This is a difficult section to blog. It isn’t made difficult by the subject, for the subject is actually rather simple, it’s the length that makes it hard to blog, in light of the fact that I realize that many just don’t want to hear it. Usually, I post these tours in “bite-sized” pieces that are easy to comprehend and respectful of your time, and then I take great pains in my remarks to keep them in context. I’m going to continue that practice here as I divide the rest of chapter 10 into three posts, beginning with this one. As we go through it, please bear in mind that the context of this section is Hebrews 10:19-39, and it falls within the overall context of New Covenant supremacy, and also bear in mind that there are 3 posts before we cover all of the verses…
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:26-31
Our author gets off to a very candid start in this paragraph, coming right to the point of his warning. You will recall, no doubt, that this letter was written to Jewish Christians in Rome during the persecution of Nero for the purpose of encouraging them to hold firmly their faith through a time of severe trial, and this is not the first such warning in this letter. (see Hebrews 8:1 ff.)
I would call your attention to the word “we” in verse 26; “If we deliberately keep on sinning…” Surely the word “we” does not mean the same thing as the word “they.” Thus, in a context of a letter written to encourage Christians, “we” is not referring to those who are not in Christ, and to suggest otherwise requires the suspension of the rules of context, grammar and vocabulary. If we would go further and suggest that “after we have received the knowledge of the truth” would refer to an unbeliever, saying that to receive the knowledge of the truth is not to have accepted it and been born again, because they knew but didn’t believe, would also seem to be a contention in utter disregard of the rules of context, grammar and vocabulary; a parsing of words worthy of a politician. Must I really comment on the words “enemies of God”?
How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Can you think of any context in the New Testament that asserts that an unbeliever is sanctified by the blood of the Covenant? Take a look at the next verse, v. 30, and consider what it means to know God, didn’t Jesus have something to say about that in John 8:55? Notice here that “we” are they who “know” him who said… Who is this “we” again; unbelievers? Hardly.
Look, I know I’m laying it on more thickly than I normally do in this post, and I’m doing so for a reason. If we want to merrily go on down the road with the idea that these warnings are for “them” and not “us” then how can they edify us? What is the point of giving these warnings to Christians, if they apply only to non-Christians? What would be the purpose of these warnings, if we have nothing that we can loose; the whole letter would be almost meaningless to the people it was written to!
Are these warnings uncomfortable? Yes they are, and yes they should be. Would I rather not think about them? Yes, but how could I learn and grow if I only did what I want and only thought about the fun stuff? Can you see why I keep saying that Hebrews is often quoted and seldom taught? It gets messy!
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I think that passage is way too intense. Perhaps it is contrived by man? The Lord did say to Repent and change our ways, but he didn’t LIMIT our salvation. He makes a POINT to say no matter how great the sin or less the sin we are equal…a sin is a sin…and if you accept Him in your heart He will save you. It’s the ones judging and distorting His Word that are going to be damned for sure. Not to say Jesus will go on absolving us if we keep sinning and praying to Him. He will say “I know you not” just like He said.
There’s really no need to focus on that passage from Hebrews. Focus on The Word of Jesus. His Gospel and if you are confused about it pray. I may be wrong about what I said in the first paragraph, but my interpretation is there is no limit on salvation except if you don’t accept Jesus…but that doesn’t mean you can be absolved and the return to evil ways intentionally. People are people and we mess up. We can be forgiven today and slip up tomorrow. Jesus knows who’s trying and who’s not.
That passage makes Jesus sound harsh and cruel. Certainly there will come a day for that. But Jesus was trying to teach us to Love. I think it’s better just to follow His Gospel.
Interesting comment, sort of a journey, really. Even though your discomfort is clear, you’ve ended making the same point the author is making; well done.
I grew up in a “once-saved-always-saved faith”. It took me a while to realize that if we practice sin, embrace sin, and do not fight it, there is a hardening of the heart that occurs, and the dove of the Holy Spirit is disturbed eventually unto leaving. We are saved by grace “through” faith. If the sin-hardened heart eventually loses faith, then how can it still be saved? I believe scripture refers to this as twice-dead. Great teaching here. It is messy and does take courage to teach. Good job.
Thanks, I appreciate that. This does get me in trouble every time, but that’s just the way it goes!
Looking forward to the next posts on this passage. There are many today who teach that they are not able to sin any longer but with warnings as clear as this it sure is difficult to know where they get their teaching from.
To put it mildly!
