The Danger of Apostasy

The 4th Danger is the Danger of Apostasy

apostasy - noun

a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc.

Hebrews 10:26–39 KJV 1900

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot 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? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The whole passage is an attempt to tell Christian believers two things:

⇒ how to keep their faith strong (He. 10:22–25).

⇒ that their faith in Jesus is the only way of salvation (He. 10:26–39).

How did we get here?

Danger of Neglecting our Salvation

Danger of Unbelief

Danger of Missing Rest

Danger of Immaturity

Chapter 7 deals with the unchangeable priesthood after the Order of Melchisedec with Christ being the most superior High Priest.

Hebrews 8:1 KJV 1900

1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Hebrews 8:6 KJV 1900

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 8:10 KJV 1900

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Hebrews 8:13 KJV 1900

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 9:22–28 KJV 1900

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Chapter 10 - Hold Fast the Faith

This is a warning that has to be heeded by all believers. There is the danger of apostasy …

If you are not sure of your salvation, If you do not believe or trust God,

If you miss spiritual rest,

If you remain immature and never grow in GRACE,

then the next thing is that you will begin not to care if you sin or not.

Romans 6:1–2 KJV 1900

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Deliberate Sin

Hebrews 10:26 (KJV 1900)

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

There is no sacrifice anyplace that can take away our sins if we continue to sin. There is only judgment awaiting us.

What exactly is willful sin?

It is choosing to live a life of sin instead of living a life of godliness;

it is deliberately choosing to live for this world and self instead of living for Christ.

Willful sin is choosing to continue on and on in a life of sin and never repent or turn to God.

The person who willfully sins—shall never have any sacrifice for sin. The only conceivable way he can ever be acceptable to God is to repent and turn to Christ as the sacrifice for his sins. He must trust that Jesus Christ died for his sins—actually sacrificed His life for man’s sins. Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice for sins that is acceptable to God. Therefore if the willful sinner—the person who continues on and on living for this world and for sin—is ever to be saved, he has to forsake his sin and turn to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for cleansing.

But note a critical fact: this passage is not written to the unbeliever who willfully sins. It is written to the person who has received the knowledge of the truth and wilfully sins.

It is written …

• to those who have “full knowledge”

The importance and severity of the warning is seen in the seriousness of the warning to all who profess Christ.

In fact, every honest and thinking interpreter (how often this is lacking) of Scripture is forced by this Scripture to issue a warning to believers: take heed. There is the danger of apostasy—of withdrawing from Christ and fellow believers.

This is a severe warning for every generation. In fact, this is probably the most severe warning given in all of Scripture. The passage must be put in context. The judgment is upon those who sin wilfully after knowing the truth. What truth?

Verses 22–25 say that the sin can be one of four failures:

⇒ failing to draw near to God.

⇒ failing to hold fast.

⇒ failing to stir up other Christians to love one another.

⇒ failing to assemble and worship together.

What is the judgment pronounced?

“There remains no more sacrifice for sins,”

Hebrews 10:27 KJV 1900

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Verse 30 says,

Hebrews 10:30 (KJV 1900)

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

The meaning seems to be that from the point of continuing in willful sin to the point of repentance or of being taken home, there is no sacrifice that can forgive sins. There is no animal sacrifice and no other sacrifice including the sacrifice of Christ that can atone for sin.

As the Scripture says,

Psalm 66:18 KJV 1900

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me:

Even if a person asks forgiveness, God cannot forgive so long as the person is insincere and continues to walk in sin. Even Christ’s sacrifice has no effect apart from a sincere approach and earnest plea for forgiveness. Yet for those who truly ask forgiveness, there is complete forgiveness and perfect cleansing (1 Jn. 1:6–10, esp. 9).

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When reading a passage such as this, a person must always keep in mind the teaching of all Scripture. The judgment of the believer does not mean the Christian’s salvation is lost.

The Christian is saved by Christ’s righteousness—all through life and eternity—not by his own righteous acts.

