Judgment You Can’t Avoid

INTRODUCTION:

We’ve be studying the warning passages in the book of Hebrews. Today we come to the fourth warning in Hebrews 10:26-39.

The author of Hebrews is trying to establish how Jesus Christ is “GREATER” than what came before.

The reason is because these 2nd generation Jewish converts were slipping back into their former religious convictions.

They were slipping back into the Old Covenant, adhering to the Law of Moses, the sacrificial system and fleshly self-reliance for their righteousness before God.

Those OT shadows was given so they might point to the true substance in Jesus. He is the mediator of a new covenant and that covenant is so much greater.

Our passage picks up in Hebrews 10:19 after a lengthy discussion over the priestly work of Jesus.

This warning is grounded in Jesus’ work as our greater priest.

Set the Table

Hebrews 10:19–21 CSB

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

He’s going to go on to describe how we should live now that Jesus is our great high priest. But these things won’t connect if you don’t understand their OT reference.

If you’re new to the Bible, this language will be mysterious. Let me define some terms so you know where we’re going.

The Sanctuary was a room in the temple where a priest would make atonement for sin. Hebrews 10 describes a heavenly Sanctuary where the fullness of God’s presence dwells.

Jesus inaugurates a “living way” through his life and resurrection as opposed to the old way of continual death through animal sacrifice.

Instead of offering up a spotless animal Jesus offered up his sinless life. In doing so he tore the curtain which separated God’s people from the glory of his presence.

Since ALL of these thing are true we can have boldness to pursue the manifest presence of God. What should that look like? He mentions three things Heb 10:22-25

Hebrews 10:22–25 CSB

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Draw near to God with greater assurance.

Hold on to faith with greater endurance.

Provoke each other to greater love.

THE WARNING

With that as it’s background, the warning picks up in verses 26-31.

It forms the contrast of those who don’t persevere in faith and stop drawing near to God.

Hebrews 10:26–31 CSB

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

On July 8th, 1741 Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

God used that message from Edwards to pour gas on a movement we know as the first Great Awakening.

Puritan Calvinism had become an established “Cultural Religion” with the effect that many people “professed” Christian faith but never possessed genuine faith in Jesus.

They were “CHRINO’S.” (Christians in name only.) In that way, the religious landscape of the 1740’s was somewhat similar to life in the American Bible Belt today. Many people profess to be Christians but live a life that doesn’t show it.

One of the reasons I think that dynamic is so common today is because our preaching rarely talks about God’s judgment or wrath.

There is plenty of preaching about God’s love for sinners, his mercy and grace, his desire that none perish but all come to repentance. And all of those things are biblically true.

Why? God is loving but he is also just. God’s love is a holy love. His justice is not the opposite of grace— it’s what gives grace its meaning.

A God of Holy Love must also be a God of vengeance.

That’s WHY God get angry. Anger is “love in motion.” It’s the natural by product of love when the beloved is under threat.

We recognize this easily when a mother turns into a “momma bear” to protect one of our kids. Yet we act like the same thing wouldn’t apply to the true source of love in our Creator.

None of this is to say that God has mood swings or is controlled by his emotions. He is a simple spiritual unity who expresses all of these things at the same time and in perfect harmony.

God’s mercy does not diminish his wrath. God’s kindness does not exclude his anger.

That’s why we should never appeal to God’s mercy at the exclusion of his wrath.

We should never affirm his kindness towards sinners at the exclusion of his hatred towards sin.

God’s love is like a fire; it will warm or consume depending on where you stand.

The book of Hebrews has been helpful to remind us of this truth.

No Longer A Sacrifice

The question we need to answer is WHEN does God’s love consume and not warm? Where must we position ourselves so we are healed and not consumed?

According to Hebrews 10 that happens when no sacrifice for sins remains.

Hebrews 10:26–27 CSB

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

God’s love becomes vengeance when no sacrifice for sin remains.

We usually think of vengeance as personal revenge on someone else because of what they did. And that’s not a wrong understanding of the word.

But originally the word came from the Latin “vindicare.” It’s where we get our English word “vindicate.” It means to “set things right by establishing justice.”

So when God says, “vengeance is mine” he’s the only one who can say it truthfully. only holy love can establish holy justice.

God’s love is not vindictive it’s vindicating.

