Falling into the Hands of the Living God
Rev. Sean Lester
September 14, 2003
Hebrews 10:26-39
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, [27] but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. [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 a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." [31] It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
[32] Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. [33] Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. [34] You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
[35] So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. [36] You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. [37] For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
[38] But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him."
[39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Introduction
A. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
1. Those who fall in the God’s hands are those who have become enlightened to the truth. They have tested the goodness of salvation and the blessings that come with it.
2. Despite accepting salvation, they choose to remain in the sins that they were committing before coming to Christ, or continue in sins after coming to the knowledge of the truth.
3. Such people are “squirrelly”, they are loved by the people of the church. They give the church a false hope that they would become a “sold-out” Christian, but they are “not-ready.” Yet to settle down. They are like trying to catch a mouse, or teach a cat to walk a straight line. They are hard to catch.
4. Eventually, God will catch them, and they will have no more excuse or opportunity to finally submit to the will of God.
B. There will be no escape from the judgment of the living God.
1. There will be no trial as we know justice. Because people don’t know the truth of an incident, facts must be gathered, witnesses called, and a determination made as to the truth. This is done because people are not all-knowing, all-wise, and everywhere at the same time.
2. But God has no need of a trial. God is everywhere, so he is witness to everything that people do. God doesn’t need a witness, because He is the witness. God doesn’t need to examine faith, because He has all the facts. He is, after all, all knowing. Therefore, God merely needs to capture those who rebel against Him. He is all-powerful, so that no one will escape His grasp. Once you have been caught, judgment is ready to be executed. The disobedient will be called before God, and He will read the verdict. That will bet he end of it.
C. There will be nothing to expect but angry wrath for those who fall into the hands of the living God.
1. Jesus Christ loves the church, and all of the people who are part of it. The church is his bride. He regards people who have accepted His salvation as his bride. When someone accepts salvation, yet flirts with sin, Jesus becomes a jealous husband. The raging fire is the burning anger of a husband who has learned that his wife is having an affair.
2. Anyone who has fallen into God’s hands will be in the hands of an all-powerful God whose anger burns hot. There is no hope for anyone who has fallen away from obedience to Jesus Christ.
D. The faithful will acknowledge that such a fate is fitting for those who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death after a proper trial. The law was meant to maintain order. It was meant to show the world God’s righteousness. There is nothing to feel sorry about when someone rejected righteousness.
2. But the gospel is greater than the law of Moses. The gospel is given freely. It does not put a heavy burden on anyone. Salvation is the product of God’s grace and mercy.
3. God paid the ultimate price to provide this wonderful salvation. He allowed His only son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death. What kind of person, who knows the great price that Jesus paid, who has benefited from the blessing that Jesus provided, would treat such a thing as “common” or “disposable?” God became flesh, God was put to death? Can there be anymore fitting of an end for anyone who rejects such as act of love except for eternity in fire?
Proposition: There is no escape from eternal punishment for anyone who lays aside their obedience to Jesus Christ.
Interrogative: In view of the dangers of falling away, how can a believer avoid falling away?
Transition: Our passage tells you what to do to make your salvation sure.
I. Dwell on what it feels like to be saved.
A. You knew that you were indeed in something great.
1. The world is full of pain, suffering, and loneliness. You had found true love.
2. You were committed to reach out to people who were suffering. And you did so because you knew where to find the answers.
B. You were so committed to the gospel that nothing would shake your faith.
1. You need to adopt the same beliefs and moral customs of everyone else, but now you are committed to doing what is right. Even if you were ridiculed for it, you would not back down.
2. You were part of the church, and you were going to stand up for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
C. Nothing else matters in this world except for Jesus Christ and pleasing God.
1. You were “there” to help another believer.
2. You were willing to give, even to part with material wealth in order to help believers.
Transition: It felt good to be saved, think about it, and that will help you press on in the faith.
II. Persevere in the faith; do what you did at first.
A. Confidence has to be maintained.
1. Confidence falters when people reject the message of salvation that you so eagerly embraced. It is incredible to believe that anyone would reject the Gospel. But, they do. Even a salesman has to bolster his confidence.
2. You maintain your confidence by reminding yourself that what the Bible says is true, and remember that because someone rejects it doesn’t make it less valuable. Gold is valuable because it is scarce and everybody wants it. Salt is cheap, even though everybody needs it to live, but it is so plentiful. Salvation is free, everybody needs it to live forever, therefore it is priceless. There are people who don’t want to live forever.
B. Perseverance leads to the promised reward.
1. You will get tired of the challenges that confront the Christian walk. You will tire of fighting with family members who oppose your faithfulness. You will tire of having your testimony rejected, or having people spurn your invitation to join you in church. These are natural attacks against your soul and body meant to wear you out.
2. Keeping your mind on the prize helps you to keep going. I used to run in an occasional competition. I always started a race with gusto, but the middle of a race was always an emotional struggle. My joints would ache, my side would hurt. I thought of many reasons to stop. I would get through it by counting down the distance left to go. The closer I got to the end, the easier it was to finish the race. The prize in eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ. I’m almost half-way there.
3. Keep in mind that there is no consolation prize for people who bail out. It is like a man who leaves his wife to be with another woman. If he repents afterward, can he expect God to bless his relationship? Faith is the moral, unshakeable conviction that God is righteous and just. Never forget that right is right, and wrong is wrong. Sin entices people with the promise of a little relief from the stress of faithfulness, but it is a scarlet poison of death.
Transition: Perseverance in your faith will also bring you even closer with the people of God.
III. Take pride in who you are in Christ. Be a believer in Christ.
A. The Holy Ghost makes believers into the most courageous and committed people on earth.
1. Cowards shrink back, out of fear of the world. A few times I have been told by believers that they are really spirit-filled, but they have to keep it “under wraps.” The Holy Spirit gives the spirit of power, love, and self control. Accept the move of the Holy spirit within you!
2. Cowards never preserve themselves. Whoever saves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus’ sake will find it. Cowards are people confused about who they are. They are something, but afraid to admit it. Christians, believers in Jesus Christ are never in the closet.
B. The Holy Spirit makes you a loyal citizen of a true and lasting kingdom.
1. I am American by birth. I am American because I was born in America. I had no say in the matter. But there is a greater kingdom to which I belong. And my kingdom is greater than my earthly government. I will obey my true sovereign, Jesus Christ, foremost. I believe in Jesus Christ as my lord, my king, and my Savior.
2. I believe the Bible, which says that when this age ends that Jesus will return and set up an eternal kingdom wherein righteousness will live forever. Those who reject salvation will not enter it. But I know that if I persist in my faith, and I will, I will occupy a place in that eternal kingdom.
Transition: Citizenship in the new world ruled by Jesus Christ is the privilege of all who remain faithful to Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
A. There are people who will come to accept Jesus Christ as their savior. They will take the goodness of God and experience the regeneration of their spirit. But, they will choose to commit sins. Jesus Christ is a jealous husband, and will not tolerate acts of spiritual “two-timing.”
B. People who are saved are tempted to fall when they grow tired of the struggle against their faith. When they are tired, they are vulnerable.
C. Though some people will abandon their faith, you don’t have to. You can remain faithful, even if you are tempted to fall away. Remember who you are in Christ, remember what it was like to be saved and keep going.
