Text: Hebrews 10:19-29
Sometimes in my life, I forget how serious God is – how true the words in the Bible are. In this day and age of instant gratification and feel good messages, it’s easy to start to think of God as a warm and fuzzy persona. The unconditional love He has for us is talked on more than the firmness of the proclamations He’s made.
In Hebrews, we are told that God means what He says. In two ways. That once we are His, we are His forever. That we are to “…hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 NIV) We can come before him and know that because of Jesus, we are shown as white as snow.
But the flip side of this is the last part of these verses. For those who hear the Word and turn away from it, who refuse to accept Jesus’ offer of salvation, “…no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (Heb 10:26-27 NIV) That’s pretty heavy stuff. How often do we hear this in the same paragraph as a loving God?
“But,” we may think, “not really. I mean, surely when they die God tells them it’s ok, no worries. They might be really nice people. He won’t send anyone to eternal hell.”
Sisters, nice isn’t the condition for salvation. It’s fully, totally, unconditionally accepting that we are broken and sinful by nature, and the only way that we can come before God is through Jesus. Jesus makes this very simple: there are no hoops to jump through, no lists, no good works to get to a certain level of holy. Nothing. There is nothing on earth we can do to ensure eternal salvation short of having Jesus as your Savior.
This verse is uncomfortable. It’s not pretty. But it’s the truth. God means what He says. When you’re His, you’re His forever. Period. And if you hear and reject what He’s offered, there is no other option. No second chance at those pearly gates.
As we start this New Year, let’s look into our hearts and make sure we are fully comprehending our salvation, that we have truly given our lives to our Father and not simply been working on getting to heaven because we are nice people.
Good works should come from our thankfulness for salvation and love for Jesus, not as a way to get around what He did for us.
All over the place, in everything, in my pastor's sermon, I am hearing this, a repeat of the gospel, a need to comprehend it fully. yet i feel that I do, but i must not because god is clearly showing me something. I just am not quite sure yet what it is. I am not getting something, and I am not sure what I am not getting. i know jesus saved me; I know I am a new creation, and the old has gone. i also know that I may never fully grasp this concept here on Earth, but what specifically god is wanting me to grasp right now, I am not clear on. i know jesus died for me; I know He knew what we would be and that we would sin before creating us and yet did it anyway. i am going to read through comments here and maybe, maybe I will get what God is trying to tell me! pray isters that I will because I truly want to.
I feel the same way! I’ll pray for you!
Be encouraged & remember this: we are finite,; God is infinite. Paul says "Now we know in part & we understand in part." in simpler words, we will never fully understand all that there is to know of God here on earth. But we can be encouraged because God is daily revealing himself and his will to us. God will show you what we need to learn for this time. Then once you've learned this lesson about him, he will begin a new, deeper lesson about Himself.
Chris and Anonymous- I feel the same way, and as Chris said it seems as if it IS directed at believers?! Like when I was “saved” in ’95 then fell away, KNOWING THE TRUTH, then now have repented and confessed again…was I still His the whole time I fell away? Or am I going to pay BIG TIME when the time comes?! Because I then “trampled on His sacrifice?? I’ve always had a fear of Hell, STILL do, and that has always been part of the reason I WANT to be saved!! I learn more as I’m committing to His word and then want to do works not just as a way to “make up”, but because I truly WANT to… I guess that’s part of growing as a Christian…. IDK… fear sure plays a part in it for me tho…There is sooo much I don’t know or understand!? Can someone clarify these questions? Because when I don’t know or understand, I feel like a “Doubting Thomas” which we’re not supposed to be either, right?? I think I need a clear “rule book”…
Many thanks to you sisters, and Blessings too!
Ellen, I replied above to the what Chris asked. I'm not an expert or a theologian. I can only give my take on it. I think what the verses are saying is that if you deliberately sin and do not come to repentance. We all sin. We all sin deliberately at times. The difference is that those who honor Christ and His sacrifice, repent, ask for forgiveness and try again. It's OK to have questions or doubts. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the answers to you. In Mark 9:24 the father of the boy with an evil spirit confessed his unbelief to Jesus and asked Him to help his unbelief. That is what we need to do in these situations. Thomas doubted, but Jesus came to Him and took away His doubts. I'll be praying that for you. Keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit.
I agree with Ellen. I don't think it means that when you sin after becoming a belive and a child of god that you will be punished eternally for those sins. Remember in Romans 8:38-39 it talks about how "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neithe rather present or the future, nor any other powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god that is in Christ Jesus our lord". As in today's lesson, god means what he says and he will not forsake us. Once you ask Christ into your heart all your past, present and future sins are forgiven. Our obligation in that promise is to attempt to live a life that is pleasing to him and one that will help bring others into his family as well. Because nothing we can do can give us salvation, that means once we are saved, there is nothing we can do to screw it up in my mind.
