Turning Back Unto Destruction

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)