The Apostle’s Final Exhortation

“And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.” CH 13:22.

In other words, he calls the whole letter a “word of exhortation.” In this letter we find clear and powerful exhortations that are scarcely matched by anything else in the Scriptures. What, then, is the reason for these strong and serious exhortations? It is because those who had made such a glorious and wholehearted beginning had begun to fall behind on the way which Jesus had consecrated. They had become dull of hearing where it concerned obedience, and so there had not been any spiritual growth. They were still babes, despite the fact that they should have been teachers. What should they have been teachers in? In discerning “between good and evil.” They had not fallen away in the sense that they didn’t believe in God anymore. No, they still served the saints, but they no longer had the same zeal. (See CH 6:10-11.)

Was that which we read in CH 6:4-8 and further in CH 10:26-30 so important? Indeed it was, but he now had a better hope for them. He uses the example of the children of Israel to show how easy it is to fall away from God, how that after they had come out of Egypt they had not entered into the land because of unbelief. God was angry with them. Read CH 3 where he says, “Beware!” How necessary this exhortation is; and yet, where can you find this fear of God—the God who is a consuming fire? (See CH 12:28-29.)

On every hand, we find superficiality and the comfort of the false prophets, just as it has always been. “They continually say to those who despise me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’” Read Jeremiah 6:14 and 23:15-21. They comfort their congregations, who are living in sin, by saying, “Jesus’ grace covers all our sin. We are under His blood. He has drawn us in the palms of His hands, and He has drawn the correct picture of us, just as He sees us through the blood.” And they pray, “Place us under the blood,” and many similar things.

At the beginning of his letter the apostle gives a powerful exhortation: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His will?” CH 2:1-4.

Think that the apostles could confirm the preaching about “so great a salvation,” which we have now read about in the letter to the Hebrews and elsewhere in the Scriptures. In order to be able to do that, they themselves must also have partaken of it. But where do you find this preaching today? Where do you find faith in the finished work of Jesus?

Praised be God that it is the same today as when God answered Elijah, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18. Likewise, “...at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Rom. 11:5. He is now gathering them into one body—the body of Christ!

I will say like Jesus, when He began His ministry, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled,” etc. Matt. 5:3-12.

I strongly exhort everyone who reads this: Flee from all superficiality and idle chatterers! Do not argue with people about the Word of God. Receive the Word as the Word of God, and believe it just as it is written. Then it will effectively work in you. (See 1 Thess. 2:13.)

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim. 2:22.

Your happy brother in faith, grace, and salvation,