Hebrews 10:38a declares, "Now the just shall live by faith..." That is, the believers shall live by faith. Believers are those who have trusted in Jesus Christ and have received salvation. They will live in such a way that their lives will have evidence that they are saved and belong to God.
Hebrews 11 gave some examples of individuals who lived by faith. Hebrews 12 gave some encouragement to live by faith. Hebrews 13 sets forth some evidence that should be in believers to show that they are saved.
The writer has shown that believers will show that they have faith by enjoying spiritual fellowship and by submitting to spiritual leadership. In this chapter, the writer points out that another evidence of faith is sharing in spiritual worship.
BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE Verses 9-12
Worship must be according to truth. Therefore, if we are going to worship, we must be separated from false doctrine.
John 4:23-24: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship
Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and
Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is
good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have
not profited them that have been occupied therein."
Worship is at a new altar (Verse l0). A new covenant Christian is not involved in the ceremonies and furnishings of an earthly tabernacle or temple. But this does not mean that he is deprived of 265
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the blessings of which they were types. A Jew under the Old Covenant could point to the temple, but a Christian has a heavenly sanctuary which can never be destroyed. The expression "we have an altar" (Vs l0) does not suggest a material altar on earth. That would contradict the whole message of this book of Hebrews. A new covenant Christian's altar is in heaven where Jesus Christ is our great high Priest. It is through Him that we offer our "spiritual sacrifices" to God (Verse l5).
1 Peter 2:5, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." We may set aside places in our church buildings and call them altars, but they are not really altars in the Biblical sense. This is because Christ's sacrifice has already been made, once and for all, and the gifts that we bring to God are acceptable, not because of any earthly altar, but because of a heavenly altar.
The figure of eating at this altar (Verse l0) speaks of partaking of the blessings of the New Testament among which was fellowship with God which is made possible by the blood sacrifice which Jesus offered at Calvary. The figure of eating at the altar is taken from the peace offering in which the worshipper partook of the flesh of the sacrifice as a guest in God's house. God showed His friendship and good will toward the worshipper by reason of the fact that He put away his sin at the cross, and the worshipper put his faith in the Messiah as his great High Priest.
The word "right" is the translation of the Greek word (exousia) which has the idea of delegated right or authority. It was a technical term used in the law courts of a legal right. The expression
"they.. ..which serve the tabernacle" refers not only to the priests but also includes the people who worshipped at the tabernacle. The whole thought of the discussion contrasts the privileges of the entire body of believers in the New Testament with those under the Old Testament.
The readers of this epistle were looking for a way to continue as Christians while escaping the persecution that would come from unbelieving Jews. The writer encouraged them to get out of the Jewish religious system and identify with the Saviour who died for them.
Worship is to Him who has paid our sin debt and completely satisfied the righteous demands of the Law of God. The bodies of the animal sacrifices for sin were burned outside the camp (Verse 11). The blood of those animals was brought into the sanctuary and offered for sin. Jesus died outside the city of Jerusalem in order that He might sanctify those who believe on Him (Verse l2).
BECAUSE OF OUR HOPE Verses l3-14
As believers, we have been sanctified. This means that our sins have been washed away by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The term "sanctify" (Greek hagiazo) means to make holy, to set in a state opposed to common or unclean; to deliver from that state of being unclean and put into a state corresponding to the nature of God; to set apart for God.
Our Lord, by becoming a sacrifice under the jurisdiction of the New Testament and as an outcast from Israel, set apart from the Old Testament and Israel, consecrated that person who put his faith in God.
The believer's hope is not in an earthly city. The writer exhorted his readers to leave the apostate Judaism and the temple sacrifices and the city of Jerusalem and bear the reproach of Jesus. This 266
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would take them from the city of Jerusalem and share the message of salvation to others. Believers have not continuing city here on earth, but they "seek one to come" (Verse l4). The earthly city of Jerusalem would soon be destroyed. Therefore, the readers would not benefit by going back to that city and its worship system. The city that is to come is the New Jerusalem, which is described in Revelation 21.
BECAUSE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY Verses l5-16
Our responsibility to God (Verse l5). To offer the sacrifice of praise to God. This is the fruit of our lips, that is, giving thanks to His name for His wonderful blessings.
Psalm 107:21-22: "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and
for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the
sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing."
Psalm 116:17: "I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call
upon the name of the LORD."
This sacrifice of praise should be done continually. God is continually blessing us. Therefore, we must continually give Him praise and thanks.
Our responsibility to others (Verse l6). Our responsibility does not stop with our giving praise and thanks. We must have a lifestyle of doing good.
Psalm 34:14: "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
Psalm 37:3: "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,
and verily thou shalt be fed."
Luke 6:35: “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing
again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest:
for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."
Galatians 6:10: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Titus 3:8: "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain
good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
We must not forget to share with others . "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased." The term "communicate" (Greek koinonia) speaks of having things in common or sharing with others. The writer encouraged the believers to share their earthly goods with their fellow believers who were undergoing persecution and were in a state of poverty.
Hebrews 10:34: KJV 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took
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joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven
a better and an enduring substance.
Conclusion
Evidence that we as believers have faith is that we are sharing in spiritual worship. We worship because of what Jesus Christ has done. He has died for our sins. We worship Him because of His paying for our sins and saving our souls, giving us eternal life. We worship Him because He has given us hope of eternal life and has given us reason for us to live for Him. We have a responsibility to God and others to worship Him.
Is there a time when you recognized yourself to be a sinner before God and asked Him to save you? If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?
Are you demonstrating your faith by participating in spiritual worship and service to God?
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