The Epistle to the Hebrews trains the soul for confidence in God through Christ.
It tells us at the very outset, that the One who is now seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Majesty got there as having purged our sins (chap. 1:3); and, I ask, may not that inspire confidence?
It tells us also that it became God, it was for the Divine glory; to give us a perfect Saviour (chap. 2: 10); and, again I ask, does not that give confidence?
Again, it teaches us that Jesus was faithful in all His house (chap. 3: 1).
Again, it teaches us that He did perfect Himself as the Author of salvation to us sinners; and that, according to this, God has put Him into such a priesthood assembles Him and entitles Him to confer righteousness and peace on us with all royal authority, and to save us to the uttermost (chap. 5:9, 7). Surely, I may say again, this is all fitted to inspire the believing soul with confidence.
But still further, God is so satisfied with His perfection for us, that He has seated Him with an oath in a sanctuary pitched by Himself, and in the highest place of dignity in the heavens (chap. 8:1, 2); and this is of the same character, inspiring confidence. And the Holy Ghost witnesses, in the language of the New Covenant, the same perfection in Christ to remit our sins (chap. 10:11); and of this I say, as of the rest, what thorough, what entire confidence may all this secure to our souls!
This perfection in Christ for us being proved, we are challenged to honor it; and this honor is to be rendered in several ways, as we see in chap. 10:22-25.
We must draw near with full assurance of faith, and with a purged conscience- in other words, with a heart true to Christ’s perfection or sufficiency for us as sinners (v. 22).
We must be exercised in hope (v. 23). (For “faith” in this verse read “hope.”)
We must exhort each other to the fruits of faith, in love and services, assembling ourselves together (in the hope of a coming day of glory) for the common edification (vv. 24, 25).
By each of these things the perfection of our salvation in Christ is honored. Because each of these things—(this boldness of faith-this exercise of hope-this cultivation of fruit in love, or character of assembling together)—implies or assures that a sacrifice for the purging of sins has been accomplished. None of these things would be enjoined upon us if the peace of the soul or the cleansing of the conscience had not been provided for and secured.
But this is all blessed truth, for may I not say this? If the perfection of Christ’s work for us sinners be honored in the sanctuary in heaven (as it is by His being seated in the highest place of dignity there), surely it is but little to say, that the same work ought to be honored in the assembly of the saints on earth. If the Lord, Christ Himself, honors that perfection of, His own work for us sinners, as He does by thinking not of it, but of that fruit in victory and glory which depends upon it (10:13), surely it is but little to say, that we in our hearts ought to honor it.
But, again, this confidence being established in our souls on this perfection in Christ for us, the Apostle goes on to warn us to hold it fast, because it has “great recompence of reward,” or great power attending it.