I am struggling with today's verses. It seems to me difficult to be joyful that I am saved when I know so many who, according to this message, are not. Does anyone else continually get tripped up by the fact that unbelievers are sent to Hell? I feel like that fact, even more so than my sin (which I know I have plenty of) keeps me from feeling close to God.
In today's world, it seems that *most* people will not be saved! So to be born into today's society and live without God, even if you are a wonderful person, simply seems like choosing something a lot of other people choose too—to not believe in God—and you're sent to Hell for eternity b/c of that mistake. does anyone else struggle greatly with this? I know how much God loves us. But we are born into sin already, we are born into a world where so many people do not believe. So for those raised in a secular family or different religion—why would they choose God? I know it's our job to show people why. But this is NOT easy for me.
And what about those who have never been taught? They go to hell through no fault of their own?
I think in Romans it says that God reveals Himself to all. I've always thought this means that even the tribes way in the jungle who have never seen a missionary or a bible. I've always thought the Holy Spirit will reveal the Father in ways each of will be drawn to and understand,
I think one thing that has helped me is remembering that we don't totally understand salvation and that's a good thing. We can cling to what His word says and we can trust that He is good and loving, but we can't look at something like salvation with human eyes and judge it with a human heart. He's so much bigger, so much greater, and I think it would be safer for us to look at salvation with a "why would ANY of us be saved" rather than "how could He not save…".
We have to start with the assumption that He is good, Holy, just, loving – all at once. And then filter the scripture through that.
I think its a reflection of God's own heart as you ponder this in yours. You certainly have the love of Christ in your heart which, if you can believe, is not easy for some. I pray that many come under His Sanctification through your love for others.
I also second what Jessi had to say.
The last few years feel like they came to a head today… I am fearfully and wonderfully made in Him, but I stray far from Him and turned to my old ways.. But today this struck a chord in my heart.. I want to be His, remain faithful and steadfast because I believe we can lose redemption and being away from my Father sounds like the most horrible thing ever. So I pray to be closer to Him and for my rock to be stronger than temptation and for my sins to watch me leave.
I do have a question, I hope I can understandably phrase it. In part of out reading today, verse 26-29, is this just for the unbeliever? To me, when verse 26 says ”if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” it conveys more than a split between believer/unbeliever. ‘Having received the knowledge of truth’ seems to be more than just hearing about Jesus. And then ‘willfully sin(ning)’ seem like willfully doing things that you KNOW are a sin after you have received the knowledge of truth (accepting Jesus?) since before you knew Jesus you weren’t doing things you knew were wrong, you were living according to the flesh and didn’t know? Because to willfully sin would then also be more ‘counting the blood of the covenant by which we are sanctified to be a common thing’ (vs 29)? I have read these verses before and always thought, wow I’m glad I’m saved, thank you Jesus for your blood that washes me clean! But I read them this morning and it occurred to me that unbelievers are NOT sanctified, correct? And have NOT received any knowledge of the truth, right? So is it then directed at us as believers? If anyone can clarify this to me, I would appreciate it. And I apologize for grammar etc., I am typing on my iPhone with a sleeping toddler and a fidgety pre-schooler on my lap.
Yes this is my question as well.
In my version (NIV) it says if we "deliberately" sin. I think it's saying if we continually, deliberately sin against God and His Word, without repentance then we are trampling on the blood of Christ as if it were nothing. That is what I get from it.
I looked it up in some commentaries. Matthew Henry's commentary is my favorite, as it derives from the KJV.
Here is what he has to say about verses 26-29:
"The exhortations against apostacy and to perseverance, are urged by many strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Saviour; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation, and the words of eternal life."
Here also is the amplififed version of 26-29
26 For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins [no further offering to which to look forward].
27 [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God].
28 Any person who has violated and [thus] rejected and set at naught the Law of Moses is put to death without pity or mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse (sterner and heavier) punishment do you suppose he will be judged to deserve who has spurned and [thus] trampled underfoot the Son of God, and who has considered the covenant blood by which he was consecrated common and unhallowed, thus profaning it and insulting and outraging the [Holy] Spirit [Who imparts] grace (the unmerited favor and blessing of God)?
I hope this helps. I could give you my opinion, but I thought it would be better to have the Word speak for itself. :) I was encouraged by your question. I too have pondered it.
"Good works should come from our thankfulness for salvation and love for Jesus, not as a way to get around what He did for us."
Yes this…you nailed it and so grateful for this reminder as I struggle to be faithful and always joyful!
Yes, Christ has to be the first and foremost. Judgement is a fearful thing, but God has offered mercy through Christ He is the Raison d'être for our joy and fresh starts!!
I thank you Father for your saving grace!