GOD DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE COMFORTABLE THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS YET CONTINUE IN SIN.
1 John 3:6-9—“Whosoever abideth in [Christ] sinneth not: WHOSOEVER SINNETH HATH NOT SEEN HIM, NEITHER KNOWN HIM. Little children, let not man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. HE THAT COMMITETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. . . . WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN. . . .”
John 8:31—“IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
The UNSAVED continue in SIN.
The SAVED continue in CHRIST’S WORD.
2 Corinthians 13:5—“EXAMINE YOURSELVES, whether ye be in the faith. . . .”
2 Peter 1:10-11—“. . . brethren, GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Sermon Text: Hebrews 10:26-39
The warning of verses 26-31 could be the most severe in all the Bible.
It is a warning against the sin of APOSTASY.
“For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth” (v. 26a)
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth” (NIV)
Apostasy is DELIBERATE and CONTINUAL sin.
This sin is not an ACT but a STATE.
It is committed AFTER a person has “received the knowledge of the truth.”
It is the sin of REJECTING CHRIST after a person has received the full knowledge of the gospel.
This warning is especially for those is verse 25 who had deserted the church.
Verse 39—“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
To “draw back” means to SHRINK BACK or to TURN BACK.
“Perdition” means DESTRUCTION. It refers to the destruction of hell.
I have taken my title for this message from the phrase, “we are not of them who draw back unto perdition”: TURNING BACK UNTO DESTRUCTION.
Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, is called “the son of perdition” (John 17:12). Judas is the CLASSIC APOSTATE.
I. THE DANGER OF TURNING BACK (vv. 26b-31)
A. Turning Back FORFEITS FORGIVENESS OF SINS (v. 26b).
“there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins”
When a person rejects the one sacrifice for sins, there remains no more.
B. Turning Back GUARANTEES SEVERE JUDGEMENT (vv. 27-29a).
“but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (v. 27)
The person who rejects Christ after receiving a full knowledge of the truth becomes God’s ADVERSARY.
For the person who turns back, there is something that DOES NOT REMAIN (sacrifice for sins) and something that DOES REMAIN (judgement).
1. This judgement is CERTAIN.
2. This judgement is TERRIFYING.
3. This judgement is MUCH WORSE than the judgement under the Old Covenant.
“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be through worthy. . . .” (vv. 28-29a)
Punishment under the Old Covenant was PHYSICAL DEATH.
Punishment under the New Covenant is ETERNAL DEATH.
The apostate deserves greater punishment for despising a greater message.
The Bible reveals that there are DEGREES of sin and punishment.
John 19:11—“. . . he that delivered me unto thee hath the GREATER SIN.” Judas’s sin was greater than Pilate’s.
Luke 12:47-48—“That servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. FOR UNTO WHOMSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL MUCH BE REQUIRED. . . .”
The apostate is destined for the Judas section of hell.
C. Turning Back INSULTS THE TRINITY (v. 29b).
1. It insults the FATHER.
“who hath trodden under foot the Son of God” (v. 29b)
The apostate treats the Father’s Son like dirt.
2. It insults the SON.
“hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing” (v. 29c)
“The blood of the covenant” is THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. Matthew 26:27-28—“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
“An unholy thing” means a COMMON THING.
What a tragedy to consider worthless the blood which cost Jesus the agony of becoming sin for us.
That which is of infinite value, the apostate counts as valueless.
3. It insults the SPIRIT.
“hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace” (v. 29d)
D. Turning Back ENDS IN ETERNAL DESTRUCTION (vv. 30-31).
Deuteronomy 32:35-36—“To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For the Lord shall judge his people. . . .”
Jonathan Edwards is best known for his Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God—the most famous sermon in American history. He preached in on Sunday, July 8, 1741, while ministering in tiny Enfield, Connecticut. When Edwards rose to speak, he quietly announced that his text was Deuteronomy 32:25, “. . . their foot shall slip in due time.”
Edwards spoke softly and simply, warning the unconverted that they were dangling over hell like a spider over the fire. “O sinner! consider the fearful danger. The unconverted are now walking over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that it will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen.”
Edward’s voice was suddenly lose amid cries and commotion from the crowd. He paused, appealing for calm. Then he concluded: “Let everyone that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom.”
Strong men held to pews and posts, feeling they were sliding into hell. Cries of men and women were heard throughout the village, begging God to save them. Five hundred were converted that evening, sparking a revival that swept thousands into the kingdom (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day).
“For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.” (v. 30a).
Isn’t the Lord a God of LOVE? Yes, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). But the Lord is also a God of JUSTICE.
Romans 2:4-6—“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds.”
