SALVATION IN HEBREWS
[p. 99] SALVATION IN HEBREWS
The subject of salvation, as spoken of in Hebrews, is an interesting consideration. The Lord is giving a general desire to know more of salvation as a present reality. It has been too much thought of in connection with what is future, but really it is in the present time that salvation is needed. This present world is the scene of the enemy’s power and of all those evil things in which the flesh finds its life, but which are not of God. Salvation is connected with the passage of the Red Sea — that by which the people got quite outside Egypt and into a new place (Exodus 14: 13, 15: 2).
In Hebrews we are viewed as “those who shall inherit salvation”. That is, salvation is looked upon as the birthright of the saints. Those who despise it are profane persons — like Esau — who have no real appreciation of what is of God, and who think more of the gratification of their natural tastes than of all the blessed things in God’s world.
One does not wonder that the question is asked, “How shall we escape if we have been negligent of [made light of] so great salvation ... ?” This question is meant to produce exercise in the hearts of all who take christian ground. The great salvation began to be spoken of by the Lord. He brought in deliverance from all that was evil here, and He spoke of a new and blessed place for men in the circle of God’s favour — outside the range of sin and death (Luke 14, Luke 15).
Salvation in Hebrews 2 is to bring us out of the scene of death. The Lord Jesus has been into death and has annulled him who had the power of death, and He is now the Leader of salvation to draw our hearts after Himself to that bright and blessed scene of glory where He is, and to which He will soon bring us actually.
Then in chapter 5 He is Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him. This seems to be salvation from the action of will. All the breakdown in the wilderness was through [p. 100] the action of will. The erring heart, the evil (or wicked) heart and the hardened heart (see chapters 3, 4) were all the result of unjudged will. The people had never learnt to hearken in the spirit of obedience to the word of God. In coming under obedience to Christ we find salvation from our own will.
In chapter 7: 25, infirmity is more in view. We are constantly liable, through infirmity, to fall under the influence of things connected with this life — cares, trials, bodily weakness, and so on. For all this there is the unfailing intercession of the Priest, so that we may not be hindered by these things from enjoying our privilege of approach to God.
Chapter 9: 28 gives the consummation of salvation, when the saints will be taken altogether out of the circumstances and condition where the power of evil has had place. But ere that moment comes, God would have us to be inwardly apart from all that is not of Himself, and thus in the good of soul salvation (chapter 10: 39). Christ is the wisdom and power of God to bring all this about. May He be daily more precious to our hearts!