Hebrews 10:26-31
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.
They refused to stop offering the animal sacrifices. Many of the Jewish believers were insisting upon doing animal sacrifices for their sin. They kept on sinning by rejecting the truth concerning the blood of Christ! For it says they heard the truth! They were belligerent and stubborn about repenting from their old religion. The continued to offer sacrifices when no sacrifice for sins were left! They became God's enemy in doing so!
Proud believers are called the enemies of God! It says in the Greek that God makes war against the arrogant believer! 1 Peter 5:5
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.
Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists (makes war against) the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
When God makes war against someone, they are His enemy. God does not make war against the unbeliever. He has no horse in that race. They will be destroyed in the end.
27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire
that will consume the enemies of God.
The enemies of God = dead works -> will be burned in raging fire!
But, the believer himself will be saved!
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s
work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it
will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work,
of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it
endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned,
he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire." 1 Cor 3:11-15
Please, read that. All their foolish, arrogant dead works, will be blazed in fire to utter destruction! Those proud believers will lose their eternal rewards by fire. But? It says their souls remain saved. Saved as a man who is when running from a burning house!
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Those Jewish believers treated the Blood of Jesus as unholy, by offering cheap substitutes when insisting upon the animal sacrifices.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.
Sacrifices of animals after Jesus openly finished his work on the cross were null and void! No valid sacrifices were left!
The consequences for these Jewish believers persisting?
30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Notice? It says what? God will judge His people. Unbelievers are not His people!
Only a few years after Hebrews was written Jerusalem was laid to ruin by Titus who commanded the destruction of Jerusalem. In doing so, God angrily
judged that arrogant church in Jerusalem most severely! Why? Because, they were knowing the truth. Yet, they insisted upon their apostasy.
So be it!
I think a detailed response to this was posted earlier scripture by scriptures showing that God's Word is in reference to "BELEIVERS" Not sure if that was here or elsewhere. You are trying to argue that these scriptures are not to God's believers in the present tense for us today. Let's look at the scriptures and see if this is true or not?
DETAILED VEIW OF HEBREWS 6:4-8 and HEBREWS 10:26-27 AS WARNINGS TO BELIEVERS NOT TO DEPART THE FAITH
What I find amusing in this argument are those people that are trying to argue that
HEBREWS 6:4-8 and
HEBREWS 10:26-38 are not direct warnings to believers not to depart the faith to return back to a life of known unrepentant sin despite these scriptures directly saying so.
Also why not answer and respond to the posts directly that have been provided earlier that show verse by verse showing CONTEXT that these scriptures are references to believers departing the faith and returning to a life of known unrepentant sin? Wheather they be JEWS or non JEWS is irrelavant because of
two important facts. The points being made were that the WARNING CONTEXT of these scriptures were; 1. TO BELIEVERS and 2. THAT DEPARTED THE FAITH TO RETURN TO KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN.
1. THESE SCRIPTURES REFER TO BELIEVERS THAT HAD A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH
Let's look at the scriptures...
HEBREWS 6:4-8 [4], For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and
have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,[5], And have
tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come,
Who are we talking about here; BELIEVERS or UNBELIEVERS? The question your considering is; were these BELIEVERS and Born again christians. These scriptures directly say word for word that the topic of dscussion here are those who were BELIEVERS as the scriptures say...
1. They were once enlightened;
HEBREWS 6:4
2. Having tasted of the Heavenly gift;
HEBREWS 6:4
3. They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost;
HEBREWS 6:4
4. Having tasted of the good Word of God;
HEBREWS 6:5
5. Having tasted of the power of the world to come
HEBREWS 6:5
So reviewing the CONTEXT of these scriptures we don't really need to say much they speak for themselves. Yep,
HEBREWS 6:4-8 very clearly show here that we are talking about BELIEVERS having fallen away from the HEAVENLY gift back into a life of sin crucifying the son of God afresh.
Let's also look at
HEBREWS 10:26-27
HEBREWS 10:26-27 [26], For
IF WE (BELIEVERS)
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.
Yep Paul includes himself in this WARNING. The subject matter is...
1. WE (BELIEVERS) return back to a life of known unrepentant SIN;
HEBREWS 10:26
2. WE (BELIEVERS) being those who have received a knowledge of the truth;
HEBREWS 10:26
3. WE (BELIEVERS) will receive the judgments of God;
HEBREWS 10:27
Ok point 1 is established. Do you agree that these scriptures are in reference and WARNINGS to BELIEVERS and that these scripture are speaking about BELIEVERS that have a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel of JESUS Christ who return back to a life of sin?