Our vengeance is tainted by sinful inclinations. His vengeance is perfect and indiscriminately applied.

No Sacrifice Remains

So if God’s love becomes vengeance when no sacrifice for sin remains - when are we guilty of standing in such a position?

Interestingly, this same phrase is used in a positive sense earlier in Hebrews 10:18. It’s the conclusion of his long discourse about Jesus as the superior priest.

The author explained how priests under the Old Covenant had to offer sacrifices again and again. Every year like clock work, the day of atonement arrived.

If they didn’t offer the sacrifice then the wrath of God would fall.

The atoning death of Jesus, however, was different than what came before. It was perfect in it’s application and extent.

That’s why it was offered only ONCE and need not ever be offered again. The reason is because Jesus is a better priest but also because he gave a better offering.

It wasn’t just another life, much less the non-human life of an animal. It was the sinless spotless perfect life of the eternal God in flesh.

He assumed onto himself everything it means to be human.

Having perfectly accomplished God’s requirements for human righteousness, he made atonement through HIS FLESH so God’s justice could be satisfied.

This is what’s described as the New Covenant, spoken of by Jeremiah 31:33-34. This is what the author quotes in Hebrews 10:16-17.

Hebrews 10:15–18 CSB

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says: 16 This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, 17 and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts. 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

There’s our phrase. “No offering for sin remains…” Do you see the logic behind these words?

Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices had to be given through the High Priest again and again. But under the New Covenant in Jesus atonement was made JUST ONCE.

And through that one act of atonement our sins are forgiven forever.

God will NEVER AGAIN remember our sins and lawless acts.

Where there’s that kind of forgiveness, there’s no longer any need for an offering.

Christ Alone | Faith Alone

But the atoning death of Jesus wasn’t just unique. According to Hebrews it’s also exclusive.

How does a person enter into this exclusive covenant of grace? Through faith in Jesus, his life death and resurrection.

Through Christ alone is atonement accomplished. Through faith alone is that atonement applied.

What happens when a person fails to believe? Or, even worse, when they profess to believe but later fall away from faith?

For that person, there no longer remains ANY sacrifice for sin.

Why? Because the only sacrifice God nows accepts is the once and for all sacrifice under the Lord Jesus Christ.

The system under the Old Covenant has been replaced by the NEW.

Either, you find atonement for sin under the priestly work of Jesus or you fail to experience any atonement at all.

And if there no longer remains a sacrifice for YOUR SINS - then you are in a position to experience the wrath of God.

That’s the logic of the warning in Hebrews 10.

Old Testament Example

As he has done many times before, he uses an example from the Old Testament Exodus to illustrate his point.

Hebrews 10:28 is a reference to Deuteronomy 17:2-7. It lays out God’s punishment for idolatry and the legal framework for going about it.

Hebrews 10:28 CSB

28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

In Deuteronomy 17 the death penalty was applied to any man or woman who violated the Old Covenant by worshipping other gods. (sun, moon, stars, etc)

The Lord explains, through Moses, if such a thing happens, “and if you are told or hear about it, then investigate it thoroughly. If the report turns out to be true that this detestable act has been done in Israel, 5 you are to bring out to your city gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing and stone them to death. 6 The one condemned to die is to be executed on the testimony of two or three witnesses. No one is to be executed on the testimony of a single witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:4–6)

Pretty severe, right?! And people think church discipline today is too harsh.

As harsh as it is, God makes provision for people who might become falsely accused. There must be TWO or THREE witnesses to the crime and they must cast the first stone. (Deut 14:7)

The author of Hebrews applies that framework to God’s “greater covenant” in Jesus. A greater covenant results in greater judgment.

Why is the punishment greater? One reason is because of the nature of the sin.

Verse 26 describes it as “deliberate and continual” sin of unbelief.

Continuing in willful unbelief invites a judgment without mercy.

Unbelief isn’t stated explicitly but it’s certainly implied by the Old Testament context. In the OT “highhanded” sins, not commited in ignorance, received an even harsher punishment.

So this isn’t talking about a person who has faith in Jesus but fails to live up to God’s standard on how to treat their spouse or what they’re doing with their body.

Neither is this talking about an occasional lapse of righteousness where in cave to a temptation to sin.