But willful sin breaks the Christian’s fellowship with God and renders his service ineffective, and if he continues on and on in willful sin, he shall suffer a great and fearful loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1 John 5:16 KJV 1900

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

The meaning seems to be this: it does not matter what a person professes.

⇒ He may say that he has trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior …

⇒ He may have received the knowledge of the truth …

⇒ He may have turned away from the world and to Christ just as the seed thrown upon the rocky soil …… but if he chooses to return to the world and to live a life of sin, there is no sacrifice that can forgive his sins.

Not even the sacrifice of Christ can forgive his sins.

Does this mean that the man has committed the unpardonable sin and can never be forgiven—even if he repents and turns to Christ? Note that this passage does not say this—not any place. What the passage is saying is this: the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ has no effect upon a person who continues to sin and sin (willfully sinning) …

• no matter how much knowledge of the truth he has.

• no matter how much the person may profess that he knows Christ.

God cannot forgive so long as a person is insincere and continues to walk and walk in sin. The sacrifice of Christ has no effect apart from a sincere approach and godly walk after Christ.

As stated above, Scripture says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18).

However, we must never forget the teaching of Scripture about forgiveness, for if we do, there is no forgiveness for any of us.

Scripture declares loudly and clearly that in Christ there is

Ephesians 1:7 KJV 1900

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

“redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins” (Ep. 1:7).

Note a final fact about the warning: a person who has received the knowledge of the truth and returns to sinning has nothing to look forward to but judgment and the fury of wrath.

⇒ By judgment is meant the terrible day when the sins of men will be judged. And remember, there is no sacrifice that covers the sins of this person; therefore, he must bear his sins himself and face God.

⇒ By fiery indignation is meant a fierceness of fire (A.T. Robertson. Word Pictures In The New Testament, Vol.5, p. 413); the burning of wrath and indignation (Amplified New Testament); a devouring fire and everlasting burnings (Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol.6, p. 935).

Decisive Judgment

1st of all it is

Definite

Hebrews 10:28–29 KJV 1900

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot 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 certainty of judgment can be easily seen.

This person merits much greater punishment than any other sinner.

Why?

Because he had received the knowledge of the truth and chose to turn back to the world and to live in sin.

What does this mean? Note: this verse spells out exactly what this person does in the eyes of God.

The person who knows the truth about Jesus Christ and continues to live in a life of sin commits three of the most terrible and heinous sins imaginable.

1. He tramples God’s very own Son underfoot.

This is far worse than just ignoring and neglecting and being ignorant of Christ. It is knowing that Christ is the Son of God who came to earth to reveal God’s love and to save men, but …

• rejecting Christ for all to see.

• refusing to obey Christ in the presence of other people.

• denying Christ both by life and word.

• showing contempt for Christ by living in sin even when one knows better.

• insulting Christ by professing His name and yet living in sin and thinking one is getting away with it.

This person deserves more punishment than anyone else on earth. This is the point of this passage. There just is no sacrifice for such a person.

2. He counts the blood of Christ an unholy thing.

This means that the person considers the blood of Christ as worthless and useless in saving a person. He knows and understands, and perhaps even once professed, exactly what Scripture teaches: that Jesus Christ sacrificed His life and shed His blood for the sins of men. But the person does not accept what Scripture says.

There are two attitudes that are guilty of this:

⇒ Those who reject the blood of Christ because they think the way to God is by living and doing the best they can. They think that God will accept them if they are good and religious enough.

⇒ Those who reject the blood of Christ because to them blood is repulsive and distasteful. Christianity is what they call a bloody religion.

Remember: these persons understand the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus’ blood for sins, but they reject it as the way to God. They deliberately choose what they would call a more tasteful religion of good works to reach God and gain His approval.

Again, this person deserves much more judgment than other sinners. Why? Because he knows the meaning of the blood of Christ, yet he counts it unholy—not worthy of God. And the great tragedy is: the blood of Jesus Christ is the very basis of God’s new covenant, the covenant of love, mercy, and grace.

