Hebrews 10:26-39 - Avoiding Apostacy - How to Endure
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
We are in the middle of the 2026 Winter Olympics and one thing that comes to mind when we think of Olympians is endurance. These athletes have prepared countless hours to compete in the Olympics. While many of us are relaxing on the couch, going out to eat, or even enjoying a nice, pleasant walk - these athletes are training to exhaustion day by day.
The effort over time from each of these competitors is admirable. However, as great as athletics can be, there is something much more important for us to exhibit endurance in - and that is in following Jesus.
We are called to follow Christ with this same intensity. We will actually see one of the words in today’s Scripture is where the word athletics originates!
The Greek word translated struggle in verse 32 is athlesis which refers to a difficult struggle, a battle, or a fight.
[athlesis (auth-a-lay-seese)]
It refers to something that takes perseverance and endurance.
Brothers and sisters, the Christian life is all about perseverance and endurance through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. Only those who are truly saved can persevere. And all those who are saved will endure until the end.
Let’s jump into our Scripture for today as we learn how to endure in the faith and avoid apostacy…
Read Full Scripture:
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Prayer
Today we will learn four ways we must avoid apostacy. The first is…
I. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Repentance (26-27)
I. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Repentance (26-27)
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
First off, what is apostacy?
Apostacy refers to those who have had a knowledge of the truth and yet completely abandoned and rejected it.
Apostates are usually formed within the church. These false converts may temporarily look the part of a true believer - perhaps even for years - only to be found to be a fake.
These are persons who have never truly been born again. They have never fully repented of their sins and trusted in Christ for salvation.
There is a knowledge of the truth and there is a saving knowledge of the truth. These two are very different. One involves only the intellect, while the other begins with the intellect but then moves to the the heart leading to one having a new heart and being born again.
Pay close attention to this following statement…
Knowledge involves information. A saving knowledge involves regeneration.
Put another way - Knowing about Christ does not equate to truly knowing Christ.
James 2:19 tells us:
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Yet, this knowledge of the demons and Satan is not a saving knowledge. In fact, this knowledge that is rejected actually stores up more wrath for those who refuse to trust and follow.
One can know correct theology but not truly be submitted to Christ. Salvation requires true repentance and faith - not just knowledge. One must turn from his or her sin and place one’s faith in Christ alone.
Hebrews 10:26 parallels 1 John 3:9 where we see habitual unrepentant sin addressed as well.
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Those who are born again (John 3) are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although we still live in the sinful flesh and will continue to battle sin until we die, true converts desire to please the Lord.
Yet, those who continue forward in continuous unrepentant sin - those who refuse to acknowledge their sinful deeds of the flesh time and time again - we are told that they are not truly in Christ.
These are not those who lose their salvation. Instead, these are those who show their true heart - one that has not been changed. They have refused to submit to the will of God.
For these apostates that have abandoned their faith - there is no other way of salvation for them because there is no way to God apart from Jesus (John 14:6). They reject the only way to God and thus have no hope of finding eternal life as they refuse to submit to Christ. There is no other sacrifice that will pay for their sins apart from that of Jesus on the cross.
Instead, they have verse 27 ahead of them…
but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
We are told in verse 27 that they have only a fearful expectation of judgment awaiting them. A fury of fire that will consume the adversaries of Christ is what they have to look forward to.
We will get into the judgment of God in our next point in more detail.
However, we want to take a step back and see the danger of habitual and unrepentant sin.
The author is warning against those who are false converts here. There are those that look like that they are believers but are not. Again, 1 John educates us further on this…
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
This verse shows that there are some that appear like they are of us - that they are legitimate believers. However, time will show their true colors. As we will see in our final point of this message - those who fail to persevere show that they were never truly in the faith.
We must see the severity of these two verses here. This is not referring to one who has a sin struggle but is seeking repentance by the grace of God. This doesn’t refer to someone who is less sanctified and is not educated in the Word and is ‘rough around the edges’ as we might call them.
Instead, the apostate referenced here refers to someone who knows the way of God and willfully rejects it with no remorse or repentance.
Judas is probably the best example of an apostate. Though he saw many of Christ’s miracles up close and personal - though he heard the amazing teachings of Christ - he refused to truly trust Christ as His personal Savior.
Many seek to identify those who are apostate within our churches. Many times it is difficult because they often look just like us for quite some time. Although we should be discerning and be slow to allow people to take positions of leadership within our churches prior to a time of vetting, we must spend more time looking at our own hearts.
May we be sure that we are not false converts. May we be sure that we have truly repented and are all in when it comes to Jesus Christ.
We cannot see the hearts of others - but we can and are even commanded examine our own (Psalm 139:23-24).
Moving forward, we get to our second point which is…
Scripture References: James 2:19, 1 John 3:9, John 3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 14:6, 1 John 2:19, Psalm 139:23-24
II. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Reverence (28-31)
II. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Reverence (28-31)
Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
The author is going to argue from the lesser to the greater. This is a rabbinic technique he has used elsewhere in the book as well.
