Don't Turn Back

DON’T TURN BACK

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:38 – 39 (Or start reading at verse 21.)

10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

I. WHAT DOES “TURNING BACK” MEAN?

II. HAVE OTHERS TURNED BACK?

III. WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO TURN BACK?

IV. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO PREVENT (Protect) MYSELF FROM

TURNING BACK?

I. WHAT DOES “TURNING BACK” MEAN?

A. Some ignore “turning back” by simply saying that it is impossible to have

once known Christ and then turn back. This is a noble attempt to preserve

the beauty and majesty of His saving grace, but it just isn’t true. God will

not force anyone to stay in the family of God.

B. Turning back is terrible, but it is a reality.

1. Galatians 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of

you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

2. I Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into

subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [Same Greek word used for reprobate].”

3. II Peter 2:4 “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them

down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

4. Romans 11:21 “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed

lest he also spare not thee.”

5. I Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take

heed lest he fall.”

C. Turning back is rejecting the sinless sacrifice of Christ

1. To crucify Christ afresh.

Hebrews 6:4 “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, 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

2. To trample the blood of Christ under foot.

Hebrews 10:29 “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?”

And why is it impossible to have a qualitatively different or new repentance? Because to have a different kind of repentance, it would be necessary for Jesus Christ to die again on the cross. But this is impossible, because according to the entire teaching of the book of Hebrews, Jesus Christ died once and for all for man’s sin. He cannot come back and die again in order to gain for us another redemption which will see us through this time.

Spiros Zodhiates

Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Not only is it impossible to have Jesus Christ die again, but having failed to save to the end the ones who trusted in Him, it would cause His crucifixion on the cross to become as something to be ridiculed. It did not work; it was not sufficient. Spiros Zodhiates

It is possible to accept what has already been done, but it is impossible that it should be done differently or done again. He cannot be re-crucified to fit your theology/philosophy/ideology.

II. HAVE OTHERS TURNED BACK?

A. Saul turned back from God and eventually turned to a witch.

B. Demas has departed from me having loved this present world.

II Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”

C. Peter turned back just briefly when he denied Christ, but he repented. If

something goes wrong in your walk with God, turn to Him and repent.

Whatever you do, don’t turn back.

D. Judas, Samson, Gideon, etc.

Turning back is a great temptation, especially when faced with great difficulty

or even tragedy. However, my advice to you is “Don’t Turn Back.”

Regardless of who turns back, or has turned back, please “Don’t Turn Back.”