Letter to the Hebrews Volume 112

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 4

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?  KJV

Having reminded the Hebrew converts of the very quick and decisive judgement of God the Father against their people for going after other gods to serve and worship them, now the writer of Hebrews declares, describes, and details the dire, dreadful, and devastating case for those who have heard the Gospel of Christ, that is, the Gospel of Grace and have come close to being moved by the Spirit of God and made even to tremble at the pending judgement to come upon sinners (as did Felix at the testimony of the Apostle Paul, "And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Acts 24:24-25) yet he or she rejected or ignored all of the motions and movements of the Spirit of God upon their inner man or inner woman. The writer of Hebrews declares that this will be the inevitable conclusion for such a man or woman with these words, "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?" (Hebrews 10:29) (KJV). The English word 'sorer' is translated by the Greek word cheirōn meaning more evil or aggravated (physically, mentally or morally): - sorer, worse. The English word 'punishment' is translated by the Greek word timōria (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning  vindication, that is, (by implication) a penalty: - punishment. The English phrase 'ye, shall he be thought worthy' is translated by the Greek word axioō which means to deem entitled or fit: - desire, think good, count (think) worthy. The English phrase 'who hath trodden under foot' is translated by the Greek word katapateō meaning to trample down; figuratively to reject with disdain: - trample, tread (down, underfoot). In other words, the man or woman that has rejected or refused the moving motions of the Holy Spirit of God upon their inner man or inner woman convicting them of eternal judgement to come and counted the Son of God (Jesus Christ) and the Blood of the Covenant which He shed willingly for their sins to make them right with God a common thing and has insulted the Spirit of Grace by pushing Him away and thereby ignoring his or her's need for saving grace, how much worse a punishment and penalty (given or inflicted in requital according to merits or deserts, that is, retributive punishment) awaits that soul (man or woman) than what was done to those Hebrew people who rejected the Covenant of God under the Old Testament, their penalty was temporal and for one time physical death, however, this penalty will be forever, that is, eternal and without end.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 10:29, "Than a mere corporeal death, which was the punishment inflicted on the transgressors of the law of Moses. The Apostle appeals to the Hebrews themselves, and makes them judges of what punishment. This seems to be a stronger expression than crucifying Him again, Hebrews 6:6 and is to be understood, not of what was in fact committed, but in will by persons; who, could they have had their will of Him, would have pulled Him from His Throne, and trampled upon Him: it is a phrase expressive of the utmost scorn, contempt, and ill usage; and which such are guilty of, who deny His deity, and Eternal Sonship; who render Him useless in His offices, undervalue His Sacrifice, despise His Righteousness, and strip Him of the Glory of His Person, Office, and Grace. And this is aggravated by His being the Son of God who is thus used, who became the Son of Man for the sake of men, is superior to men, and equal with God: And hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing; or 'common thing;; putting it upon a level with the blood of a bullock, or at most counting it 'as that of another man'; as the Syriac version renders it; yea, reckoning it as unclean and abominable, as the blood of a very wicked man: this is aggravated by its being 'the blood of the covenant'; of the covenant of grace, because that is ratified and confirmed by it, and the blessings of it come through it; and from sanctification by it: either of the person, the apostate himself, who was sanctified or separated from others by a visible profession of religion; having given himself up to a Church, to walk with it in the ordinances of the Gospel; and having submitted to Baptism, and partook of the Lord's Supper, and drank of the cup, 'the blood of the New Testament', or 'Covenant': though he did not spiritually discern the Body and Blood of Christ in the ordinance, but counted the bread and wine, the symbols of them, as common things; or who professed himself, and was looked upon by others, to be truly sanctified by the Spirit, and to be justified by the Blood of Christ, though he was not really so: or rather the Son of God Himself is meant, who was sanctified, set apart, hallowed, and consecrated, as Aaron and his sons were sanctified by the sacrifices of slain beasts, to minister in the priest's office: so Christ, when He had offered Himself, and shed His precious Blood, by which the covenant of grace was ratified, by the same Blood He was brought again from the dead, and declared to be the Son of God with power; and being set down at God's Right Hand, He ever lives to make intercession, which is the other part of His Priestly Office He is sanctified by His own Blood to accomplish. This clause, 'wherewith He was sanctified', is left out in the Alexandrian copy: And hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace; by denying His being, deity, and personality; despising His powerful operations as enthusiasm; treating His extraordinary gifts as illusions; and ascribing His miracles to Satan, and representing the Gospel dictated by Him as a fable, or a lie: and this is aggravated by His being 'the Spirit of Grace;; the Author, Giver, and Applier of all grace to the saints; and who therefore ought not to be in the least slighted, but highly esteemed and honoured; nor will such affronts go unpunished."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 111

