Hebrews 10:26-39

In this passage we are going to look at, the writer of Hebrews uses a very harsh warning against those who would abandon the faith. Then, he balances this harsh warning with a reminder of people from the past who persevered even when things got difficult for them. We need to recognize the danger of rejecting God’s Word.

1. The Word of Warning ()

A. Warning of living a deliberate, sinful lifestyle ()

Hebrews 10:26 CSB

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

The writer is not saying that once you become a Christian you are perfect and will never sin again. The key word is “deliberately”. It is first in the order of the Greek words. “What the author has in mind is a deliberate, sinful lifestyle of high-handed rebellion against the gospel.” (NIV Application, p. 355)

This is not about losing your way. This is about rebellion against God’s Word. We might say it indicates people who commit blasphemy. They know the truth, but they reject the truth. For example, a person who knows sexual immorality is against God’s Word, but they purposefully live a sexually immoral lifestyle.

B. Rejecting the gospel leaves no other options for salvation ()

Hebrews 10:26 CSB

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Where can you go for salvation if you reject the only way of salvation found through the gospel of Jesus Christ? Important point: These people did not lose their salvation. They never had it! Recently, we have seen some very high profile people openly reject the faith they once claimed. What are we to make of these people when these things happen?

C. What remains is God’s judgment ()

Hebrews 10:27 CSB

27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

This verse warns of the impending judgment. It is about to consume. God will deal with those who rebel against his grace.

D. If rejecting Moses resulted in judgment, how much worse will it be to reject God? ()

Hebrews 10:28–29 CSB

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?

According to , if you rejected the law and 2-3 witnesses bore witness of your rejection, you would be put to death. It would be carried out without mercy. Remember the story of Achan.

The recent story of the girl who renounced her citizenship and joined ISIS. She left the United States and traveled to Syria to join ISIS. Upon arriving, her first act was to renounce her citizenship (loyalty) to the United States and burn her passport. She allied herself with our enemies and no longer has a right to enter our country. Likewise, willful rejection of the gospel can lead to nothing other than God’s righteous judgment. (https://www.theblaze.com/news/pompeo-isis-bride-not-allowed-in-us)

the United States and burn her passport. She allied herself with our enemies and no longer has a right to enter our country. Likewise, willful rejection of the gospel can lead to nothing other than God’s righteous judgment. https://www.theblaze.com/news/pompeo-isis-bride-not-allowed-in-us

There is extreme punishment for rejecting God’s covenants. The rejection of God’s grace is graphically represented in three expressions.

i. Rejecting the gospel is equivalent to trampling the Son of God.

This is about treating the Son of God with utter distain. It would be like spitting on him. It is the lowest form of contempt.

ii. Rejecting the gospel is equivalent to saying the blood of Christ is just like any other blood.

The word “profane” means “ordinary or common”. It is like saying there is nothing special about it.

iii. Rejecting the gospel is equivalent to insulting the Holy Spirit.

Remember the warning from Jesus concerning those who would attribute the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil. ()

E. Quote from ()

Hebrews 10:30 CSB

30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.

This quotation from is a song that Moses sung at the end of his life as a warning to those who would reject God’s covenant. Rejection of God results in severe judgment. It is God’s responsibility to deal with those who reject him.

F. Conclusion: rejection of the gospel should be terrifying ()

Hebrews 10:31 CSB

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

“Terrifying” is the first word in the Greek sentence and it communicates the idea of dread. There is no way to escape the judgment of God for rejecting him.

2. A call to remember ()

A. Remember your own experience ()

Hebrews 10:32–33 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.

i. Remember your hard struggle with sufferings.

These people had experienced some form of great unusual trials. Perhaps, he is alluding to the Roman leader Claudius who expelled all of the Christians from Rome.

ii. Remember the verbal abuse you experienced.

They were publically exposed to verbal abuse. The words indicate they were made a public spectacle.

iii. Remember your friends who experienced the abuse.

Sometimes, it is harder to watch others suffer than to suffer yourself. They had to watch their friends endurance abuse for the sake of the gospel.

B. Remember how you felt about your experiences ()

Hebrews 10:34 CSB

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.

i. Sympathy

They felt what those around them were feeling. They had the same emotions.

ii. Joy

Their belongings were confiscated and yet they felt joy. After they were expelled from their homes, their homes were looted. How could they have joy when they experienced such terrible things?

iii. Confidence

They had confidence that something better awaited them than any earthly goods and materials.

3. A call to stay faithful ()

A. Don’t throw away your faith. ()

Hebrews 10:35 CSB

35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

Public identification with God result in great reward.

B. God will do for you what he promised to do. ()

Hebrews 10:36 CSB

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

C. God treats the faithful much different than he treats the rebellious. ()

This is a quotation from and . Remember, when the writer of Hebrews quotes the Old Testament, the context of the passage is drawn into the passage containing the quote. When the Lord comes, he will punish the wicked and reward the righteous.

D. The readers of Hebrews are the faithful ()

Hebrews 10:39 CSB

39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.

Their faith will result in their salvation.