Hebrews 10:26-28
This passage is often used to come against the message of pure grace, saying that if people knowingly sin after salvation then there is no forgiveness for that sin. This is reading into a passage what is not there, as a quick look at this verse and the surrounding verses will show.
While verse 26 does not describe a specific sin, verse 29 tells us exactly what that “sin” would be: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be though worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
The individual who should expect “judgment and fiery indignation” is the one who walks on the blood of Jesus’ covenant. In other words, he who says “No” to the sacrificial work of Jesus is the man who should expect the wrath of God. John told us as much in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him”.
We should also notice that in verse 26, it never tells us that there is no more forgiveness for us if we sin, but rather there “remains no more sacrifice for sins”. As this book is written to the Hebrews, it is a stern warning to Jewish believers that there is no longer a need for them to continue sacrificing animals. To put bullocks and lambs on the altar is to step on the blood of Jesus, as if His blood was not enough.
Paul’s instruction to the believer comes earlier in the chapter, when he tells us that we can “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). If we can draw near to God in full assurance of our faith, knowing that we have been washed over by the water of the Word, why should we suddenly live in fearful expectation of the judgment and fiery indignation of God? These passages are to two different groups of people based upon the wording used in each.
Because of the blood of Jesus, you never have to back into the presence of God. Instead, you have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). No born again believer is going to trample on that sacrifice and count it as useless! We have no reason to fearfully expect judgment, for we have “full assurance of faith” that Jesus was judged in our place.
Messages and teachings that make you frightened of your loving Father should be shunned. Wouldn’t you teach your own children to ignore people that say bad things about you? You shower them with such love and affection that they could never believe they should fear and tremble in your presence. True fear of God is like true fear of your parents when you are a child: you know that they will not break your legs or take out their frustration on you, but you also know that they are your final authority. He parents us even better than we parent our own. Let’s learn from Him, shall we?
This passage is often used to come against the message of pure grace, saying that if people knowingly sin after salvation then there is no forgiveness for that sin. This is reading into a passage what is not there, as a quick look at this verse and the surrounding verses will show.
While verse 26 does not describe a specific sin, verse 29 tells us exactly what that “sin” would be: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be though worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
The individual who should expect “judgment and fiery indignation” is the one who walks on the blood of Jesus’ covenant. In other words, he who says “No” to the sacrificial work of Jesus is the man who should expect the wrath of God. John told us as much in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him”.
We should also notice that in verse 26, it never tells us that there is no more forgiveness for us if we sin, but rather there “remains no more sacrifice for sins”. As this book is written to the Hebrews, it is a stern warning to Jewish believers that there is no longer a need for them to continue sacrificing animals. To put bullocks and lambs on the altar is to step on the blood of Jesus, as if His blood was not enough.
Paul’s instruction to the believer comes earlier in the chapter, when he tells us that we can “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). If we can draw near to God in full assurance of our faith, knowing that we have been washed over by the water of the Word, why should we suddenly live in fearful expectation of the judgment and fiery indignation of God? These passages are to two different groups of people based upon the wording used in each.
Because of the blood of Jesus, you never have to back into the presence of God. Instead, you have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). No born again believer is going to trample on that sacrifice and count it as useless! We have no reason to fearfully expect judgment, for we have “full assurance of faith” that Jesus was judged in our place.
Messages and teachings that make you frightened of your loving Father should be shunned. Wouldn’t you teach your own children to ignore people that say bad things about you? You shower them with such love and affection that they could never believe they should fear and tremble in your presence. True fear of God is like true fear of your parents when you are a child: you know that they will not break your legs or take out their frustration on you, but you also know that they are your final authority. He parents us even better than we parent our own. Let’s learn from Him, shall we?
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