God declares to these persons:“Look at the sacrifice of my Son for you. He is the demonstration of my love for you—the perfect demonstration. I can do no greater thing for you than to die for you, just as you could do no greater thing than to die for someone else. I love you and I have shown you my love in the most supreme way possible: by letting my own Son take your sins upon Himself and bear the guilt of my justice and wrath against sin. He bore that wrath and condemnation for you. Now all you have to do is believe and honor Him by entrusting your life to Him. When you do this, I will accept you in His sacrifice. Believe this—look at it—commit your life to it. Why do you continue to count my Son’s blood as an unholy thing?”

3. He has despised the Spirit of grace.

The very Person who showers the grace of God upon men, that is, the Holy Spirit.

The word despise means to insult and outrage.

How does a person show despite to the Holy Spirit?

⇒ By sensing the inner pull of the Spirit to repent and change and follow Christ, yet rejecting and ignoring the conviction of the Spirit. This insults Him and shows that the person despises Him.

⇒ By professing that one is a follower of Christ, yet continuing to live in sin. This insults the Spirit and shows despite for Him.

Again, the person who knows the truth, yet turns to the world and sin shall be punished—no matter what he professes. And we must never forget: those who professed to be God’s people under Moses’ law died without mercy. Of how much more punishment do you suppose we shall be thought worthy if we turn away from our profession?

2nd of all it is

Divine

Hebrews 10:30–31 KJV 1900

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The judge is to be the living God. This is a quote taken from the Old Testament (De. 32:35–36).

Deuteronomy 32:35–36 KJV 1900

35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; Their foot shall slide in due time: For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things that shall come upon them make haste. 36 For the Lord shall judge his people, And repent himself for his servants, When he seeth that their power is gone, And there is none shut up, or left.

Note three facts.

1. We know God, who He is and what He can do.

We know that God is the Sovereign Majesty of the universe who is holy, righteous, and pure. We also know that He rules and reigns and can do everything.

2. Therefore, we know that God must judge and condemn sin because He is holy, righteous, and pure.

We know that God can judge and condemn sin and that He will. He must, for His very nature of holiness and perfection demands it.

3. Judgment is a terrifying thing.

And note: God is living; He is the living God. Therefore, judgment shall be executed. Absolutely nothing shall ever be able to stop it. Some are going to fall into the hands of the living God.

Desired Appeal

Hebrews 10:32–39 KJV 1900

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The Desired Appeal is a much needed appeal for every generation.

The appeal is a threefold appeal. Note how forcefully the three exhortations meet the need of the person who is drifting away from Christ. If the drifter will heed, he will save his soul and escape the coming judgment of God.

1. Remember your former Christian experience (v. 32–34).

Hebrews 10:32–34 (KJV 1900)

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

a. Remember your spiritual illumination: the time when the Spirit of God moved upon your heart and quickened the truth of Jesus Christ to you. You saw as never before what Christ had done for you—that He had sacrificed Himself for your sins to save you. And you professed Christ as your Lord and Savior.

b. Remember your endurance for Christ. You stood up for Him in the midst of all kinds of trials and afflictions. Note: apparently the Hebrew Christians had suffered misunderstanding, ridicule, mockery, abuse, suffering, and persecution.

c. Remember your standing with other believers as a suffering companion. Apparently the Hebrew Christians were severely persecuted by the world. To be a Christian believer was unpopular and a mockery to most in the society of that day.

How often believers are misunderstood, questioned, ridiculed, mocked, abused, persecuted, and even martyred—all for the cause of Christ.

Why suffer these things and then return to the world and have to soon face the judgment of God?

d. Remember the seizure of your property.

The Hebrew believers even had their property confiscated by the government, yet during that period they stood fast. Imagine! Taking such a stand for Christ and yet needing to be warned against deserting Christ and falling under the judgment of God. How much more do we need to be warned?

e. Remember why you stood fast and bore so much for Christ. It was because of your hope for heaven and for a better and lasting inheritance—an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away.