He starts by looking at the Law of Moses.
Under the Law, the death penalty required two or three or more witnesses in order to be carried out (Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15). This was to maintain justice.
The author now turns and focuses in on the punishment given by the Law. When certain laws were broken - for example, murder - the death penalty was carried out.
If the Old Covenant required a steep punishment, how much worse is the punishment for those who profane Christ - especially those apostates who may have said they were His but now live in open rebellion to Him?
Or even those who might claim to be set apart and holy - yet are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
We are told that they have trampled underfoot the Son of God.
To put someone under one’s foot was one of the greatest possible insults in the ancient world.
It was a sign of disrespect and disdain. We use words like doormat today to refer to those who are disrespected and treated as worthless. These apostates have treated Jesus like He is worthless - a doormat to wipe one’s shoes off on.
Those who reject Christ despise Him and refuse to revere Him. The have profaned His blood by which He has offered for the sanctification of believers. In other words they have held the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as unimportant. They have treated it as rubbish - to be thrown away and trampled upon.
And by doing all of this they have outraged the Spirit of Grace.
What amazingly harsh language used here regarding the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is full of grace. He indwells the believer - aids the believer in sanctification - helps the believer understand the Scripture through illumination - and aids in the perseverance of the believer.
This same Holy Spirit that is gracious to those who are true believers is outraged when there are those who are pretenders. Those who act like they have the Holy Spirit but don’t. The Holy Spirit seeks to always glorify the Son. And He is outraged by those who dishonor and defame Jesus Christ.
Those who are apostates blaspheme both the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus clearly teaches that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit - namely those who never truly repent of their sins and place their faith and trust in Jesus - will have their part in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 12:31-32).
Apostates will be judged in the end.
In Matthew 22:1-14 we find a parable told by Jesus that clearly calls out the apostate. There is a King (namely God) who is throwing a wedding feast for His Son (namely Jesus). At the end of the parable we come to verses 11-13…
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This man was missing the proper garment - namely the imputed righteousness of Christ. And because he was a pretender, he was cast into hell.
Brothers and sisters, don’t play the game of church. God sees right through it. The Lord will judge those who are pretenders. Listen to verse 30…
For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Vengeance is the Lord’s. He will repay. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Unfortunately we lack justice today in many cases. There are countless ‘cold cases’ out there. Cases that do not have justice served.
But we must note that in the end, no murder, rape, theft, assault, fraud, or anything else will be left unpunished. Everything will be uncovered by God. He has a record of everything.
And if you are not in Christ, there will be a recompense for you as well. Even if you haven’t done some of the ‘big sins’ that we just mentioned, every sin is an afront and abomination to God.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
That is a terrifying verse. God is a God of grace. He is loving. But He is also just.
Exodus 34:7 tells us that He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
But there is good news here as well.
For those of us in Christ - Jesus has taken our penalty on the cross. All of the wrath of God stored up toward our sin has been placed upon Jesus. We are able to be seen as righteous and holy because Christ’s righteousness has been applied to our account. We wear the garment of Christ’s righteousness as we saw in the parable in Matthew 22. What a beautiful blessing!
However, for those not in Christ, God will not leave you unpunished. Those who refuse to repent will face eternal punishment in Hell. Every single sin that you have committed will require an eternity to pay off because the God that you have sinned against is eternally holy.
We should fear God.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10).
Yet, it is His kindness that should lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
Although God is fully just - He is also fully loving. And to be fully just and fully loving, He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins.
Friends, we must avoid apostacy through true repentance and through true reverence. And thirdly, we…
Scripture References: Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6, Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 12:31-32, Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 34:7, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Romans 2:4
III. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Remembrance (32-34)
III. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Remembrance (32-34)
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened…
In order to avoid apostacy, the author encourages this church to recall the former days. This is a careful remembrance - a remembrance that requires time and attention.
The Scriptures regularly encourage us to remember the past acts of the Lord. Consider the 12 stones that were placed as a memorial after the Israelites crossed the Jordan (Joshua 4:1-9). Consider the Old Testament Passover and now Communion that we will be partaking of even today (Exodus 12:14, Luke 22:19). And we also have the Lord’s Day (our New Testament Sabbath) where we are to regularly remember the Lord. It is really helpful for us to recall the great works of the Lord.
Which former days were they to recall? They were to recall the time after they were enlightened.
By enlightened, the author refers to when they first heard the Gospel.
This is an interesting word choice used here. This does not mean that all of them were saved. Certainly some were and some were not. Some were true converts and some were false converts.
What did they do in light of a knowledge of the Gospel? Listen to the rest of these verses…
… you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
We are told here that this early church had incredible persecution early on.