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 3

Hebrews 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: KJV

The writer of Hebrews now reminds the then Hebrew converts to Christ of the very quick judgement against the sin of apostasy that was carried out under the Mosaic Law with these words, "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:" (Hebrews 10:28) (KJV). The little English phrase at the very beginning of this verse 'that despised' is translated by the Greek word atheteō which means to set aside, that is, (by implication) to disesteem, neutralize or violate: - cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to nought, reject. In other words, any man or woman that were among the Hebrew people who were found to treat the Covenant of God with utter dislike, disdain, and disrespect by going after other gods to worship and or serve them instead of the Lord God Jehovah, then that man or woman received no mercy from the Lord, but His immediate wrath and judgement, as it is written here, "If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing His covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you." (Deuteronomy 17:2-7) (KJV).

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 10:28, "That is, the apostate from the religion of Moses. It does not mean that in all cases the offender against the Law of Moses died without mercy, but only where offences were punishable with death, and probably the apostle had in his eye particularly the case of apostasy from the Jewish religion. The subject of apostasy from the Christian religion is particularly under discussion here, and it was natural to illustrate this by a reference to a similar case under the Law of Moses. The Law in regard to apostates from the Jewish religion was positive. There was no reprieve; Deuteronomy 13:6-10. Died without mercy - That is, there was no provision for pardon. It was the settled law among the Hebrews that in all cases involving capital punishment, two or three witnesses should be necessary. That is, no one was to be executed unless two persons certainly bore testimony, and it was regarded as important, if possible, that three witnesses should concur in the statement. The object was the security of the accused person if innocent. The 'principle' in the Law was, that it was to be presumed that two or three persons would be much less likely to conspire to render a false testimony than one would be, and that two or three would not be likely to be deceived in regard to a fact which they had observed." Here also is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 10:28, "From the methods of divine justice with those who despised Moses's law, that is, sinned presumptuously, despising his authority, his threatenings and his power. These, when convicted by two or three witnesses, were put to death; they died without mercy, a temporal death. Observe, Wise governors should be careful to keep up the credit of their government and the authority of the laws, by punishing presumptuous offenders; but then in such cases there should be good evidence of the fact. Thus God ordained in Moses's law; and hence the Apostle infers the heavy doom that will fall upon those that apostatize from Christ."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 110

