Two Choices

People are faced with a variety of choices. Long ago, when you went to town for supplies, it was much simpler. You would pick up some flour, oats, and the biggest choice might be what type of candy you would get for the children. You probably recall scenes like that with Little House on the Prairie or The Waltons.

Today, there is a whole section for the various kinds of flours. In addition to that, my wife tells me that you can’t just go with knowing that you’re picking up the same kind of Oreos we used to get at the store when we were newlyweds. She told me that she actually stood in the grocery aisle and counted at least 30 different kinds of Oreos.

When it comes to where one will spend eternity, the choice has always been limited to two options. One can either choose Jesus Christ as the only way to be saved and experience peace on this earth, or you can reject Jesus Christ and spend eternity in hell and life on this earth with no real hope or peace.

As we’ve seen in the book of Hebrews, there were several who were trying to come up with a third option, which really never was an option. The same is happening today and has been since time began. There are those who think that by being religious or doing certain things or not doing certain things, or by participating with those who were truly following God, they would have an inside track and somehow manage to get to heaven.

Everyone starts out as an unbeliever. Then at some point in our lives, we are presented with two choices—to believe and be saved, or to not believe and become an apostate. Rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ always will end in judgment.

We need to also understand that apostasy is not a matter of being confused. It is knowingly and willfully rejecting the truth of the Gospel and the offer of salvation. The most obvious example of this, to my mind, is Judas. He had every opportunity in the world, yet he rejected following after Jesus as Lord and Savior. Yet, he still experienced all the same experiences the other disciples had. He was blessed right alongside them and struggled along with them. He even participated in some of the earlier miracles when they went out by twos. Yet, he is unsaved because of his rejection of Jesus.

Apostasy can be extremely deceptive and confusing for many people. The reason is that there are multitudes of people who look and act like Christians. Many of those individuals may even have the experience of finding themselves convicted of their sin and find themselves attracted to Jesus. Yet, after some time, the world begins to be more important; everything else takes on greater significance, and Jesus just becomes a by-word or a passing fad. Those people are no longer committed to Jesus. They might defensively say they are saved, yet their actions and their commitment decries their words. And, my friends, the Bible states in no uncertain terms that as the end gets nearer, apostasy will become more and more rampant.

I’ve taken extra time to discuss this so that it might be easier to understand this passage in which we’ll be going over today. Also, for all who are listening to this message, whether in person or online, maybe today is a good time to reevaluate your life and make certain that you have chosen Jesus and that you are not among the apostates who are trying for a third option, which doesn’t exist.

When dealing with the two choices for eternity, always choose Jesus alone.

Consequences of Playing with Grace. - 10.26-31

In these verses, we will see a very clear explanation of apostasy. A theological definition of apostasy would be this: receiving knowledge of the truth, that is, the gospel, but willfully remaining in sin. An apostate has seen and heard the truth—he knows it well—but he willfully rejects it.

Hebrews 10:26–31 (NASB95)

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted 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 terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Verse 26 is a classic definition of what an apostate looks like. He/she knows the truth of the gospel, yet they intentionally choose to keep on sinning. It is willful and intentional. This person is not a believer. It is not as if they are simply ignorant of the gospel. What makes them an apostate is that they do know the truth. One who has yet to know the truth of the gospel is still an unbeliever, but they are not apostate; for they have not rejected the truth, since they do not have the knowledge of the truth.

What is meant by the word, knowledge? Here, the word used is more than having the information; it describes someone who fully understands, or completely understands the message of the gospel. Remember Hebrews 6.4, where the author describes these people as those who have once been enlightened . . . tasted of the heavenly gift . . . been made partakers of the Holy Spirit.

Because apostates have this background, they have obviously been in the presence of Christ, usually in association with Christians, so they will often be found in local churches at one point in their lives, though not always. Otherwise, they would not have this sort of knowledge.

What are some of the things which might cause someone to be apostate? Have you noticed that when a true Christian goes through tough times, they usually find themselves closer to the Lord? They will often share how their relationship with God has become stronger. An unbeliever under similar circumstances, who is trying to act like a Christian, will usually start turning away from God and even turning against God and the church.

Another reason might be that there are false teachers who promise things which are not biblical, especially when hard times come. This seemingly promises that third option. However, one who is truly a Christian will never deny Jesus, whereas an apostate will eventually deny the Lord. Temptation can also cause someone to choose not to truly surrender to Christ. A person can also keep delaying choosing Christ for so long that it becomes impossible to change. False religion or the old ways can take a strong hold on some people so that they’re unwilling to let go and choose Jesus. And, we recall from last week, that there is that danger when people stop participating in Christian fellowship.

