Hebrews gives a number of warnings. If God’s grace is irresistible, why bother with a warning?
“So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? …” (Hebrews 2:3 CEV)
Can Christians harden their hearts?
“do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:8 ESV, cf. 3:15; 4:7)
Some believe that a true Christian cannot fall away. What does the Bible say?
“Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.” (Hebrews 3:12–13 HCSB)
Is the Bible a guide to the thoughts and intentions of our own hearts, bypassing even our own self-deception?
“because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions. No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 CEB)
Is it possible to taste the heavenly gift and still fall away?
“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” (Hebrews 6:4-6 ESV)
Is spiritual laziness a problem?
“... do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12 NKJV)
Is it possible to deliberately sin after knowing the truth?
“For if we deliberately sin 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 about to consume the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 HCSB)
What about those who treat Jesus’ blood flippantly, as an unholy thing?
“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 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?” (Hebrews 10:28-29 KJV)
Should Christians fear God?
“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.” (Hebrews 10:30-31 NASB)
Can we have confidence in God?
“So don’t throw away your confidence—it brings a great reward.” (Hebrews 10:35 CEB)
Does Christianity involve lifelong commitment to live by faith? What about those who shrink back into the ways of the world?
“And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” (Hebrews 10:38 NLT)
Should we see God’s chastening as a loving act?
“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him” (Hebrews 12:5 KJV)
Can we fail to obtain God’s grace? Can bitterness bring us down? Can we sell our heavenly birthright cheaply?
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” (Hebrews 12:15–17 ESV)
Can we refuse God’s instructions?
“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.” (Hebrews 12:25 NASB)
What is one thing that too many forget about God?
“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29 KJV)
Are there angels among us? Are we hospitable to strangers?
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)
Fads and unbiblical traditions of men fill the Christian community. What should we beware of when something sounds new or is not specifically taught in the Bible?
“Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.” (Hebrews 13:9 WEB)
What should we never forget?
“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” (Hebrews 13:16 NLT)
Let’s heed these warnings not to harden our hearts, fall away, become sluggish, deliberately sin, discount Jesus’ blood, turn away, despise God’s chastening, sell our heavenly birthright as cheap, or get carried away by strange teachings. May we always remember to do good and live by faith! You decide!