We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 2

Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. KJV

Next we find the writer of Hebrews declaring the consequences of the ones who reject Jesus Christ as their only sacrifice for sin with these words, "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:27) (KJV). Then, in the case of the Hebrews during the time of the writing of this letter, the Hebrew people and the entire nation had witnessed the Earthly Ministry of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ seeing His many miraculous displays of healing people from blindness (Mark 10:51-52), leprosy (Matthew 8:3), paralysis (Mark 2:12), and casting out demons from those possessed and oppressed by the devil (Mark 9:25) (Luke 4:35) (Acts 10:38), yet many of the Hebrews still did not believe that He was the promised Messiah, but some did believe, as it is written concerning Him, "And many of the people believed on Him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this Man hath done?" (John 7:31) (KJV). Therefore, the writer of Hebrews is declaring to the Hebrew people who refused to believe that Jesus was and is 'the Christ' that they have nothing to look forward to after death but the judgement of God against their sins and their fatal sin of unbelief. This same passage of Scripture speaks the same fiery judgement to every Gentile then, now, and of every era and generation who rejects or resist or refuses to believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Son of God and God the Son manifested in human flesh (1 Timothy 3:16) and that His death on the Cross at Calvary is the only acceptable sacrifice for their sin (John 14:6). The English word 'adversaries' that ends the passage of Scripture Hebrews 10:27 is translated by the Greek word hupenantios which means under (covertly) contrary to, that is, opposed or (as noun) an opponent: - adversary, against. The conclusion is that every soul on the earth is either a 'Friend of God' (James 2:23) or an enemy, opponent, or adversary of God as declared right here for all the world to see in Hebrews 10:27.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 10:27, "Either of some outward visible judgment in this life, which sometimes falls on such persons; or of the particular judgment which immediately follows after death; or of the universal judgment, after the resurrection, and the dreadful sentence of condemnation which will then pass, and be immediately executed; and which will be done by Christ, and according to truth, and in strict justice; it is certain, and there will be no escaping it, for it will be general. Now there is in this life an expectation in men of a future judgment, and in wicked men it is a fearful one; it is dreaded by them, and more especially in such men before described, when their consciences are awakened; it is a very dreadful one, inexpressibly so: and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries; which is to be understood, not of the fire of purgatory, for this is after judgment, that is pretended to be before it; this devours, that only purges, according to the Papists; this is for adversaries, that, as is supposed, is for friends: but perhaps some fiery judgment, expressive of the wrath and indignation of God, such as befell Sodom and Gomorrah, the two sons of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the men that rose up with Korah against Moses and Aaron: or rather the fire of hell, which is not corporeal and material, but is the wrath of God let down into the conscience; which shows the vile nature of sin, the strictness of God's justice, and the intolerableness of future punishment: and this is said to 'devour the adversaries'; not only open ones, but secret, underhanded enemies, as the word here signifies; as such apostates are, before described, to God, and Christ, and the Spirit; to the Gospel, its doctrine, discipline, and ordinances; and to the children of God, and to the power of godliness in them: and with the fire of God's wrath they shall be devoured; not so as to be annihilated, but shall be eternally destroyed, both soul and body; that is, everlastingly punished, or punished with everlasting destruction."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…




 

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 109

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 1

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, KJV

There are amongst we true believers imposters who have not ever truly been 'born again' but instead have a man made religion or some sort of spiriutual experience that was not from heaven but manufactured by the devil and his legion of demons masquerading as an 'angel of light' in order to deceive men and women into his lie making them believe it to be the truth, as the Apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers with these words, "But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:12-15) (KJV). These men and women in the past, now also here in the present, and surely will emerge in the future who make a mockery of the Word of God by denouncing, denegrating, and denying the very things that God Almighty Himself has declared to mankind to be true are the enemies of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are many men and women widely popular today because they declare to people that God wants them to be always and at all times and places healthy and wealthy (known as the prosperity gospel, little 'g' because it is no gospel at all) and if they are not healthy and wealthy, then they themselves 'lack faith' and this is why they are sick or in need materially.  

Having given all of this background as an introduction, there remains a very contentious discussion, discourse, or debate within the Chistian Body of Christ as to whether or not a true believer ("Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23) in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ can ever fall away from the faith and apostatize, that is, abandon one's beliefs or allegiances to Jesus Christ and to the Word of God. The short answer is NO! As the Apostle Peter declared above, Jesus Christ through the Gospel and the Holy Spirit is the author of the birth that implants seed which is not corruptible. Therefore, we now find the writer of Hebrews declaring to the then Hebrews converts to Christ, as well as we converts to Christ today and of every era and generation these words of warning, "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26) (KJV). The little English word 'if we' is translated by the Greek word hēmōn meaning in the event that we. The English word 'willfully' is translated by the Greek word hekousiōs which means voluntarily: - wilfully, willingly. When the writer finishes off verse 26 with these words, 'after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins', he meant then to the Hebrews and to all generations of humanity that to reject the Cross and Blood of Jesus Christ is to renounce any hope of heaven after death. Here is how Vincent's Word Studies declared it, "The willful sin is the abandonment of Christianity for Judaism. The truth is the revelation through Christ. It is Christ's sacrifice or none."

