“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 10:24-29
Those who willfully neglect the assembly of God's saints for public worship, though they may mentally know the truth of God, tread underfoot the Son of God, count the blood of the covenant a useless thing and despise the Spirit of grace. Let’s see if that is not what the Holy Spirit tells us in Hebrews 10:24-29.
This passage is pressing upon us the necessity of perseverance in the faith, and the need for each of us, by every means we can use, to encourage one another to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.” Look at the admonition and warning here given by our God to all who profess faith in his dear Son.
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” -- May God give us grace ever to consider one another, to encourage and be encouraging to one another, for Christ’s sake. If we devote ourselves to loving, caring for, and serving others, we will have less time to feel sorry for ourselves and complain about being neglected by others. And, as we serve each other, we provoke others to love and good works, kindling in them a desire to serve rather than be served.
“Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” – This is talking about our
regular gathering together unto Christ (1 Thess. 2:1), the act of meeting
together in one place for the worship of our God and Savior, by the ministry of
the Word, prayer and praise, and in observing ordinances of the gospel: Believer’s
Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
To "forsake" the assembling of God’s
saints in public worship refers to willful neglect in attending the gathering
of God’s saints. Many ramble from place to place, never really committing
themselves to the building of God’s church and kingdom, but ever seeking
personal gratification. This abandoning of God’s church is an abandoning of
God, the gospel of his grace and the glory of his Son. It is apostasy,
departing from the faith, letting go our profession.
It is both our highest
privilege and greatest duty in this world to assemble with God’s saints for
public worship. Our heavenly Father has appointed it and approves of it. His
glory is concerned in it. And his gospel is advanced by it. Both we and our
brethren need it, that we may be revived, refreshed, comforted, instructed,
edified, and enabled to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The unconverted
need our faithfulness in worship as
well. We ought
to
8
maintain the worship of God
for their sake, as well as our own, that they may be convinced of the gospel,
converted by the grace of God, and brought to the knowledge and faith of
Christ.
John Gill wrote, This “assembling together ought not to be
forsaken; for it is a forsaking God, and our own mercies, and such are like to
be forsaken of God; nor is it known what is lost hereby; and it is the first
outward visible step to apostasy, and often issues it in.”
“As
the manner of some is.” – As in those early days, so in our day, it is the practice of
many who profess faith in Christ to absent themselves from the house of God,
showing by their neglect an utter contempt for Christ, his church and the
gospel of the grace of God. I know that is strong language; but that is the
language of this passage.
“But
exhorting one another.” – Rather than abandoning one another, let us exhort and encourage
one another to prayer, to attend the worship of God, to adhere to Christ, and
the faith we have professed. Let us ever encourage one another to consider
Christ and cling to him.
It is in this way that we most effectually serve, comfort
and edify one another. Here we share (in conversation, prayer, preaching and
praise) our experiences of grace, the doctrine of Christ, and the things of
God. Here, in the house of God, we put one another in remembrance of God’s
faithfulness, his promises, our responsibilities, and of our Lord’s coming. -- “And
so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.” -- Do you see the day approaching? -- The Day of Death? – The
Day of Christ’s Advent? – The Day of Judgment?
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” -- When a person abandons Christ, when he abandons the worship of God, when he abandons the gospel, he abandons hope. Sinners have no hope but him! If we were to leave him, we have nowhere else to go! (Read John 6:66-69.) Those who abandon Christ abandon everything, except the wrath of God. There is nothing left for the apostate, -- “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
How important is the worship of God? It is just this important. The worship of God displays faith in Christ, love for Christ, devotion to Christ, and great need of Christ. The forsaking of the assembly of God’s saints displays contempt for Christ (vv. 28-29).
Cling to Christ as a drowning man clings to the life rope. With every apparent slip of our hands, let us grip more firmly than ever, knowing all the while that we must be held by him if we are to hold him. Yet hold him we must!