Hebrews 10:22

Hebrews 10:22

Sins of Ignorance and Weakness.

Among the reasons which may be assigned for the observance of prayer at stated times, there is one which is very obvious, and yet perhaps is not so carefully remembered and acted upon as it should be. I mean the necessity of sinners cleansing themselves from time to time of the ever-accumulating guilt which loads their consciences. We cannot, by one act of faith, establish ourselves for ever after in the favour of God. The text is addressed to Christians, to the regenerate; yet so far from their regeneration having cleansed them once for all, they are bid ever to sprinkle the blood of Christ upon their consciences, and renew, as it were, their baptism, and so continuously appear before the presence of Almighty God.

I. First consider our present condition, as shown us in Scripture. Christ has not changed this, though He has died; it is as it was from the beginning I mean our natural state as men. We are changed one by one;the race of man is what it ever was, guilty what it was before Christ came. The taint of death is upon us, and surely we shall be stifled by the encompassing plague, unless God from day to day vouchsafes to make us clean.

II. Again, reflect on the habits of sin which we superadded to our evil nature before we turned to God. Here is another source of continual defilement. Through the sins of our youth, the power of the flesh is exerted against us, as a second creative principle of evil, aiding the malice of the devil.

III. Further, consider how many sins are involved in our obedience, I may say from the mere necessity of the case: that is, from not having that more clear-sighted and vigorous faith which would enable us accurately to discern, and closely to follow the way of life. We attempt great things with the necessity of failing, and yet the necessity of attempting; and so whilewe attempt, need continual forgiveness for the failure of the attempt. How inexpressibly needful to relieve ourselves of the evil that weighs upon the heart, by drawing near to God in full assurance of faith, and washing away our guilt by the expiation which He has appointed.

J. H. Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons,vol. i., p. 83.

References: Hebrews 10:23. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxxii., No. 1897. Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 10:24. J. B. Heard, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xv., p. 344.Hebrews 10:23. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., p. 464.