Here finally is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 10:26, "If we deliberately, for fear of persecution or from any other motive, renounce the profession of the Gospel and the Author of that Gospel, after having received the knowledge of the truth so as to be convinced that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and that He had sprinkled our hearts from an evil conscience; for such there remaineth no sacrifice for sins; for as the Jewish sacrifices are abolished, as appears by the declaration of God Himself in the fortieth Psalm, and Jesus being now the only sacrifice which God will accept, those who reject Him have none other; therefore their case must be utterly without remedy. This is the meaning of the Apostle, and the case is that of a deliberate apostate - one who has utterly rejected Jesus Christ and His atonement, and renounced the whole Gospel system. It has nothing to do with backsliders in our common use of that term. A man may be overtaken in a fault, or he may deliberately go into sin, and yet neither renounce the Gospel, nor deny the Lord that bought him. His case is dreary and dangerous, but it is not hopeless; no case is hopeless but that of the deliberate apostate, who rejects the whole Gospel system, after having been saved by grace, or convinced of the truth of the Gospel. To him there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin; for there was but the One, Jesus, and this he has utterly rejected."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 108

 Let Us Draw Near to God by the Blood of Jesus Part 5

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. KJV

Our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ ascended back to heaven and gave gifts to men, as it is written for us with these words by the Apostle Paul, "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on High, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:7-16) (KJV). Over the course of the centuries that have gone by since Christ ascension back to heaven, the Church (which is the Body of Christ now on the earth) has gone through many trials, tribulations, and troubles, however we recall the Words of our Lord when He said this to the Apostle Peter concerning 'His Church the True Church' which is minus the black or white magic demons, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19) (KJV).

Having documented all of this, we now find the writer of Hebrews finishing off his discourse of exhorting us to draw near to God the Father by the Blood of Jesus with these words, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) (KJV). The English word 'forsaking' is translated by the Greek word egkataleipō meaning (in a bad sense) to desert: - forsake, leave. The English phrase 'assembling of ourselves together' is translated by the Greek word episunagōgē which means specifically a Christian meeting (for worship): - assembling (gathering) together. The English word 'manner' is translated by the Greek word ethos which means the custom. The English word 'exhorting' is translated by the Greek word parakaleō which means to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, be of good comfort, desire, intreat, pray. In other words, the assembling together of fellow brothers and sisters 'in Christ' is not just so we can tick that check mark off our box for the week or to just socialize with one another or to impress one another with our material clothing, jewlery, or cars, but it is only to encourage, exhort, and edify one another spiritually, that we may stand solid, steadfast, and strong against our spiritual adversary 'the devil' as we are reminded by the words of King Solomon here, "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12) (KJV). Also to better prepare ourselves for the 'Day of the Lord' which can and will happen at any moment in our individual lives through death or through the rapture of the Church, as it is written here for us by the Apostle Paul, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) (KJV). Right after the Rapture our Lord Jesus' 2nd Coming to the earth will occur, as described for us with this Old Testament word, "The great Day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the Day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly." (Zephaniah 1:14) (KJV) and also this New Testament description, "But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10) (KJV).  