Most commentators think that this speaks of the persecution that the church in Rome experienced under the Roman Emperor Claudius in AD 49 (likely 15 years or so before this letter was written). During this time of persecution, many Jews including Jewish Christians were expelled from Rome.
Not all Jews were ultimately expelled but many, including Priscilla and Aquilla, were:
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
Those in this church had sufferings, public reproach and affliction, and had even stood beside those who were persecuted as well.
They exhibited compassion upon those imprisoned.
They accepted the loss of their things because they knew they had a better possession - one that would never disappear - one that could never be taken.
The author wants them to recall their former days - when they were dedicated to the Lord.
They were to show the truth of their faith as the Holy Spirit would work in and through them.
True believers can endure because they remember what the Lord has done for them.
Hugh Latimer was an English reformer who had offended King Henry VIII with his message.
After being threatened and commanded to issue an apology the following weekend, he proceeded to preach the exact same message he had preached the week before yet with even more power.
We are to persevere, Church. We are commanded to endure to the end.
Remember the mighty works of the Lord and refuse to quit.
Which brings us to our final point for today…
Scripture References: Joshua 4:1-9, Exodus 12:14, Luke 22:19, Acts 18:1-2
IV. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Resilience (35-39)
IV. We Must Avoid Apostacy Through True Resilience (35-39)
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Now the author turns to them and encourages them to persevere. After reminding this local church about their previous zeal, he encourages them to continue in confidence in Christ. He encourages them to true resilience - which has a great reward - namely salvation.
They are not to throw away or surrender their confidence. Don’t turn back now!
Those who are truly Christ's will persevere until the end and be given a great reward - namely eternal life in heaven!
Those who endure will be given what has been promised.
Continuing to encourage resilience we come to verses 37-38…
For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
The author looks at Isaiah 26:20-21 which in context speaks of the Day of the Lord and the coming of Christ. Jesus is the coming One who will not delay - meaning He will return to earth at exactly the right time. It might seem like He tarries - but He is right on time.
Moving to verse 38, we see Habakkuk 2:3-4 quoted:
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Referencing the surety of the coming of the Lord’s judgment, the author implores believers to persevere, hang in there, and keep running the race.
How are we to do this? By living by faith.
This will be the theme of chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews - the ‘Hall of Faith’ as it is often affectionately called. We can only persevere by faith. This same admonition is repeated twice by Paul in his letters in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11. The righteous must live and walk by faith.
Friends, we are considered righteous not because of anything within us. It is because of our faith in Jesus that we are counted righteous - by His perfect sacrifice that is credited to our account. We can only persevere because He holds us in His hands and because He continues working in us and through us through His Holy Spirit.
At the end of verse 38, we are given a strong warning.
We are told that those who shrink back bring no pleasure to God.
Friends, are we those who shrink back?
To shrink back here refers to apostacy - it refers to those who have turned away from Christ and turned toward the world.
May this never be said of us. May we persevere by the power of Jesus.
After this sober-minded warning, the author ends in verse 39 with a beautiful encouragement to true believers…
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Here we have the battle cry of the true believer. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed.
Instead - we are of those who have faith and preserve our souls.
This refers to those who persevere through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This persevering is only available to those who are truly saved. Only those who are filled with the Holy Spirit can persevere to the end.
Jesus tells us that no one can pluck true believers from His hand (John 10:28).
Our salvation is secure if we are in Christ.
There is a beautiful paradigm in the Bible that holds this tension. We are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet we are commanded to persevere. The Christian life is not a passive life - it is active. Yet the activity comes from us allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.
This is perhaps the hardest part of the Christian life - getting out of the way, giving up our will, and giving our lives completely over to the will of God. This is the true cost of discipleship that we must count if we are to follow Jesus. Our lives are no longer our own. We are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
For us who are in Christ, we must remember an important point when it comes to our resilience. We go to battle not in our own armor - but with the armor of God alone (Ephesians 6:10-20). We do not fight on our own or with our own strength.
As 1 Samuel 17:47 reminds us: The battle belongs to the Lord.
Scripture References: Isaiah 26:20-21, Habakkuk 2:3-4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, John 10:28, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 6:10-20
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, we have seen four admonitions from the author today.
First, we must avoid apostacy through true repentance. We cannot persevere unless we are born again and saved. Be sure that you have placed your faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation. If you need to do this, speak with me after the service. Don’t delay in making this important decision.
Second, we must avoid apostacy through true reverence. We are to hold Christ in high regard. We are to live our lives in a manner worthy of Him as we lift Him up in exaltation.
Third, we must avoid apostacy through true remembrance. We must regularly remember the many blessings and great works of our God. Our love for Him may grow dim if we become a forgetful people.
And fourth, we must avoid apostacy through true resilience. True believers will persevere through the power of the Holy Spirit. May we never shrink back!
Stand firm, Church - endure to the end - and enjoy the eternal promises of God.
