Believing to the Saving of the Soul Hebrews 10:39

“The just shall live by faith” according to the writer of Hebrews as he warned against those who “draw back” stating that his “soul shall have no pleasure in him”. In chapter ten and verse thirty-nine of Hebrews the writer shared about “them that believe to the saving of the soul” where we read:

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The verse begins, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;”. The writer began with the words, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated “we are not of them” or “the writer of Hebrews and his readers are not of those who leave their faith” “who draw back” which refers to “the timidity of one stealthily retreating” “unto perdition” or “towards ruin, perishing and destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell”. The writer and his readers were not among the people who “retreat” from their “faith” in Jesus Christ towards and end of “destruction and ruin”.

The verse continues, “ but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”. The writer added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated “of them” which refers to “the ones who have faith in Jesus” “that believe” or “have assurance, belief and fidelity” “to the saving” which means “towards the preserving, possession and obtaining” “of the soul” or “the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing”. The writer and his readers belonged to the group of people who had and kept “faith” in Jesus Christ which resulted in the “preserving” or salvation of their “souls”.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see the juxtaposed position of those who have forsaken their faith in Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews did not belong to this group of people, but rather to the ones who “believe”, and their belief would result in the “saving” of their “souls”. Living eternally with God is the purposed destination for those who believe and continue to trust in Jesus Christ who is the provision for transgressions and sins. We must take care that we never find ourselves as these who “draw back” from their “faith” in Jesus, and as we do, we may be assured of our eternal salvation through Him.

Next time we begin a new chapter where the writer share how “faith is the substance of things hoped for”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.