Here is what the JFB Commentary had to say of Hebrews 10:25, "The Greek, 'episunagoge,' is only found here and 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (the gathering together of the elect to Christ at His coming, Matthew 24:31). The assembling or gathering of ourselves for Christian communion in private and public, is an earnest of our being gathered together to Him at His appearing. Union is strength; continual assemblings together beget and foster love, and give good opportunities for 'provoking to good works,' by 'exhorting one another' (Hebrews 3:13). Ignatius says, 'When ye frequently, and in numbers meet together, the powers of Satan are overthrown, and his mischief is neutralized by your likemindedness in the faith.' To neglect such assemblings together might end in apostasy at last. He avoids the Greek term 'sunagoge,' as suggesting the Jewish synagogue meetings. As the manner of some is — 'manner,' that is, habit, custom. This gentle expression proves he is not here as yet speaking of apostasy. This, the shortest designation of the Day of the Lord’s coming, occurs elsewhere only in 1 Corinthians 3:13; a confirmation of the Pauline authorship of this Epistle. The Church being in all ages kept uncertain how soon Christ is coming, the day is, and has been, in each age, practically always near; whence, believers have been called on always to be watching for it as nigh at hand. The Hebrews were now living close upon One of those great types and foretastes of it, the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2), 'the bloody and fiery dawn of the Great Day; that day is the day of days, the ending day of all days, the settling day of all days, the day of the promotion of time into eternity, the day which, for the Church, breaks through and breaks off the night of the present world' [Delitzsch in Alford]."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 107

 Let Us Draw Near to God by the Blood of Jesus Part 4

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: KJV

The writer of Hebrews now concludes his exhortation to the Hebrew converts to Christ back then, as well as we converts to Him today and during every era and generation since our Lord Jesus died on the Cross for our sins and rose from the dead three (3) days later and then ascended back to heaven seated at the Right Hand of God the Father on a Throne of Grace serving as our Intercessor and Mediator for us with our Heavenly Father with these next words, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" (Hebrews 10:24) (KJV). The little English phrase 'let us consider' is translated by the Greek word katanoeō meaning to observe fully: - behold, consider, discover, perceive. In other words, the author of Hebrews wants us to be aware of the material and the physical needs of our fellow brothers and sisters 'in Christ', but most importantly does he want to see us 'Take careful note of each other's spiritual welfare', as declared with these words by Vincent's Word Studies. The author of Hebrews means for this to be a continual course of action. Next in this verse he wants us to motivate one another to love and to do good for our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. As written for us by the Apostle Paul to the Church @ Thessalonica (which is a port city in northeastern Greece on an inlet of the Aegean Sea; second largest city of Greece) with these words, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." (1 Thessalonians 5:5-11) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 10:24, "Saints should consider one another as men, that they are but men, of like passions and infirmities; they should consider their different tempers, and make allowance for them, and their outward state and condition in the world: they should consider one another as saints, partakers of the same grace; as that they are all loved with the same love, all conceived and brought forth in the womb of God's eternal electing grace, interested in the same covenant, redeemed by the same Blood, and have the same graces and privileges, and an equal right to glory; having one and the same Spirit, the same grace of faith, the same righteousness, the same fountain to wash in, the same fulness to partake of, the same Throne of Grace to go to, and the same inheritance to enjoy: they should consider one another as Church members, the grace and gifts of another, their different age and standing in the Church, their relation to each other as brethren; they should consider them under suffering or sorrowful circumstances, under afflictions, temptations, desertions, declensions, and as attended with infirmities and sins: and the end of such consideration should be, to provoke unto love; to brotherly love, to stir it up, and stir up to it, which is apt to wax cold, that so it may be rekindled, and give a most vehement flame; for this is Christ's new commandment, the bond of perfection, the evidence of regeneration, that which makes the saints' communion comfortable and delightful, and without which a profession of religion is in vain. And to good works; not for justification before God, and in order to procure salvation; but that God may be glorified, the Gospel adorned, the mouths of gainsayers stopped, faith evidenced to the world, and gratitude to God for his benefits shown, and for the profit and advantage of fellow creatures, and fellow Christians."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 106

