Verse 39

But we are not of them who draw back to perdition: but of them that believe, to the saving of the Soul.

An application is made in these words to the state and condition of these Hebrews at present, at least to them whom the Apostle designs in an especial manner. As also a transition is made to that which now lay in his eye, namely, the full demonstration of the power and efficacy of faith to make us accepted with God, and to carry us through in the course of our greatest trials and temptations with success and victory. The application he makes to the believing Hebrews, is of the same nature and kind with that which on the same occasion he had made to them before (Hebrews 6:9). In both places having treated of the danger of apostacy and the woful state of apostates, he relieves the minds of believers by letting them know, that although for their awakening and instruction, as for other ends, he declared the dreadful judgments of God against unprofitable professors and apostates, yet was it not as though he apprehended that that were their condition, or that they were cast out of the favor of God, or cursed by the Law, but he was perswaded better things of them. Such ministerial encouragements are needful in like cases, that persons be not exasperated through an apprehension that undue surmises are entertained against them, nor too much dejected with fears that their condition makes them obnoxious to the threatning. Both which are diligently to be avoided.

The Apostle's reckoning himself, in his ministerial dealing with them, in their state and condition as here, we are not, has been spoken to elsewhere, with the reasons of it. And whereas he says we are not, it is frivolous to interpret it by we ought not to be, as 'tis done by some; for so the words have nothing of comfort or supportment in them, which yet is the total design of them. Nor is it an absolute infallible declaration of the state and condition of all individuals concerning whom he speaks; but he gives the interpretation of that perswasion on what grounds it was built, and what it was resolved into, which was spoken of in the other place, whether the reader is referred.

In the words there is a double supposition of a twofold opposite state and a twofold opposite event, whose foundation is laid in the verse foregoing. The states are [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], on the one hand, and [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] on the other. The events are perdition on the one hand, and saving the Soul on the other. The first of these is denyed, the latter affirmed concerning these Hebrews.

1. We are not [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. Even among them that were called in those days this twofold state was found. No small number there were who were then falling into apostacy, but they were a certain determined number which that plague should prevail against (2 Timothy 2:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22). They were appointed to stumble at the Word, being of old ordained to this condemnation. Those of Israel to whom the Lord Christ was a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, the reprobates among them, which were called but not to be saved. This whole band of rovers though in profession they were harnessed like the children of Ephraim, yet turned their backs in the day of battle. The event of this defection was destruction. Gradual decays and declensions there may be among true believers from which they may be recovered: but those here intended are such as fall into eternal ruine. For although some respect may be had to that woful fiery destruction that was coming upon them in the desolation of the city, land and temple; yet it is eternal ruine and destruction that is principally intended, as is manifest in the antithesis, wherein it is opposed to the saving of the Soul.

1. The Scripture every where testifies, that in the visible Church there is a certain number of false hypocrites, whose end and lot it is to be destroyed.

2. 'Tis our duty to evidence to our own consciences, and give evidence to others, that we are not of this sort or number.

3. Nothing can free apostates from eternal ruine.

That which is asserted of these believing Hebrews is, that they belonged to another state that had another event. (1.) This state is, that they were of the faith, so our Apostle uses this expression (Galatians 3:7, 8). That is true believers, and heirs of the promises. He there declares, not only such as make profession of the faith, but such as truly and really believe. A state of them to whom all the promises as to present preservation and eternal salvation were made in the word. We that are of that faith which is effectual to the saving of the soul. Both here and in the former clause not only the event but the actual influence of apostacy on the one hand to destruction, and of faith on the other to the saving of the soul, is intended; so the preposition [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] does denote. Faith that is effectual to the acquisition of life, that is, to the obtaining of it as by a due means for the saving of our souls from eternal ruine, and the obtaining of eternal life (Acts 26:18). For sincere faith will carry men through all difficulties, hazards, and troubles, to the certain enjoyment of eternal blessedness.