Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ — That is, saying no more of them for the present. Let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works — From open sins, the very first thing to be insisted on. And faith in God — The very next point. So... [ Continue Reading ]
And this we will do — We will go on to perfection; and so much the more diligently, because,... [ Continue Reading ]
It is impossible for those who were once enlightened — With the light of the glorious love of God in Christ. And have tasted the heavenly gift — Remission of sins, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. And been made partakers of the Holy Ghost — Of the witness and the fruit of he Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
And have tasted the good word of God — Have had a relish for, and a delight in it. And the powers of the world to come — Which every one tastes, who has an hope full of immortality. Every child that is naturally born, first sees the light, then receives and tastes proper nourishment, and partakes of... [ Continue Reading ]
And have fallen away — Here is not a supposition, but a plain relation of fact. The apostle here describes the case of those who have cast away both the power and the form of godliness; who have lost both their faith, hope, and love, Hebrews 6:10, &c., and that wilfully, Hebrews 10:26. Of these wilf... [ Continue Reading ]
That which beareth thorns and briers — Only or chiefly. Is rejected — No more labour is bestowed upon it. Whose end is to be burned — As Jerusalem was shortly after.... [ Continue Reading ]
But, beloved — in this one place he calls them so. he never uses this appellation, but in exhorting. We are persuaded of you things that accompany salvation — We are persuaded you are now saved from your sins; and that ye have that faith, love, and holiness, which lead to final salvation. Though we... [ Continue Reading ]
For — Ye give plain proof of your faith and love, which the righteous God will surely reward.... [ Continue Reading ]
But we desire you may show the same diligence unto the end — And therefore we thus speak. To the full assurance of hope — Which you cannot expect, if you abate your diligence. The full assurance of faith relates to present pardon; the full assurance of hope, to future glory. The former is the highes... [ Continue Reading ]
Inherited the promises — The promised rest; paradise.... [ Continue Reading ]
For — Ye have abundant encouragement, seeing no stronger promise could be made than that great promise which God made to Abraham, and in him to us.... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 22:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
After he had waited — Thirty years. He obtained the promise — Isaac, the pledge of all the promises.... [ Continue Reading ]
Men generally swear by him who is infinitely greater than themselves, and an oath for confirmation, to confirm what is promised or asserted, usually puts an end to all contradiction. This shows that an oath taken in a religious manner is lawful even under the gospel: otherwise the apostle would neve... [ Continue Reading ]
God interposed by an oath — Amazing condescension! He who is greatest of all acts as if he were a middle person; as if while he swears, he were less than himself, by whom he swears! Thou that hearest the promise, dost thou not yet believe?... [ Continue Reading ]
That by two unchangeable things — His promise and his oath, in either, much more in both of which, it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation — Swallowing up all doubt and fear. Who have fled — After having been tossed by many storms. To lay hold on the hope set before us — O... [ Continue Reading ]
Which hope in Christ we have as an anchor of the soul — Entering into heaven itself, and fixed there. Within the veil — Thus he slides back to the priesthood of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
A forerunner uses to be less in dignity than those that are to follow him. But it is not so here; for Christ who is gone before us is infinitely superior to us. What an honour is it to believers, to have so glorious a forerunner, now appearing in the presence of God for them.... [ Continue Reading ]