2. THEY DEPARTED THE GOSPEL AND FAITH TO RETURN BACK TO A LIFE ON KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN
Let's look at the scriptures...
HEBREWS 6:6 [6],
If THEY (ONCE BELIEVERS
HEBREWS 6:4-5 see above)
SHALL FALL AWAY, TO RENEW THEMSELEVES TO REPENTANCE; seeing THEY (ONCE BELIEVERS
HEBREWS 6:4-5 see above)
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
The subject matter is continuing on from
HEBREWS 6:4-5 (BELIEVERS)...
1. THEY (BELIEVERS) FALL AWAY;
HEBREWS 6:6
2. THEY (BELIEVERS) renew themselves to repentance;
HEBREWS 6:6
3. THEY (BELIEVERS) by their sins crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame;
HEBREWS 6:6
Let's also look at
HEBREWS 10:26-27 again...
HEBREWS 10:26-27 [26], For
IF WE (BELIEVERS)
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.
1. WE (BELIEVERS) return back to a life of known unrepentant SIN;
HEBREWS 10:26
2. WE (BELIEVERS) being those who have received a knowledge of the truth;
HEBREWS 10:26
3. WE (BELIEVERS) will receive the judgments of God;
HEBREWS 10:27
All the above is Gods Word shown in the scriptures therefore not my words!
As shown above already from
HEBREWS 6:4-8 the subject matter is dealing with those who were BELIEVERS that departed from GOD and became "UNBELIEVERS" returning back to a life of KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN. These people are BELIEVERS as shown in the CONTEXT of
HEBREWS 6:4-5 and
HEBREWS 10:26.
Do you disagree that with what has been posted so far? Is the subject matter and context here in both sets of scriptures dealing with BELIEVERS that have departed the faith to return to a life of known unrepentant sin?
These are the points being made in posts in both
post # 68 linked;
post # 98 linked and
post # 99 linked and elsewhere. These posts were never arguing if the audience that was being addressed were JEWS or non-JEWS. The scriptures were provided as evidence to show that if we as BELIEVERS depart the faith and return to a life of UNREPENTANT SIN to no longer BELIEVE and follow God's WORD than we can lose our salvation.
HEBREWS 10:28-38 continues...
[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? (see
HEBREWS 6:4-8)
[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.
[32],
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
[33],
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
[34], For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
[35],
Cast not away therefore your confidence (speaking to believers),
which hath great recompence of reward.
[36],
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
[37], For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
[38], Now the just shall live by faith: but
if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Again key points to consider in
HEBREWS 10:28-28 (from
HEBREWS 10:26-27)
1. WE (BELIEVERS) return back to a life of known unrepentant SIN;
HEBREWS 10:26
2. WE (BELIEVERS) being those who have received a knowledge of the truth;
HEBREWS 10:26
3. WE (BELIEVERS) will receive the judgments of God;
HEBREWS 10:27
4. WE (BELIEVERS) will receive a greater punishment for returning to a life of known unrepentant sin because we have receved a knowledge of the truth and turned away from it;
HEBREWS 10:29
5. WE (BELIEVERS) by returning back to known unrepentant sin after we receive a knowledge of the truth we count the blood of the covenant an UNHOLY thing and do despite to the Spirit of Grace;
HEBREWS 10:29
6. WE (BELIEVERS) are warned not to CAST AWAY our confidence which has great reward;
HEBREWS 10:35
7. WE (BELIEVERS) receive God's promise after we do God's will;
HEBREWS 10:36
8. WE (BELIEVERS) are WARNED NOT TO DRAW BACK INTO UNBELIEF;
HEBREWS 10:38
As you can see here all of the above is Gods Word not mine and the scripture application and context is to believers drawing back to something that is not the Gospel of Christ. The application here is universal. If we draw back to anything that is not the gospel of Christ and continue to sin willfully after we receive a knowledge of the truth there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a fearful looking forward to of judgment.
There is no scripture that says we can continue in known unrepentant sin and enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Those who believe this believe the false Gospel of the father of lies first spoken to EVE in the garden of Eden *
GENESIS 3:1-5.
God's Word says all scripture applies to us *
2 TIMOTHY 3:16;
MATTHEW 4:4;
1 CORINTHIANS 10:11. What do you think the is the meaning of the scriptures that say God is not the God of the dead but of the living *
MATTHEW 22:32
I believe God's Word is for the living not the dead, how about you?