2. Do not cast away your confidence and courage and endurance (v. 35–37).

Hebrews 10:35–37 (KJV 1900)

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

The verses state it well: endure and you shall receive the promise of God’s reward. For in just a little while Christ is coming, and He will not tarry. His coming is assured, and when He comes, He will come with His reward.

The word “patience” (hupomones) means to endure, persevere, and be stedfast in doing the will of God.

What is the will of God?

God wills us to believe in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—in His sacrifice for our sins—and to love people.

1 John 3:23 KJV 1900

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Loving people means that we live righteous and godly lives for their sakes and that we help them in every way we can.

3. Live by faith and do not draw back (v. 38–39).

Hebrews 10:38–39 (KJV 1900)

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Faith preserves the soul; it is the only thing that can save the soul. The only way a person will ever be accepted by God and escape the judgment of God is to …

• believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

• believe that Christ is the perfect sacrifice for sins—that He took our sins upon Himself and bore the guilt and punishment of them for us—that Jesus Christ has thereby freed us from sin and made us acceptable to God.

The person who believes this is just before God; he is counted righteous before God. The just person—all believers—shall live by faith and by faith alone

Choosing a life apart from Christ or Drawing back from Christ displeases God.

God is never pleased with a person …

• who professes Christ and draws back into sin.

• who has known the truth and draws back into sin.

• who plays the hypocrite.

• who has a form of religion but draws back from the sacrificial blood of His Son.

God has no pleasure in this person, no pleasure whatsoever. This means that He will judge the person who draws back.

Drawing back is not the way of the believer—not the genuine believer. “We are not of those who draw back unto perdition.”

Some are; some professed faith in Christ and have now drawn back. But we are not of that number. “We believe to the saving of the soul.”

Thought 1. Endurance—perseverance, standing fast, holding on, being stedfast—is an absolute essential “to the saving of [our] soul” This is the Sanctification part of salvation.

A person who really believes in Christ lives for Christ day by day. He does not draw back to live in sin. He is not perfect; no man is, but he does not continue on and on in sin. If he does, there is no more sacrifice for sin, not even the sacrifice of Christ.

Faith: the Christian believer is to walk by faith, not by feelings and emotions.

The tendency of people, even of Christians, is to live by their feelings and emotions. They act according to their feelings. They experience some emotion, so they behave according to that emotion.

If they feel bad, they act irresponsibly: grumbling, complaining, and reacting.

If they feel good, they act happy.

Their behavior is determined by how they feel and react to emotional experiences.

Living by one’s feelings is contrary to God’s will. “The just shall live by faith”—this is God’s will. The Christian is to let faith control him. He is to let faith control his life and the particular problems that confront him every so often.

How does a believer live by faith?

What does it mean to live by faith?

It means to do four things—consistently.

1. The believer is to commit his life and his problems to God—all day long—throughout all his waking hours. He is to take the experiences and the problems of his day and commit them to God once-for-all. He is to believe that God hears his commitment and gives the strength to walk triumphantly throughout the day. He is to know that God does not like a whining, whimpering child begging and begging for strength when all he is doing is wallowing around in self-pity.

2. The believer is to deny self. The feelings, emotions, and selfishness of his flesh are to be rejected, even ignored if necessary.

3. The believer is to act as though he has made a commitment to God. He has made a commitment, so he is to act like it. His feelings are immaterial. He is to act responsibly. He is to go ahead and do what he should be doing. He is to behave as he should.

4. Then while the believer is doing what he ought to be doing, he is to be asking God for His grace and strength. He is to be acknowledging God in all His ways throughout the whole day. He is to walk in prayer all day long, praising and thanking God for His eternal mercy and grace, asking forgiveness as he comes short and slips and falls.

God does not direct the believer’s path and then the believer feels good and goes about doing right. It is while the believer is going about his affairs in a responsible way that God directs his paths. This is the life of the new and living faith wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe and follow Him.