The Path of Faith

The doctrinal portion ends with verse 18 of the tenth chapter; the path of faith in practice follows. As purged worshipers, we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. The veil is rent, that is to say, His flesh—the rent veil of the temple confirmed the access we have into the holiest, but was not the means that provided the access (Heb. 10:19-20).
Those to whom the epistle is addressed had suffered persecution, but there could be no drawing back—that would be apostasy. The writer, however, could confidently say, “We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:39). In chapter six the Holy Spirit is prominent, in chapter ten, the sacrifice of Christ. In each case the behavior of those who had been enlightened, or “shined upon”, is considered. In verse 39 of chapter ten, we see a distinction drawn between those “that believe to the saving of the soul” and those that draw back, having merely enjoyed the blessings (and who were now experiencing the persecution) of their professed position.
The just shall live by faith (Heb. 10:38, cited from Hab. 2:4). God’s word cannot and will not fail; Habakkuk had to learn this, as did those in the eleventh chapter. Each had to walk by faith, not by sight. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13).
In chapter 12 weights and sin entangle us; the difficulties of the way lead to discouragement; the hands hang down and the knees become feeble. Far above all earthly example, we have One on whom we fix our gaze, and whose path we are to consider, Jesus in the glory—the leader and completer of faith. We also have a loving Father, who sees that we do not wander out of the path, chastening those He loves (ch. 12). “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake … thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psa. 23:3-4).
The old earthly kingdom and its characteristic Mount, the unapproachable Sinai, are contrasted with the future millennial kingdom (Heb. 12:18-24). Sinai shook with the giving of the law, but His kingdom will be established with the shaking of Heaven and Earth (Heb. 12:26, cited from Hag. 2:6-7). Grace is not a veil for sin, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29).
The exhortations of the thirteenth chapter close the book. There could be no mingling of the old, earthly altar with the heavenly. Christ had suffered outside the gate; we go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing his reproach (Heb. 13:10-14).