Those Who Persevere Hebrews 10:26-39

-The Lord calls us to persevere in the faith.

During a Monday night football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, one of the announcers observed that Walter Payton, the Bears' running back, had accumulated over nine miles in career rushing yardage. The other announcer remarked, "Yeah, and that's with somebody knocking him down every 4.6 yards!" Walter Payton, the most successful running back ever, knows that everyone --even the very best-- gets knocked down. The key to success is to get up and run again just as hard.  

I. The Danger of Deliberate Sin vv. 26-31

In our passage, the author delivers a severe warning against apostasy:

Apostasy is, simply, when one turns their back on faith in Jesus and is the major challenge facing the Hebrews

This is not done in ignorance of the truth, it comes from someone who knows the truth but rejects it

The consequences are severe for these folks:

They reject the only sacrifice for sins; no other sacrifice remains

They should expect judgment

This was true of those who sinned against the Law

How much more should it be true of those who reject Christ?

What punishment would someone deserve who-

Has trampled Christ under their feet?

Has profaned the blood of the covenant?

Has outraged the Spirit of Grace?

This passage is a little difficult to interpret: What do we do with these people? Why does this warning exist?

One possibility is to view these folks as those who have never truly believed; their unbelief is just being exposed here

Another possibility (which we reject) is that these apostates are losing their salvation

The third, and I think correct, possibility is the simple recognition that apostasy:

Is sin

Has serious consequences

Should be expected as a form of discipline from the Lord to His people

Should be feared!

We cannot afford to take this lightly; grace does not relieve us of consequence

Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl. “Why,” he exclaimed, “when I went a-courting’ I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark.” “Yes,” the hired man said wryly,” and look what you got!"  

II. The Call to Remember vv. 32-35

In light of this, how should we respond?

The author gives us three instructions for endurance:

Recall

Look back on days of hardship, struggle, and suffering

Look back to times of partnership in affliction and with the afflicted

Remember

The joy that you had when you faced persecution and loss

The better and abiding possession that you have in Jesus

Stop

Don’t throw away your confidence

When you turn away from Christ, you step away from the one reason for real confidence that you ever had

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Jesus Is Holding on with Both Hands

I once heard of two little girls who had a conversation. Mary said to Marjorie, “If you died, how do you know you would be saved?” Marjorie replied instantly, “Because I am holding on to Jesus with both my hands.” “Ah! But supposing Satan cut off your hands,” was the unexpected rejoinder.

Marjorie thought and then said, “But Jesus is holding on to me with both His hands and the devil can’t cut off Jesus’ hands.”

III. The Need for Endurance vv. 36-39

It turns out that we have a need for endurance

Endurance is the key to doing the will of God

Endurance makes it possible to receive what is promised:

What is promised?

Eternal life is the reward of all of God’s people

However, there are serious rewards for the righteous

There is a picture of people who are saved “as through fire” in 1 Cor. 3. There is an extreme contrast!

Here are three promises that we can rest in:

Christ is coming and will not delay. We can look this with expectant hope

We will have to live by faith, but we will see the reward of faith

If we shrink back from the challenge, we will miss out on the pleasure of God

The author closes with words of affirmation:

We are not of those who shrink back

We are of those who persevere

I want to be in that number, the number of the faithful!

In the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, a Japanese gymnast, Shun Fujimoto, was competing in the team competition. Somehow, during the floor exercises, he broke his right knee. It was obvious to all reasonable observers that he would be forced to withdraw. But they reckoned without the determination of a true competitor. On the following day, Fujimoto competed in his strongest event, the rings. His routine was excellent, but the critical point lay ahead—the dismount. Without hesitation, Fujimoto ended with a twisting, triple somersault. There was a moment of intense quiet as he landed with tremendous impact on his wounded knee. Then came thundering applause as he stood his ground. Later, reporters asked about that moment and he replied, “The pain shot through me like a knife. It brought tears to my eyes. But now I have a gold medal and the pain in gone.”