Encouragement to Endure

In this section the writer picks up on a theme he presented in 6:4-6. It is a warning against apostasy. It’s important we recognize the context. He has just wanted the Hebrew believers against forsaking the assembling of themselves together. There were those who claimed Christ but had deserted His church. To the writer “holding fast the confession of our hope” (10:23) was connected to church attendance. Apostasy is often preceded by forsaking God’s people. When we do forsake God’s people know that we have done something to them that God promised He would never do.

What is an apostate? An apostate is one who has rejected the truth of God in Christ Jesus.

What is the proof of apostasy?

It could be the rejection of fundamental doctrine such as the Trinity or justification by faith, or the death burial & resurrection of Christ.

It could be settling into a life dominated by sin.

Notice verse 26 gives us a good explanation of apostasy:

“We go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth.”

That is the textbook definition.

We hear the truth.

The truth does not affect us.

The apostate plans on sinning. They don’t care that they sin.

For such people there is no sacrifice that will save them because they have rejected the only sacrifice God will accept. They have rejected Christ.

v.27 Apostates are the adversaries of Christ. The adversaries of Christ will be consumed by fire. They are in danger of the judgment of God. That is all they have to look forward to.

It’s a terrifying judgment “fearful”.

It’s a judgment of fire.

It’s a consuming judgment (all encompassing).

v. 28-29 New Testament apostates can expect a greater judgment than Old Testament apostates.

Moses gave the Law to the people of God. The punishment for breaking these laws in many cases was death. Of course, there had to be a proper judicial hearing. There had to be witnesses who testified to the fact that the Law had been broken.

Notice the phrase “set aside the Law of Moses.” This implies a willful rejection of the Law. This is intentional. This is a person who has demonstrated they do not want to live by the Law of Moses. They set aside the Law because they despise it.

No Hebrew would disagree with this statement. It was common knowledge that those who divorced themselves from the Law of Moses invited judgment on themselves. Notice it says they died without mercy. The Law was not known for mercy.

“How much worse” This is an argument for the lesser to the greater. If those who sinned under the Old Covenant could expect judgment, how much more should those who sin under the New Covenant expect judgment?

The Old Covenant was given by Moses.

The New Covenant is given by Jesus.

The writer fleshes out his reasoning:

Apostates under the New Covenant are trampling underfoot the Son of God. They are treating Christ shamefully.

Apostates under the New Covenant are profaning the blood of Jesus. They see the blood of Jesus as common, unnecessary. The phrase “by which He was sanctified” could refer to:

The person. If that is the case, it describes a person who claims that Christ has cleansed them, but their claim is not sincere.

Christ Himself. It could refer to Christ setting Himself apart through his work on the cross.

Apostates under the New Covenant are outraging the Spirit of grace. The Spirit of God point us to Jesus. It is an insult to the Spirit to reject Christ.

The point is those who forsake the New Covenant will receive a greater judgment than those who forsake the Old Covenant. Great knowledge has been given under the New Covenant and a greater Person, Christ, is the deliverer of the New Covenant.

v. 30-31 The writer now quotes Moses in The Law (Deut. 32:35-36). Again, this is important because these are Hebrews he is writing to. They knew the Law. The writer gives some commentary on those verses. He says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Verse 31 is a verse that should move us all to Christ. Don’t play around with God.

He is not Santa Clause.

He is not your parents.

If we challenge God we will always lose. One characteristic of apostates is pride. They will often be open with their defiance. They will mock God and the Bible. They will say things about the Lord, tempting Him. One day they will regret that when they fall into His hands.

Now we transition to some encouraging words. These words can help us avoid the temptation of apostasy.

v. 32-34 We remember how God got us through the difficult times. Let’s look at what the writer mentions:

They endured suffering. These Hebrews had suffered because of their connection to Christ.

Publicly exposed to reproach and affliction. They were slandered.

They stood with others who were persecuted.

They ministered to prisoners. These were probably Christians who were imprisoned for their faith.

Their property was taken from them. We are not told if this was by government officials or others.

Regardless they responded in a Christlike way. They had their mind set upon their treasures in heaven.

v. 35-36 We are not to abandon our confidence.

Our confidence is in Christ. If we abandon it we have no hope of reward. There are many promises for believers in the Word of God. But those promises are only for those who endure.

There is too much to lose if we abandon our faith. We may not realize that when we are young. But it only takes one funeral to be reminded of it.

I want you to notice that doing the will of God is connected to receiving the promise of God in verse 36. You cannot expect to live in rebellion to God your entire life and cash in on His promises in the end. Endurance is the proof that we have confidence in Christ.

v. 37 Meditate on the fact that Jesus will return soon. The writer references Isa. 26:20.

It’s just a little while. It won’t be long. It may be tomorrow, it may be a year from now, it may be 100 years from now. But it won’t be long. You can keep going. You will not wait for Him on earth near as long as you will praise Him in heaven.

v. 38 Remember that we live by faith. The writer quotes Habakkuk 2:3-4. It is faith that pleases God. We are justified by faith in Christ. If we do not have faith in Christ, we are not justified. To “shrink back” means to no longer trust in Christ.

Our faith in Christ is the only reason we are pleasing to God. A rejection of Christ means we are unrighteous in the eyes of God. God will have no pleasure in us.

v. 39 he ends the chapter in an encouraging way. He believes the Hebrews will not shrink back and be destroyed. He believes they will endure. He believes they are of those who are truly saved. Their souls are preserved.

There are only two options for those who claim to be saved:

We shrink back

We persevere

If we shrink back, we are apostates. We should not expect to receive any of the promises of God.

We persevere. We prove ourselves to be children of God. We receive all the blessings of God.

What road are you on?

Is your faith increasing? Are you growing I the Lord? Are you continuing to gather with the people of God?

Are you shrinking back? Are you forsaking the saints? Are you doubting the Word of God? Are you adopting the world’s beliefs?