Well, we’re in the deep waters now friends! I commend your bravery Don. Many would skip by passages like this one. It echoes truth like Gal. 6:7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
In his great commentary on Hebrews, Andrew Murray says, “Fearful judgment, fierceness of fire, devouring the adversaries—these words are in God’s gospel. . .In the religion of the world—alas, in a great deal of Christian teaching and the religious literature of our day, professing to honor the God of love whom the Bible reveals—these words are set aside and rejected. And yet there they stand, and behind them stand the divine realities they express.”
I would never want to give ‘assurance’ to one who proclaims faith, but lives a life of willful disobedience to the revealed truth. I would never want to give consolation to someone who lived as though only heaven is real, and God is more loving than holy. The truth is that Jesus spoke more about Hell than Heaven. We can’t say we weren’t warned.
The question for each of us is, do I live like a person who believes God’s word—all of God’s word?
You gave us a faithful presentation of the whole truth.
Thanks Kelly… yes these warnings are there even if we’d rather not notice them, but since they are there for our benefit, we need to consider them and take them to heart
The key phrase here is “knowledge of the truth” and I believe the main point of this passage is about personal accountability with God concerning the knowledge of the truth that we have. There are a number of similar passages which give a similar warning. In Hosea 4:6, God says “My people perish because of lack of knowledge”, but more specifically because of “rejected knowledge”.
As dreadful as these warnings are, there’s good news. Colossians 2:2-3 tells us that in Christ are are hid “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”John 8:31-32.
Jesus tells us to watch and pray because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. [Matthew 26:41].
In James 4:7, we’re promised that devil flee from us when we resist him and submit to God. After the “heroes of the faith” chapter of Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12:1-2 advises us to lay aside the sin which “so easily besets us” and to look to Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith”. John explains, “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…” At times we look back at our past and lose sight of Jesus. Remember, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Also, God promised that He will remember our sins “no more.” Jeremiah 31:34. (This is also quoted in Hebrews 10:16).
I think you’re right Rocky, thanks!
Reblogged this on emmaampadu's Blog.
There’s a part in scripture that warns us to be careful that you think you are standing and you end up falling. I believe the Word (all of it) is a cautionary to us as believers to watch our walk because we can do that thing “fall”…
I think so too
🙂
Since reading this morning, your post has been convicting me. I guess I always just skipped over that passage or assumed it was talking about unbelievers. But how can it when it says “we”!! So often I find it’s easier and more comfortable to continue to live in sin rather than fight the good fight. My thoughts are not always on eternal things and what I want to do as a Christian often loses to what I want to do as an imperfect sinner. Thoighoit the day I’ve been readjn the verses on my Bible app and verse 29 hit me the hardest. I must not take for granted neither make out the grace that I have been saved by to be something simple or even carnal by adding to it or being ashamed of Christ’s gospel. It is disrespectful and ungrateful of me to do so.
Great insight, and maybe that’s why the warnings are there, so that we will consider these things and be motivated to do our best, rather than take God for granted, which isn’t hard to do sometimes.
“only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire”
I generally don’t comment on these fear statements that are very bionically correct…
however, after much study and years of questioning, of criminals actually and addicts, and abusive men; I discovered that some actually have a consciousness of punishment and negativity that is preferable to them to forgiveness.
I don’t think that the text that you post is written for the purpose of putting the fear of God into us — I think it is a warning… there comes a severity of sinfulness that places a person beyond human intervention — in some cases, they are just lost to the possibility of getting help.
Unless Spirit would intervene, there is no hope once a person masters being sinful thinking as the ultimate protection from salvation — they idolize their sin… it keeps them from realizing their original sin and from ever recognizing that they are worshiping negativity.
I seriously cannot believe that God does any of the condemning – people make the choice to go to hell. Some of them prefer hell.
very bionically correct
hmmm… I thought I was typing biblical
now that I see bionically, I like it though
🙂
Interesting insight for sure, and I think you’re right, it’s really all about free will and the choices people make
Quite a post and I can see why it is difficult to tackle, it’s very convicting. We all want to hear the sweetness and light in His word. It makes us feel good. But human as we are,we would prefer to put on the blinders to the warnings of anything that makes us feel less than good! Look forward to reading the next parts.
So true Elaine, and this one is a bit long with some twists in it!
I like this post, Don for a few reasons. 1) The focus on “we” because many of us prefer to point the finger outside the church or at other people. 2) We cannot make the same mistake the Jewish Christians of the first century made thinking that because they were blood descendants of Abraham, they were automatically “saved.”
As James said (and Paul agreed), “faith without works is dead.” We cannot presume to be saved, live a life of sin without true repentance, never do anything to care for “the least of these,” or follow any of his other commands and expect to meet face to face with Jesus. Intense? Maybe. True? I think so.
I think you’re right on target; thanks!