So what happens to these people who were so close, yet now, so far away? Whether they realized or not, they were playing the game. However, when things get too tough, or when things even get too comfortable, or they just get bored, they go back to the old ways. The use of the word willfully shows that the sins are not accidental or stumbled onto, but quite intentional. You and I know that sometimes we fall into sin; we sometimes wander away. Yet God’s Spirit brings us back into right relationship—we are too convicted to keep on stumbling.

Now, lest we start trying to play apostate policeman, don’t. Only God knows those who are Christians who are simply falling into sin, such as the Corinthian who was put out of the church until he repented. And only God knows those who are acting like they’re saved, when in fact, they are not truly saved. The biggest concern we should have is to make sure that we’ve made the right choice.

We’ve dealt with this one verse at great length because the following verses in this section are very dark with a permanent finality. If a person rejects Christ’s sacrifice for sin, then there is nothing else, not even from the Old Covenant, that will offer any hope. In fact, if a person knows the truth of the gospel, yet chooses to reject it, How much severer punishment. In fact, as you go on, you get the clear impression that the person who knows the gospel of Christ and rejects it, will have a much worse judgment than the worst individual in the Old Testament. In the New Covenant, we have more light and are held more responsible.

Consider Past Experiences. - 10.32-34

Here we see a bit of what can be confusing to many of us. Individuals who are part of the church, who even experience outwardly what many real Christians experience, but their knowledge and experience had not yet turned to a genuine faith. The author is appealing to those Jews who were so close to actually fully believing in Jesus. They need to consider their past experiences. For some who are listening and have not fully surrendered your life to Jesus, though others may think you have, maybe God is making this plea with you right now.

Hebrews 10:32–34 (NASB95)

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

It seems obvious that the readers were very involved with their local church. To most onlookers, from outside and from within, they probably appeared to be genuine believers. Just like this picture up here, it is impossible for most of us to tell the difference between the real diamonds and the fake diamonds. These individuals were right alongside all the genuine Christians, even in the persecutions. They had not yet shown any shame for the gospel of Christ. They knew the facts of the gospel well; but they were not yet saved.

The author is pleading with them to look at what they had experienced, then take it the final step by fully committing their lives to Jesus. What a waste if they had come this far and then chose to say no to Jesus. My friends, all the blessings on earth mean nothing if you do not receive the greatest of all blessings—to spend eternity with Jesus.

The intensity of remember requires not just recalling information. It means to mull over carefully in your mind and consider thoroughly what they had experienced so that they could choose rightly. My friends, some of you may have the same experience. Like this writer is urging, I urge you as well, choose Jesus now, before it’s too late. Go all the way.

Choose Promises of God. - 10.35-39

The author seems to be putting out a plea for those who were so close, yet kept refusing to place their faith in Jesus completely. Close only counts in horseshoes and corn hole. A person being close because of experience and knowledge will not get a person into heaven.

Hebrews 10:35–39 (NASB95)

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 was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming 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 to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

It may seem strange, but when a person considers the reward that awaits us, it serves as a motivator. The confidence that they had in joining this group of believers was a good start. Yet it wasn’t enough. They needed to fully surrender themselves to Jesus Christ. They needed to choose Jesus alone; no looking back, no having a backup plan; just Jesus. It’s not about what’s in it for me today? They needed to also look at the eternal picture.

The same holds true today. Being part of a church or associating with Christians is a start for some of you. But you need to completely give your live to Jesus, placing all of your faith and trust in Him alone for salvation and eternal life.

Whatever negative we might go through today will eventually pass. But you and I know that our salvation in Jesus Christ will last through eternity; there is no expiration date. And I realize that this world is a real mess from my perspective, yet I also realize that God is going to put everything the way it should be. I especially like the phrase quoted from the Old Testament, and will not delay. Those struggling that were reading this book were probably encouraged by this statement, as well.

I’m also impressed that the writer seems to be quite optimistic. In fact, it seems that the author is fully believing that those who are reading this will indeed take this a step farther and choose to believe. I believe we can see this from the very last verse: But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. That sounds like one of the best half-time speeches ever to be given. He has issued the challenge and appeal by pointing out the very dark and negative side of making the wrong choice. Then he also has pointed out the innumerable blessings of making the right choice, in particular, eternal life.

My friends, even though this was written to Jews who were needing to go all the way and receive Jesus Christ, it could just as easily be written to those of you who are tired of being close, yet still lost while experiencing God’s blessings while being part of a fellowship of true believers. Today could be your day.