 Let Us Draw Near to God by the Blood of Jesus Part 3

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) KJV

It is not what any sinner does that will enable them to obtain eternal forgiveness of sin and sins from God the Father as we have learned from the writer of Hebrews in the last few studies/commentaries, however, we now are told by this very same writer that their are things that we must do in order to draw nigh or near to our Heavenly Father and have within our inner man or inner woman that full assurance of faith (1 John 5:13) that is the birth right of every true believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, with that being said, we find the writer of Hebrews exhorting the then Hebrew converts to Christ and we converts to Christ today and all of us from every era and generation with these first words written here, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23) (KJV). The little English phrase 'let us hold fast' is translated by the Greek word katechō which means to hold down fast, to take possession of, to seize, to keep in our memory, or to retain. The English word 'profession' is translated by the Greek word homologia meaning acknowledgement, that is, a statement acknowledging something or someone and in this case that Someone is our Lord Jesus Christ. The little English phrase 'of our faith' is translated by the Greek word elpis meaning (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope. The little English phrase 'without wavering' is translated by the Greek word aklinēs (used this one time only in the New Testament) which means not leaning, (that is, (figuratively) firm: - without wavering. In other words, let us keep on holding fast or taking hold of our faith in Christ without wavering or being uncertain in our purpose and actions and keeping it in our memory with anticipation and hope, that is, confidently expecting the end of our faith to be manifested when we are with the Lord Jesus, as it is written for us by the Apostle Peter with these words, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:7-9) (KJV). It is the end part of Hebrews 10:23 that gives to us this unwavering confidence and full assurance of our faith knowing that even when we are unfaithful, He (Christ Jesus or Lord) is always faithful. This little English phrase 'He is faithful' in  Hebrews 10:23 is translated by the Greek word pistos meaning objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believing, faithful, sure, and true.

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 10:23, "To secure this was one of the leading designs of this Epistle, and hence, the Apostle adverts to it so frequently. It is evident that those whom he wrote were suffering persecution Hebrews 12, and that there was great danger that they would apostatize. As these persecutions came probably from the Jews, and as the aim was to induce them to return to their former opinions, the object of the Apostle is to show that there was in the Christian scheme every advantage of which the Jews could boast; everything pertaining to the dignity of the great Founder of the system, the character of the High Priest, and the nature and value of the sacrifices offered, and that all this was possessed far more abundantly in the permanent Christian system than in what was typical in its character, and which were designed soon to vanish away. In view of all this, therefore, the Apostle adds that they should hold fast the profession of their faith without being shaken by their trials, or by the arguments of their enemies. We have the same inducement to hold fast the profession of our faith - for it is the same religion still; we have the same Saviour, and there is held out to us still the same prospect of heaven. To induce them to hold fast their profession, the Apostle adds this additional consideration. God, who had promised eternal life to them, was faithful to all that He had said. The argument here is: (1) That since God is so faithful to us, we ought to be faithful to Him; (2) The fact that He is faithful is an encouragement to us. We are dependent on Him for grace to hold fast our profession. If He were to prove unfaithful, we should have no strength to do it. But this He never does; and we may be assured, that all that He has promised He will perform. To the service of such a God, therefore, we should adhere without wavering." Here also is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 10:23, "The duty itself - to hold fast the profession of our faith, to embrace all the truths and ways of the Gospel, to get fast hold of them, and to keep that hold against all temptation and opposition. Our spiritual enemies will do what they can to wrest our faith, and hope, and holiness, and comfort, out of our hands, but we must hold fast our religion as our best treasure. The manner in which we must do this - without wavering, without doubting, without disputing, without dallying with temptation to apostasy. Having once settled these great things between God and our souls, we must be stedfast and immovable. Those who begin to waver in matters of Christian faith and practice are in danger of falling away. The motive or reason enforcing this duty: He is faithful that hath promised. God has made great and precious promises to believers, and He is a faithful God, true to His word; there is no falseness nor fickleness with Him, and there should be none with us. His faithfulness should excite and encourage us to be faithful, and we must depend more upon His promises to us than upon our promises to Him, and we must plead with Him the promise of grace sufficient."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 105

 Let Us Draw Near to God by the Blood of Jesus Part 2

Hebrews 10:21-22 And having an High Priest over the House of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. KJV

