28). The full restoration of Israel to God’s blessing is dependent upon their drawing
near to Him (Jer. 30:18–22). In other words, it is an eschatological invitation coming to them in
“these last days”(Heb. 1:2).This verse describes the prerequisites for entering the presence of God
(Ps. 15): sincerity, security, salvation, and sanctification. The Greek term behind “true” carries the
ideas of being sincere, genuine, and without ulterior motive (Jer. 24:7; Matt. 15:8). This one thing
these particular Hebrews lacked: genuine commitment to Christ.
“In full assurance of faith.”Utter confidence in the promises of God is intended by the phrase.
Such confidence will result in heartfelt assurance or security which will allow them to persevere
through the coming trials. This is the first of a familiar triad: faith, hope (v. 23), and love (v. 24).
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