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9—“To you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
“And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” (v. 30b)
In Deuteronomy 32 “his people” referred to the nation of Israel which was not all saved. Neither are all those who attend church saved.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (v. 31)
For the apostate, falling into the hands of the living God is a dreadful thing.
However, for the Christian, being in the hands of God is a comforting thing.
Psalm 37:23-24—“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: FOR THE LORD UPHOLDETH HIM WITH HIS HAND.”
John 10:27-29—“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and NO ONE IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER’S HAND.”
II. THE PREVENTION AGAINST TURNING BACK (vv. 32-39).
Some of the Hebrew Christians were tempted to turn back from Christ to Judaism, so the writer directs them to LOOK BACK, LOOK AHEAD, and LOOK UP.
A. LOOK BACK (vv. 32-34).
“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated. . . .” (v. 32a)
The phrase “after ye were illuminated” speaks of the time after they received the light—the gospel.
What happened in those former days?
“ye endured a great fight of afflictions” (v. 32b)
A “great fight” means a DIFFICULT STRUGGLE.
What kind of afflictions? Three kinds:
1. They had suffered VERBAL and PHYSICAL ABUSE.
“partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions” (v. 33a)
A “gazingstock” literally means a THEATER. This means that they had been made a PUBLIC SPECTACLE.
They had faced public ridicule and persecution.
2. They had suffered BY IDENTIFICATION WITH OTHERS WHO WERE SUFFERING.
“and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds” (vv. 33b-34a)
3. They had suffered THE LOSS OF THEIR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS.
“and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods” (v. 34b)
How did they handle their loss? “JOYFULLY.”
How could they react so positively? The end of verse 34 gives us the answer.
“knowing in yourselves that YE HAVE IN HEAVEN A BETTER AND AN ENDURING SUBSTANCE” (v. 34c)
They had the RIGHT PERSPECTIVE. They possessed a HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE.
They certainly had obeyed the command of Colossians 3:2—“SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.”
1 Peter 1:4—If you’re a true Christian, you have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU.”
The writer wants his Hebrew readers to look back and remember the faith they possessed during those difficult days of the past.
George Muller—“DIFFICULTIES ARE FOOD FOR FAITH TO FEED ON.”
Their faith had fed on their afflictions and they became strong in Christ. Now they should do the same in their present difficulty.
All of us here who are saved could probably tell a similar story of how we persevered through faith to get through a problem that seemed too great for us.
Don’t forget about that faith! Take it now and meet the difficulties of today!
B. LOOK AHEAD (vv. 35-37).
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (vv. 35-36)
F. B. Meyer—“DON’T MISS THE HARVEST OF YOUR TEARS.”
“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (vv. 37)
This verses speaks of the Christian’s blessed hope—the coming of the Lord for His people.
How does the coming of the Lord prevent us from turning back?
1 Corinthians 15:58—“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Romans 8:18—“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Looking ahead to the reward of your faith will prevent you from turning back.
C. LOOK UP (v. 38).
“Now the just shall live by faith” (v. 38a)
That statement sums up the Christian experience.
2 Corinthians 5:7—“WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.”
“but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (v. 38b)
God has no pleasure in those who turn back.
Looking up at God, desiring Him to be pleased with you, will keep you from turning back.
“But we are not of them who draw back into perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (v. 39)
The author is confident that those to whom he is writing are, for the most part, among the saved.
CONCLUSION
Bob Dylan, a pop music icon, made a public profession of faith in Christ with songs like “You’ve Gotta Serve Somebody.” Yet, now Dylan begins to get uneasy when asked about that ear of his life:
It’s not tangible to me. . . . I don’t think I’m tangible to myself. I mean, I think one thing today and I think another thing tomorrow. I change during the course of a day. I wake and I’m one person, and when I go to sleep I know for certain I’m somebody else. I don’t know who I am most of the time. It doesn’t even matter to me. . . .
. . . Here’s the thing with me and the religious thing. This is the flat-out truth: I find the religiousity and philosophy in the music. I don’t find it anywhere else . . . I don’t adhere to rabbis, preachers, evangelists, all of that. I’ve learned more from the songs that I’ve learned from any of this kind of entity. The songs are my lexicon. I believe the songs.
He seems to have turned back from identification with Christ, preferring instead to identify with the songs. Ironically, the cover of Newsweek in which the article appears carries a large picture of Dylan’s face and the proclamation, “Dylan Lives” (George H. Guthrie, The NIV Application Commentary: Hebrews, pp. 269-370).
Do you know someone who once professed faith in Christ but today seems to have turned back from Christ? Realizing the danger of such a person, would you pray for that person and even talk to that person about their commitment to Christ?
Or maybe there is one here who has not trusted in Christ. Don’t turn back from the doorway of salvation.
