Don’t Keep on Sinning

Introduction

Hebrews 10:26–39 NIV

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

A Warning

Hebrews 10:26–31 NIV

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

A Frightening Warning

Do not Deliberately Keep on Sinning

What is the sin?

The language has an emphases on intent and persistence

“Deliberately”

“Keep on sinning”

There is a continuity here between the sin of the one who does not know Jesus and the sin of “deliberately keeping on sinning.”

If the gospel of Jesus has left you unchanged it has not been received.

In the context of Hebrews, the primary sin being dealt with is the temptation to replace Jesus with some other hope for salvation.

If you’re worried that you’ve sinned like this, that’s a great indication that you haven’t.

What the sin is not

Adultery – Abraham and David

Faithlessness – Peter and Abraham

Murder – David and Moses

This looks forward at your need to persevere in the faith not backwards at whether or not you have

Rather than sending you on a spiraling journey of toxic introspection, it spurs you on to recognize Jesus in all his glory and goodness.

[Or] You Will Face Judgement

The fearful result

No sacrifice for sins is left

If you aren’t taking Jesus death as sufficient, you’re not going to find something better

Fearful expectation of judgement

Raging fire that will consume the enemies of God

The fire consumes persons not works

An Example

The punishment of lawbreakers in the old system was death

If rejecting the gracious but forward looking gift of the law results in death – rejecting the greater gift of Christ’s sacrifice demands even greater condemnation

God took a very dim view of people profaning his tabernacle and covenant

Nadab and Abihu

Uzzah

Three Options

Loss of salvation

Summary

Audience: Believers

Judgement: Eternal Damnation

Loss of reward

Summary

Audience: Believers

Judgement: Loss of Reward

Following the example of Israel not making it into the promised land in ch. 4 (even Moses didn’t enter into that rest and he was a believer)

Sees this as an example of 1 Cor 3 being worked out

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 NIV

12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Be careful of misunderstanding

Once saved always saved

True, but can be unhelpful

Do not be complacent if you show none of the fruit of salvation

Do not anchor your hope to a moment where you first placed your faith in Christ (though such a moment does exist); instead put your hope in Jesus

Test of genuineness

Summary

Audience: False Believers

Judgement: Eternal Damnation

Sees this as a warning that belief in Jesus must be maintained

One cannot believe the Jesus is creator, redeemer, and king but willfully continue in sin

All who truly believe in Christ will continue to believe in him because Christ holds them and no man can pluck them out of his hand

The warnings are a means of maintaining that faith

Sees this as an example of Matthew 7:21–23 being worked out

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I am convinced that this is the correct view

The testimony of the NT is absolutely clear that those who are united with Christ will not be snatched away

The language of judgement is too strong to refer merely to Christian rewards.

Be Careful of Misunderstanding

Paul is clear in Galatians that we are no more sanctified or kept by the law than we are saved by the law

Good works flow from our salvation, they do not cause it

They give evidence not secure merit

These warnings should not cause us to agonize about whether or not we are a Christian, they should cause us to take seriously our need to cling to Jesus and push us forward in faithfulness

As if anticipating this, the author turns to two sources for confidence

Confidence for the Fearful

Remember Christ’s Work In You

Hebrews 10:32–35 NIV

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

This signs of their faith

Endured conflict full of suffering

Insulted and persecuted

Sharing in suffering

Joyfully suffering

The author isn’t giving this warning with a accusatory fire and brimstone approach, instead he is giving this warning with the expectation that it does not describe them, because he has already seen their faith displayed

Hope in Christ’s Promises

Hebrews 10:36–39 NIV

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

They were able to suffer so well because of their hope

He is confident they belong to those who have faith and are saved

A Practical Responses

Lost Laura

Give her the gospel

Wandering Walter

This is the one harmed most by “loss of rewards” mentality

Give him the gospel

Do not confuse the assurance provided to believers with assurance that someone is a believer

Even if he was truly saved, the answer is to believe the gospel

As a church, call to repentance and remove if necessary

1 Corinthians 5:12–13 NIV

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Tempted Trish

This is the one this warning is written to

Give her the gospel

Repent and believe in Jesus

You’re not going to find something better

Doubting Dan

This is the one most harmed by “loss of salvation” or poorly handled “test of genuineness”

Give her the gospel

Point her away from herself and to Jesus

Encourage her to hang on and be faithful because of Christ not to attain Christ