Angelic Conflict part 225: Human history (the Church) – Heb 10:19-25; Rom 6:13; 2Co 1:3-4; 11:1-15; 1Co 13.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 225: Human history (the Church) - HEB 10:19-25; ROM 6:13; 2CO 1:3-4; 11:1-15; 1Co 13.

 

HEB 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere [alethinos (adj) = true as opposed to hypocritical] heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

 “bodies washed” - the ministry of the believer who has a heart of truth that is sprinkled clean by the blood of Christ and the water of the word of God - doctrine of justification.

 

When the body is in view in reference to spirituality it is a reference to our individual ministries on earth.

 

ROM 6:13

do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

 

HEB 10:23 Let us hold fast [hold down or hold firmly] the confession [homologeo - outward manifestation of hope through an inward transformation to hope] of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

 

The believing Jews of the early church were constantly tempted to go back to the Mosaic Law by their unbelieving countrymen and so they had to hold fast or hold firmly their confession of their confidence in the new and living law and the abolishment of the old law of sin and death. To us now, there are any number of temptations and distractions designed to hinder or extinguish our confession, which is our witness of the truth, the kingdom of God, and the person of Christ in this world.

 

hope - confident, happy expectation of future deliverance through the work of Christ. He who made these promises is faithful.

 

If I doubt the promises then I'm not a witness of them. Words alone mean nothing. Proclaiming and demonstrating divine power is the mark of the expert witness, especially when he is under intense cross-examination (pressure testing).

 

So, we have so far, faith in our position and then confidence - faith and hope, and then love (vs. 24), the greatest of these.

 

1CO 13:13

But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

ROM 5:3-6

we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

HEB 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate [provoke - as opposed to provoking to sin] one another to love and good deeds,

 

"let us consider" - katanoe,w[katanoeo] = to perceive clearly or to consider closely. Used of the ravens and lilies of Luk 12.

 

The prefix kata intensifies the verb, which eliminates any slothfulness or apathy in the consideration of others.

 

"Let us look clearly and closely into provoking one another to agape love and good deeds as opposed to evil." Prayer is a wonderful vehicle for this.

 

HEB 10:25 not forsaking [also abandoning or deserting] our own assembling together, as is the habit [ethos - custom] of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

 

Assembling is the same Greek word that is used of the gathering of the saints at the Rapture in 2TH 2:1.

 

"encouraging" - parakale,w[parakaleo]; present active participle] = called to ones side or aid (literally); legal term for the same; comforting, exhorting.

 

"One another" is not in the original. So we would not conclude that we are to assemble for the sole purpose of comforting one another, but rather for comforting from doctrine.

 

If we were gathering together for the only purpose of comforting or aiding one another and our top reason was not for the inculcation of doctrine then we would only have a social club, a mutual admiration society, or a help group. We are comforted first and foremost by the word of God but that does not mean that verse 24 is not in view. We must learn and live in love and good works as students of doctrine before we could ever stimulate another to the same.

 

The greatest comforter is our Father and so by means of doctrine in our souls are comforted.

 

2CO 1:3-4

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

 

Yet, with the comfort we receive from God we are to comfort those who are in affliction.

 

Also, "one another" is in verse 24 where we are to consider how to stimulate or stir one another to love and good works. No specifics on how that should be done are given, but insight into God's word and submission to the Spirit's teaching and leading shows each individual how he does so and is not judged by anyone.

 

If God gave a list of specifics on how to do this particular stimulating then it would just become ritual and there would be pride and judging galore. Plus this excludes the type of believer who just wants to be told what to do as per the Law.

 

God has given us the full realm of doctrine and the Spirit who is to lead us into all truth; us who are all believer priests and in that function discern our own revelation and application and represent ourselves before God.

 

This takes faith, faith, and more faith in building a personal relationship with God as a son over and above the procedure following of an unadopted slave.

 

The cults and mythologies of old have been blended with the religion of works and creature merit of the present in an attack of false doctrines that elevate the creature above the creator. They are all based on evil - that man can alone do what only God can do. It’s a simple seesaw; the more man goes up the farther God goes down. 

 

JOH 3:30

"He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

In the Church age, satan has presented, through false ministers, a false Christ, a false gospel, and a false communion table in order to convince the believer that he is not as powerful as he is.