The author of Hebrews makes it clear to us that we should always have that 'boldness' he spoke of in verse 19 not because of any moxie, majesty, or merit of our own, but simply because we have such a magnificent, majestic, and mighty High Priest in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, as he writes here with these words, "And having an High Priest over the House of God;" (Hebrews 10:21) (KJV). When the writer of Hebrews here describes Christ Priesthood as being over the 'House of God', that meant during the time of the Old Testament the actual and literal Hebrew/Jewish Temple, that is, the building where the people gathered to worship God, however, after the death, burial, and resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ this reference in the New Testament to the House of God did not and does not mean a building, but instead it is the entire family of God, that is, every man, woman, and child that has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever (1 Peter 1:23). As it is written and declared for us by the Apostle Peter in his same first letter with these words, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17) (KJV) and also as it is written for us by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to brother Timothy with these words, "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:14-15) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 10:21, "The House or Family of God is the Christian Church, or all true believers in the Lord Jesus. Over this Church, House, or Family, Christ is the High Priest - in their behalf He offers His own Blood, and their prayers and praises; and as the High Priest had the ordering of all things that appertained to the house and worship of God, so has Christ in the government of His Church. This government He never gave into other hands. As none can govern and preserve the world but God, so none can govern and save the Church but the Lord Jesus: He is over the House; He is its President; He instructs, protects, guides, feeds, defends, and saves the flock. Those who have such a President may well have confidence; for with Him is the fountain of life, and He has all power in the heavens and in the earth." Nothing but a complete Amen follows these words written by Adam Clarke. AMEN!!!

So, because we have such a Great High Priest in Christ Jesus our Lord we have this boldness to approach the Throne of God, just as described, declared, and delineated for us with these words by the author of Hebrews, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22) (KJV). The very first words in this passage 'Let us draw near' is translated by the Greek word proserchomai which means (as used here) to approach, that is, (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to. Literally, in heaven at this very moment the primary thing that is happening is the worship of Almighty God, as it is written and described for us by the Apostle John with these words, "The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:10-11) (KJV). When the writer of Hebrews declares that we should draw near 'with a true heart' he means with a loyal heart or inner man or inner woman, that is, an inner man or inner woman with fealty or in other words, the loyalty that we as citizens of heaven owe to our Great High Priest and Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ as subjects in His Kingdom. Our allegiance must be to Him and to Him alone, that is, the first of the Ten Commandments as it is written with these words, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3) (KJV). The English phrase 'full assurance' is translated by the Greek word plērophoria which means entire confidence: - (full) assurance. This will be the result when we have no other gods but Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the Blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ that cleanses our conscience from guilt and keeps on cleansing us, that is, purging our sins from us and purifying us again as we draw near to Him in repentance and faith and in prayer and in praise and worship. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 10:22, "Let us come with the Blood of our Sacrifice to the Throne of God: the expression is sacrificial. Deeply convinced of our need of help, and truly in earnest to obtain it. Being fully persuaded that God will accept us for the sake of His Son, and that the sacrificial death of Christ gives us full authority to expect every blessing we need. Having our hearts sprinkled - Not our bodies, as was the case among the Hebrews, when they had contracted any pollution, for they were to be sprinkled with the water of separation, but our hearts, sprinkled by the cleansing efficacy of the Blood of Christ, without which we cannot draw nigh to God. From an evil conscience - Having that deep sense of guilt which our conscience felt taken all away, and the peace and love of God shed abroad ill our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us. Our bodies washed with pure water - The high priest, before he entered into the inner tabernacle, or put on his holy garments, was to wash his flesh in water, and the Levites were to be cleansed the same way. The Apostle probably alludes to this in what he says here, though it appears that he refers principally to baptisms, the washing by which was an emblem of the purification of the soul by the grace and Spirit of Christ; but it is most likely that it is to the Jewish baptisms, and not the Christian, that the Apostle alludes."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…