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The
Apostle Urged Believers To This
Second Grace
THE HEBREWS
At the time the apostle wrote his
letter to them it cannot be denied that they were children
of God. He addressed them as "holy brethren."
3:1. They were "babes" that had "need of
milk" (5:12, 13); namely, "new-born babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow
thereby."—1 Pet. 2:2. They became babes by being
converted. Matt. 18:3. He further says: "Ye are
come unto mount Sion, . . . to the general assembly
and church of the first-born, which are written in
heaven, . . . and to Jesus the mediator of the new
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling." 12:22-24.
They were still indwelt with an
unrighteous nature, the "carnal mind." Paul
styled it, "the sin which cloth so easily beset
us," and exhorted them to "lay it
aside."— 12:1,2. He showed them that there was
another degree of grace beyond what they now experienced.
In chapters 3 and 4 the apostle
draws an analogy between Israel in the wilderness and
children of God not yet fully saved: also between Canaan
and the spiritual "rest" "we which have
believed do enter." God had promised the children of
Israel rest in the land of Canaan. The first generation
did not enter this land, "because they believed
not." Of them he sware, "They shall not enter
into my rest." "So we see they could not enter
in, because of unbelief."—3 :19.
We have before shown that literal
Canaan was a type of the experience of perfect holiness.
God had promised Israel rest in the land of Canaan,
"from all their enemies round about." —Deut.
25:19. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will
give thee rest."—Ex. 33:14. By exterminating all
the Canaanites who were born and bred in that land, the
children of Israel were to possess the land and have
"rest."
How clearly this typifies the
complete redemption we have in Christ Jesus! The various
bents of evil—pride, selfishness, jealousy, fear,
covetousness, anger, etc.—are born in us. These are
inward enemies. Christ "condemns sin in the
flesh," and "destroys the works of the
Devil" out of us; namely, "saves us from these
enemies," and enables us to serve him in holiness and
righteousness before him all the days of our life.—Luke
1:74, 75. Not one of these enemies is allowed to remain
and lurk in the walls of "man's soul."
"Perfect love casteth out fear," and the soul
sinks down into a perfect tranquility, a haven of rest—a
rest that gives "quietness and assurance
forever."
This is the land of Beulah. Here
"peace is extended like a river," and the soul
is enabled to "rejoice evermore," and "in
everything give thanks;" even in times of trial,
adversity, disappointment, pressure, opposition, and
misunderstanding. Here the soul feasts on "fat
things" and is "satisfied." This so far
surpasses the experience of the masses, that they
naturally suppose it can only be obtained in a supposed
Millennium or after death. But thank God, the redeemed
have found it in this life. "We which have believed
do [present tense] enter into rest." Hallelujah! You
see this rest is entered by faith. Well hath the poet
said: "The kingdom of God is within you,
So the greatest of teachers hath said;
And the faithful and loving have found it,
And enjoyed it before they were dead.
The Word, and the blood of the Savior
Is the anchor in which we do rest;
And heaven began with its favor
Now we reign with the pure and the blest.."
The Hebrew brethren, although
converted, had not vet entered this perfect soul rest.
Paul warned and exhorted them as follows: "Let us
fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his
rest, any of you should seem to come short of
it."—4 :1. "Let us labor therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example
of unbelief." 4:11. "Go on unto
perfection."—Heb. 6:1. "Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his
flesh, . . . let us draw near with a true heart, in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience."—Heb. 10:19-22.
These "brethren" already
had their "hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience;" i. e., were converted, had their sins
pardoned: and now the apostle urges them "to enter
into the holiest"—entire sanctification. This was
not to be effected by a transition from earth to heaven,
but "by the blood of Jesus." "Now the God
of peace . . . through the blood . . . make you
perfect."—Heb. 13:20-21. "For by one offering
he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."
Heb. 10: l-4.
He further taught them that as
"sons," God would "scourge" and
"chastise" them; namely, lead them through the
death route of inward crucifixion to self—"our old
man"—probe. dissect, and lay open with the sharp
sword of his truth, the hidden "creatures" of
their depraved nature. Heb. 12:5-9; 4:12-13. This complete
death to self will, reputation, etc., would not for the
present "seem joyous" (verse 11), yet he showed
them that it was "for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness." —Heb. 12:10.
He further exhorted them to
"follow peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord."—Heb. 12 :14.
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