The text today is the last part of Hebrews chapter 10:26-39. Here we have a second warning about turning away from the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us.
Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of what the truth is can be a dangerous way to live. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. After we come to the saving knowledge of who Jesus is, the Holy Spirit is then sent to us. John 16 tells us what the Holy Spirit will do.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
The Holy Spirit, also the Spirit of truth, will guide us into all truth. What He hears from the Father, He will speak to us. But, as I have told my children since they were old enough to understand my words...Once you understand what Truth is, you are responsible for what you do with it from that point forward. We can all choose to ignore the truth and go about our day (willfully sinning) or we can choose to implement and act upon that truth, whatever it is. But, if we do ignore the truth after receiving the knowledge of what the sacrifice of Jesus Christ means for us, then there is no longer a sacrifice to cover those sins. Remember in Hebrews Chapter 6:4-6? Ignoring the truth and continuing to live in sin willfully leads us to certain judgment and death (10:27). In fact, verse 27 says it is a "certain, fearful expectation." These scriptures are not meant to bring condemnation, but instead are a warning of the behavior of the old man that wants to continually return to the old ways.
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
By rejecting the truth, and continuing to willfully walk in sin in our lives, we could be found guilty of the three things in verse 29: trampling the Son of God underfoot, treating the blood as if it were common and unholy, and insulting the Holy Spirit. The blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, is the only thing that could fulfill the law. It is the only thing that could do what the law could not...offer forgiveness and eternal salvation. It is perfect. It flowed from a Perfect Savior. It flowed from the only Son of God. To reject the blood of Jesus as a covering and sin willfully can bring a punishment worse than what we could imagine.
Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Oh my goodness. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." And yet, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say:
Hebrews 10:35-39 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (36) For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: (37) "FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME AND WILL NOT TARRY. (38) NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM."
We talked in the last post about running our race unencumbered so we could have endurance and stamina we needed to finish our face confidently. Here we see again a warning saying we need endurance so that we will receive the promise. Living by faith is not easy. Returning to our old ways and willfully sinning is where the comfort zone of our old man is. It is easier to take the path that many have trampled before us. It is easier..the obstacles have been removed, the brush is not overgrown and nothing challenges us. However, the path less traveled may be a more difficult path to walk, but Jesus walks it with us. We can carry His burden and His yoke, which is lighter than anything we can carry around. He gives us the strength and lets us soar like eagles. He allows us to run and not get weary; to walk and not faint. And as the final verse in this chapter says, we can do this because we believe!
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Do not drawback and return to sinful living. Press forward. You will never see a runner in a race look behind or beside him. He is always looking ahead. A runner knows that looking behind or beside him can cause him to stumble and fall. We believe God is on the throne and His Son was the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins and the redemption of our souls. Because we believe, we can have faith that His word is true. No matter the trials you face today, no matter what others are saying about you. No matter your living situation, your relationships with your familly, God is calling out to you to run your race with endurance! Look to Him, call out to Him, allow Him to lend you His strength as you walk the narrow, less traveled path that will lead you to the promise of the crown at the end of the race. You are His. He is yours. Embrace Him and don't look back.
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Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of what the truth is can be a dangerous way to live. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. After we come to the saving knowledge of who Jesus is, the Holy Spirit is then sent to us. John 16 tells us what the Holy Spirit will do.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
The Holy Spirit, also the Spirit of truth, will guide us into all truth. What He hears from the Father, He will speak to us. But, as I have told my children since they were old enough to understand my words...Once you understand what Truth is, you are responsible for what you do with it from that point forward. We can all choose to ignore the truth and go about our day (willfully sinning) or we can choose to implement and act upon that truth, whatever it is. But, if we do ignore the truth after receiving the knowledge of what the sacrifice of Jesus Christ means for us, then there is no longer a sacrifice to cover those sins. Remember in Hebrews Chapter 6:4-6? Ignoring the truth and continuing to live in sin willfully leads us to certain judgment and death (10:27). In fact, verse 27 says it is a "certain, fearful expectation." These scriptures are not meant to bring condemnation, but instead are a warning of the behavior of the old man that wants to continually return to the old ways.
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
By rejecting the truth, and continuing to willfully walk in sin in our lives, we could be found guilty of the three things in verse 29: trampling the Son of God underfoot, treating the blood as if it were common and unholy, and insulting the Holy Spirit. The blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, is the only thing that could fulfill the law. It is the only thing that could do what the law could not...offer forgiveness and eternal salvation. It is perfect. It flowed from a Perfect Savior. It flowed from the only Son of God. To reject the blood of Jesus as a covering and sin willfully can bring a punishment worse than what we could imagine.
Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Oh my goodness. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." And yet, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say:
Hebrews 10:35-39 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (36) For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: (37) "FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME AND WILL NOT TARRY. (38) NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM."
We talked in the last post about running our race unencumbered so we could have endurance and stamina we needed to finish our face confidently. Here we see again a warning saying we need endurance so that we will receive the promise. Living by faith is not easy. Returning to our old ways and willfully sinning is where the comfort zone of our old man is. It is easier to take the path that many have trampled before us. It is easier..the obstacles have been removed, the brush is not overgrown and nothing challenges us. However, the path less traveled may be a more difficult path to walk, but Jesus walks it with us. We can carry His burden and His yoke, which is lighter than anything we can carry around. He gives us the strength and lets us soar like eagles. He allows us to run and not get weary; to walk and not faint. And as the final verse in this chapter says, we can do this because we believe!
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Do not drawback and return to sinful living. Press forward. You will never see a runner in a race look behind or beside him. He is always looking ahead. A runner knows that looking behind or beside him can cause him to stumble and fall. We believe God is on the throne and His Son was the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins and the redemption of our souls. Because we believe, we can have faith that His word is true. No matter the trials you face today, no matter what others are saying about you. No matter your living situation, your relationships with your familly, God is calling out to you to run your race with endurance! Look to Him, call out to Him, allow Him to lend you His strength as you walk the narrow, less traveled path that will lead you to the promise of the crown at the end of the race. You are His. He is yours. Embrace Him and don't look back.
Join our discussion on Facebook.