This is a deliberate and continual rejection of the sufficient work of Jesus in making atonement for sin.

Greater Witnesses

There’s no mercy because the sin is deliberate and ongoing. But there’s also no mercy because of those who testify against you.

In the Old Testament judgment was given based on a jury of human peers. Under the New Covenant it’s based on the words of a Triune God.

Hebrews 10:29 CSB

29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

There’s a reference to the work of Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in salvation.

So God’s merciless judgment is on the basis of a greater testimony.

It was the Father who sent the Son to accomplish our salvation.

It was the Son who shed his blood to establish a covenant of grace.

It was the Holy Spirit who testified through miracles and the resurrection.

These three persons of the trinity testified to the greater work in Jesus and yet even still these people were choosing unbelief.

Greater Covenant

A second reason there is no mercy is because of what you are rejecting.

Those who sinned under the Old Covenant rejected God’s Law through Moses.

Those who persist in sin under the New Covenant reject God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

God’s merciless judgment is on the basis of a greater grace given to us in Jesus.

The New Covenant isn’t about measuring up to God’s standard in the Law. It’s about repentance and faith in the only one who did!

It’s the blood of Jesus that establishes this new covenant. The reason for blood in the OT was because the life of a thing was in the blood.

So Jesus was laying down his perfect sinless life of love so that we could be credited with that life even though we would’ve never been able to live it.

Do you know what that’s called? GRACE! God showed mercy in not giving us what we deserved but he gave us greater GRACE through the righteous life of Jesus Christ.

So the punishment isn’t based on not measuring up to the law. It’s based on your contempt for the only one who did.

If you look to that grace and treat it like it’s nothing, then you’re not just breaking God’s Law you’re breaking his heart.

He didn’t just lay out his expectations and you fail to meet them, he poured out his love and grace (at great expense to himself) and you treated it like it was nothing.

Which brings us to the greatest reason that God’s judgment is without mercy.

It was on the basis of a greater testimony, the basis of God’s greater grace…

Greater Knowledge

But the biggest reason God’s judgment shows no mercy is because they fell away after tasting the goodness of salvation.

In other words, God is merciless in his judgment on the basis of their greater knowledge.

Did you notice the language used to describe those who experience this warning?

They continue in sin “after having recieved a knowledge of the truth.”

He even says they were previously “sanctified” by the blood of the covenant.

This brings us back to the question of whether or not these were genuine believers and whether God’s judgment is the loss of their salvation.

If you’re really interested in the different views that people take on that question, let me recommend you listen to last week’s sermon.

Text and Context

I’ll just say this. Our answer to that question needs to be determined by the TEXT and not our theological assumptions of what we hope might be true.

From my reading of Hebrews, the author certainly assumes they are genuine believers.

they go on sinning “after receiving a knowledge of the truth…” (Heb 10:26)

They’re described as “God’s people” in verse 30. (Heb 10:30)

In verse 29 he says these people “were sanctified” (Heb 10:29) Which is the same word used in Heb 10:10, 14!

It seems unlikely that the word would apply to believers in verses 10 and 14 but somehow switch to “fake believers” in verse 29 and following.

What is God’s judgment? Is it the loss of their salvation or some kind of heavenly reward?

Whatever it is it’s terrifying, permanent and destructive.

The point is a continual, willful unbelief invites a merciless judgment. Without personal faith in Jesus, no sacrifice for sin remains!

Through your unbelief you trample on the Son of God and treat as common the only thing that has the power to save.

Not only that, you’re doing so in the face of compelling evidence and divine conviction from the Holy Spirit!

What makes you think you can do something that crazy and not suffer the consequences?

And what makes you think that judgment wouldn’t be terrifying and severe?

“It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

If you’re going to fear anything in this world he should be the person to fear.

He is a God of holy love who will seek vengeance on his adversaries.

The only way to be reconciled to him is by grace through faith in Jesus.

HEEDING THE WARNING

So if that the warning and the judgment is that severe then what should be our response?

That’s where the author goes in verses 32 and following. It builds on what he started in verses 19-25.

Hebrews 10:32–39 CSB

32 Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. 34 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. 35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.

The author concludes this warning with a positive vision for what enduring faith should look like.

The just shall live by faith so remember and endure.

Instead of appealing to an Old Testament example he appeals to the personal history of his Christian readers.

