This is a continuation of the first post on Hebrews 10:25 and the scripture twisting that goes on to browbeat professed believers into the bondage of a false man made gathering every Sunday .
If you have not read part one (Not Forsaking The Gathering CLICKHERE) please go read that then come back here and continue on.
As we have shown you in part one the words "assembling together" is one word from a Greek word episunagōgē (episunago verb form) and it means to be gathered together and the context of episunagōgē is always used in reference to gathering unto Christ upon His return.
Hebrews 10:25 is not a command to gather on Sunday as we see many mainstream, denominational or evangelical pastors using in order to enslave those that follow them, it is a command to hold fast to our profession of faith/hope, that was promised by Jesus that upon His return that we will be gathered unto Him in eternity (eternal life/salvation).
Let’s take a look at the previous 9 chapters of Hebrews and get the whole context and meaning of this epistle to the followers. The books in the bible are to be read in whole and entire context. Paul was encouraging the Israelites (and it's a warning to us today as well) not to leave the hope of Christ and go back to their old ways. In that time there was much persecution (as we can see through the death of Christ and the saints thereafter) and Paul wanted to remind them to stand strong, hold fast to the profession of faith and hope of salvation in Jesus Christ, in the end. Many were persecuted harshly by family and friends as well as anyone who opposed the gospel of Jesus Christ. He explains to them the foundation of Jesus Christ, His coming to offer them (and now us) that hope as well as warn them about the sin of unbelief which will cause one to turn away, forsake their faith and hope and therefore willfully sin and have no redemption.
The first chapter of Hebrews shows us that God, in the past, spoke through prophets but has since spoken through His son Jesus Christ. Paul is showing them the foundation and evidence of redemption through Christ.
Paul then moves on to warn/encourage them:
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2:1-4)
He is warning them not to turn away from their hope of salvation. This is the hope of being joined with Jesus (gathered to Him) as He promised us so we need to hold fast. We are also instructed that Jesus will give strength to overcome the trials in this world.
In Hebrews 3:6 we are told:
but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Another admonishment and encouragement to hold fast to their faith/hope of salvation in Christ.
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13
This explains the sin of turning away from God and therefore losing out on the rest offered to them, the hope of salvation (coming together with Christ). We are shown that there were those before who were not allowed into the rest because of the sin of unbelief.
In Hebrews 4 we see that Jesus Christ is our rest and Paul encourages us not to turn away from the promise from Him (coming together with Him) lest we be sinning in unbelief.
Hebrews 5 outlines our high priest of Jesus Christ who became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Right after that he warns them that they are dull of hearing and are still on the milk of the Word and needing to move on to the meat:
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. (Hebrews 6:1-3)
He then admonishes them about the perils of not progressing in their faith. This is a stark warning to those who might forsake their profession of faith/hope (gathering together with Christ and eternal salvation) and what will happen to them if they do.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:4-8)
Hebrews 8 shows us the greatness of our new High Priest Jesus Christ in contrast to the Levitical priesthood and 9 explains the reasoning behind a New Covenant.
That brings us to chapter 10. In the beginning Paul is explaining how the law was a shadow of things to come and Christ is now the ultimate and perfect sacrifice which will fulfill the law and God’s Will.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)
He will make a covenant with those who are being sanctified and write His law on their hearts and man can then enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus…
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God (Hebrews 10:16-21)
Paul then encourages them to draw near in full assurance of faith.
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)
What faith? Based on previous scriptures…a faith that we will be gathered unto Christ if we do not waver, go back into unbelief and if we hold fast until the end.
Paul again warns them to hold fast to their faith/hope.
(Christ's promise of eternal salvation.)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23)
He tells them to encourage/provoke one another to love and good works which will help them stand strong in their faith…
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Hebrews 10:24)
And as we have broken down scripture verse 25 in part one, we see that Paul is not changing direction in the midst of the entire book to tell them to make sure they all gather together amongst themselves as many interpret it to mean, He is AGAIN telling them to not turn away from their faith/hope (verse 23) of gathering unto Christ as per His promise upon His return and the grant of salvation from Him. He tells them to exhort one another MUCH MORE as they see the day approaching…what day? The day of Christ’s return to gather his faithful followers and the promise of eternal life to those that hold fast without wavering or falling back into unbelief.
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Then Paul gives another stark warning about what happens if a person forsakes the hope of gathering together with Christ…
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins
Christ has fulfilled the law and there are no more sacrifices for sin as it was complete in Him. We are given a warning about what happens if we forsake our faith and hope:
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:29 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? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
(Hebrews 10:27-31)
Paul admonishes and encourages them again to not lose their faith/hope in the promise to come from Jesus:
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (Hebrews 10:35)
Why?
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
For what promise?
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37)
He's reminding them about Jesus' return and our being gathered unto Him for all of eternity.
And yet one more admonishment and warning about drawing away from their faith/hope of gathering to Jesus:
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Over and over again we see Paul has thus far (through 10 chapters), established the foundation and truth of Jesus Christ and encouraged believers to hold fast to the faith/hope of Christ to come, gather is followers and the promise of eternal life. He repeatedly warned them not to turn away from the faith and hope of Christ coming to fulfill his promise lest they be cast into judgment as there is nothing more to be done for the remission of sins.
As we look at the context from the beginning of Hebrews through chapter 10, we see that Paul is not changing the entire subject for one verse (in the midst of 10 chapters) to tell people not to forsake gathering together, but instead, not to forsake their faith/hope/promise in GATHERING UNTO Christ.
CLICK HERE to read 'IS BUILDING CENTERED WORSHIP BIBLICAL'.
That’s not to say believers are not to gather as we see many places throughout the rest of the New Testament where believers gathered to ‘one-another’. Their example to us was they gathered indeed and it was daily and house to house, not in ritual religious man made services on Sunday as is the norm today.
(CLICK HERE to read our post on one-anothering.)
If you are not a born again follower of Jesus Christ then please CLICK HERE to learn the gospel (Good News) and how to gain eternal life.
We encourage you to get strong in the Word by rejecting man made religion and traditions and instead study (hard) the Word of God and obediently follow it.
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