The Fate Of Apostate
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
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.
One of the primary concerns of this letter to the Hebrews is apostasy. It is a stark warning against apostasy. What is apostasy? It’s a term seldom used nowadays but is simply means one who renounces their faith. We all know of people like this. they have at some point heard the gospel, maybe even made a profession of faith, perhaps they even were baptised and became a member of a church. But for what ever reason they drifted away, they forsook the assembly they became entangled with the cares of this world. They no longer appeared to be a Christian. Then they decided that they were not a Christian. If you were to ask them about their faith, they would say they they do not believe in that anymore. This is apostasy. We have all seen it, but what actually happened to these people remains a mystery. But this is the warning given in these verses and for us to have any hope of understanding these verses we must first understand who this passage is describing.
Their Present
Their Present
They sin wilfully
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Not just any sin Means to continually pursue sin and unrighteousness
They have trodden under foot the Son of God
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?
Heb
To treat with rudeness or insult. To insult through neglect
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
They count the blood of Christ as an unholy thing
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?
They count the blood of Christ as an unholy thing
Means literally a common thing, that is nothing special not sanctified or holy. But to us who believe the blood of Christ is a precious and holy thing because without the shedding of there is no remission of sins and it is by the blood of Christ that we may enter boldly into the presence of almighty God.
Heb
They have done despite unto the Spirit of grace
The Spirit here referred to as the Spirit of grace because it is the spirit that draws us to the grace of God reveals the grace of God through the person of Jesus Christ. To do despite unto is to insult and disregard the Spirit of Grace and so to insult the grace of God and to through it back in His face. or to turn your back on the grace of God and the Spirit’s prompting, to grieve the Spirit.
This is their present condition, and I think that we could all agree that this person described here is a lost person. They have rejected Christ. This is not what makes this a challenging passage. What makes this passage challenging for us is not their present condition but rather their history.
Their Past
Their Past
Where did this person begin and how did they get to where they are now?
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
They have received the knowledge of truth
1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Vs 13 said that they received the word with joy and for a while believed. There is belief that is genuine and lasting there is temporary belief.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They Were Sanctified
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 word sanctified means separated from profane things and to be dedicated to God. The Israelites were set apart or sanctified through circumcision but as Paul pointed out in
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
There is an outward sanctification and an inward sanctification.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
They are sanctified outwardly but unless they accept Christ as their saviour they will not be sanctified inwardly. So I believe that the person described in our text is sanctified outwardly in that they have associated themselves with the church, purhaps they have even made a profession of faith and have been baptised joining themselves to the church, in this they are sanctified outwardly but not inwardly.
They are included with the people of God
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.
Here I believe that it is referring to the visible church as the people of God. But as Jesus taught and as the writers of the New Testament have taught us the visible church is not the same as the true elect church of God. Jesus said that there are tares among the wheat and that on the day of judgement God will separate the tares from the wheat. God will judge His church and He will purge it. So now we have looked at the present and the past of these individuals what does the future hold for them.
Their Future
Their Future
There remains no more sacrifice for sin.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb
Christ died once and for all. you cannot crucify Him again to put Him to an open shame. And there is no other sacrifice for your sins. There is no other name by which you must be save. If you reject the sacrifice of Christ you will stand alone on the day of judgement there is no more sacrifice for your sins.
There will be a fearful Judgement
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:
This world has seen some terrible things we hear of terrible things happened to people all over the world but this world have never seen the wrath of God pour out as it will be on that day of judgement on those who have rejected His son. People make light of God’s judgement. Our God is a consuming fire.
There will be a terrible punishment
It will be a fate worst than death
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?
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:
This passage this morning comes to us as a stark warning. Place you faith in Jesus while you still can believe in Him with a true faith. You say, “how do I know my faith is true faith? Because true faith endures to the end.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
From faith to faith.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.