He reminds them of how they had enduring faith when they first became believers.

They were willing to suffer socially, financially and even physically because of their confidence in God’s promise in the future.

Somewhere along the way that confidence began to wane and the pressure of persecution compromised their faith.

Instead of pushing through and staying together they were shrinking back and and being destroyed.

Don’t Shrink Back

The encouragement in verses 32-39 repeat what came before. It’s built upon the contrast between shrinking back and pressing forward.

Like us, when these believers started struggling in their faith, they started shrinking back from the very things God uses to keep us believing.

The first is that they were shrinking back from their confidence in drawing near to God.

Unlike the hard struggles they faced in the former days, these struggles were causing them to question their hope in Jesus.

That’s why he’s reminding them of Jesus’ greater priestly work. It’s why he’s encouraging them to draw near instead of shrinking back from worship.

From Worship

Exhortation #1: Don’t shrink back from drawing near to God in worship.

In verse 35 he says, “Don’t throw away your confidence with has a great reward.”

This is a throw back to what he said earlier in Hebrews 10:22-23

Hebrews 10:22–23 CSB

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

This is the essence of Christian worship. It’s what makes it different from worship under the Old Covenant in the temple.

They would have ritual washings with holy water that prepared them for God’s presence.

Even then most weren’t allowed in to the presence of God in worship.

But the death of Jesus has accomplished something greater than holy water outside the temple. He has sprinkled our hearts with his precious blood.

Through his atoning death our hearts have been cleansed and our conscience has been cleared.

Our bodies are washed in PURE water because they’ve been purchased by the blood of the Lamb.

So don’t shrink back in worship! Draw near! Draw near and hold fast to that confession of hope without wavering.

The invitation to draw near to God in worship isn’t determined by how well you’ve been living or working or proving you’re the real deal.

Rather it’s rooted in God’s faithfulness to provide!

Gathering Together in Community

The second exhortation can be seen in what comes before. He reminds them of how they persevered through suffering TOGETHER.

Exhortation #2: Don’t shrink back from gathering together in community.

Worship is one means of grace that God uses to keep you believing. But that grace is strengthen and amplified by God’s grace through Christian community.

That’s why he said earlier in Hebrews 10:24-25

Hebrews 10:24–25 CSB

24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

The reality is, the closer we get to the second coming of Jesus the more difficult our lives will become.

It’s not going to be easy following Jesus in a culture that despises him.

Don’t shipwreck in your faith because you neglected Christian community.

I say it over and over again how important it is to be in community. It’s not just a slogan. It’s not just a program. It’s a biblical means of God’s grace to keep us believing.

Why would we neglect gathering together. It’s not that you need to receive something from the pulpit or a stage. It’s that WE need to receive something FROM YOU when we gather together.

This came home for me this week as we were discussing things on staff. There’s such a variety and diversity in our church that’s a special grace from God.

Why would we neglect meeting together when it’s the thing God has chosen to keep us encouraged in the Lord.

We must consider each other so that we can provoke one another to love and good deeds. That can’t happen if you stop coming to church! And that’ won’t happen if you only come when it’s convenient.

The point is, the closer we get to J-day the LESS convenient it’s going to get. So if you aren’t going to start now - it’s never going to get any easier.

Don’t shrink back from worship. Don’t shrink back from Christian fellowship.

Just Keep Believing

One of my favorite quotes from finding Nemo is “Just Keep Swimming.” That’s the message of the book of Hebrews: Just keep believing.

So many people read these warnings and assume the message is “You Better Stop Sinning.”

They immediately focus on what they are or are not doing when that’s the opposite of what the author is trying to say.

What pleases God isn’t our moral achievements no matter how great they are.

The righteous one shall live by faith and only that person is pleasing to God.

The focus is on the endurance of faith because THAT is what pleases the Lord.

These believers weren’t shrinking back from doing good works they were shrinking back from trusting in Jesus alone.

Are you shrinking back or are you enduring in faith?

Hebrews 10:36 CSB

36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.

The endurance of our faith unlocks the promises of God.

It’s the opposite side of the warning.

An absence of faith invites God’s greater judgment.

The endurance of faith unlocks God’s future promise.

So the question to ask this morning “Are you still believing?”

Or have you ever started and if not why not today?