Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • Focus on the Family

    Strengthening families through biblical principles.

    Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.

  • Guest, Join Papa Zoom today for some uplifting biblical encouragement! --> Daily Verses
  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ

    Heard of "The Gospel"? Want to know more?

    There is salvation in no other, for there is not another name under heaven having been given among men, by which it behooves us to be saved."

Bible Study Hebrews 10: 26-31

2024 Website Hosting Fees

Total amount
$905.00
Goal
$1,038.00
I recently had the opportunity to encourage some one struggling in their faith, by helping them understand the proper context of Hebrews 10: 26-31, thought I would share it here.

Hebrews 10

We must understand why the law was given, it was given to bring us to the end of ourselves, to make us realize we could never perfect enough to be holy as God. The law was given as a tutor to lead us to Christ. That's why it is called the ministry of condemnation and death.

“Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:7-9‬ ‭

“But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:22-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

One must understand when Jesus walked the earth he taught the covenant that was in effect which was still the old covenant "the law" it wasn't until he died that the new covenant was instituted. Jesus was preparing the hearts of the people for the new covenant, to come to the end of themselves and realize there is no other way for salvation only by believing and trusting in his finished work. This is why he proved he was the only one holy and capable of redeeming us. This is why the sermon on the mount was an amplification of the law in Matthew 5-7, this is why Jesus made the statement "be as perfect as God" it is an impossible demand, hoping they would come to realize they can't do it. Jesus wanted them to see the truth, that we must trust in his finished work. We don't need good works before salvation or after salvation. We need to continue rest in him and acknowledge how much he truly loves and forgives us, which in return eventually causes our heart to reflect the love of God.

“Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.””
‭‭John‬ ‭6:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Only when we begin to rest in this truth we will begin to do the works God set for us to do before foundation of the world, Ephesians 2:9-10. These works are not for his love and acceptance,the works we do are because we know he loves and accepts us. Yes sometimes we get tripped up and make horrible decisions but that does not mean our loving father abandons us, especially after he went through so much trouble to redeem us. As we grow to know our God we gradually lay our lives down out of love not fear. God was not playing games when he said it was finished, he now has a people to call his own forever, regardless if they obey or not. Yes it would do us great benefit to obey him in our lives and for maturity in our faith. But if it is done to earn salvation or stay saved the motives are wrong and we are actually sinning while trying to good.
“........For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The devil does not care if you are doing good or evil as long as you don't truly believe the gospel he is winning. That's why Mormons, jehovah witnesses, Islam, are all trying to do good works but unaware they are operating under the lie of the devil, eating from the same "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" that Adam and Eve fell for.

This is what Hebrews 10 is all about

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”Hebrews 10:26-31

If it is true that Hebrews is talking about sinning willfully in the context of doing bad then everyone is going to hell. Because everyone sins willfully. We are flawed human beings because of Adam. Let's face it Sometimes the flesh wins. as the believer matures in the free inheritance they have been given in Christ, which is God himself. there will be some reduction of sin, but never all of it. As we grow to know the love of God more our hearts become fuller which gives us the power to say no when temptation arises. If we are not growing and maturing in the inheritance we have and love of God, our hearts are not being filled and we began to do things in our own power rather than out of a heart of a love. Which in our own power will end in disaster. But even though, God still works with us and teaches us in the midst of our sin.

In its proper context the whole book of Hebrews was written to show and prove to the Hebrews that Jesus was the end of the law and sacrificial temple rituals. It was written to show that Jesus was higher than Angels, Abraham, and the Levite priesthood. In Hebrews 10 the sin the Hebrews kept getting entangled with and willfully doing was unbelief,going back to the law and temple ritual sacrifices instead of trusting in the perfect sacrifice of Christ.They were not trusting that Christ sacrifice was enough! That's why the writer says earlier in Hebrews 10:14"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” And also states why the Israelites perished in Hebrews 4 because of unbelief. “Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:”‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭4:6‬

some of these Hebrews received the knowledge of the truth of salvation and did not follow through and turn back to Judaism, there were many consequences for rejecting Jesus sacrifice, because there is no other sacrifice that can make us righteous, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-10:27ESV). those who are truly saved and turned back to a religious system are still saved but risk being mentally cut off from God and fall from grace like the Galatians ,Galatians 5:4, The author expected them to know the fundamentals of the Gospel to turn from dead works and to be equipped to teach others. “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1). They will find restoration when they start to renew their mind to the truth

Considering the scriptures about resting, Christ being our perfect sacrifice, high priest, mediator between humanity and God; then given the stern warnings about rejecting Christ. I would conclude the reasons for the writing of the book of Hebrews is to encourage the Christian of the assured of hope we have in Christ, and stern warning for those who do not want to accept the free gift of salvation and have counted Jesus blood for nothing by turning to the law or dead works for righteousness, “Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

‭many Christians today are confused and not trusting in Christ complete payment for All of our sins. This is why in their minds all they all have too look forward to is fiery judgement. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, but they have been deceived by the enemy into believing this lie that is paralyzing them from knowing their God and sharing the Gospel. unfortunately there are many who never have and never will embrace the truth of believing God when he said "believe in me and I will give you eternal life!" Not temporary life but ETERNAL, the promised Holy Spirit That will never leave us. We are truly sealed!

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”Ephesians‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬
 
Back
Top