” The Conclusion of Our Study – Essential Of Faithfulness Heb 10:26-39…”
In Hebrews 10:1-39, we find a text that is dedicated to warning professing Christians of their need to make certain they are the recipients of God’s grace. Let us all take time to carefully study this passage and then apply these truths to our lives. This could make the difference between spending eternity with our Lord and spending eternity in the Lake of Fire.
We are to NEVER make uneducated, flippant assumptions about our spiritual condition….
Matt 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
THE SCRIPTURES:
Hebrews 10:26-39
THE STUDY:
The Conclusion of Our Study – The Essential Of Faithfulness - Heb 10:26-39…
(26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
If we believe He cleansed us from our sins, how can we willfully choose to :
- NOT draw near to Him wanting unhindered fellowship and leading of our lives? (vs 22)
- NOT hold fast a consistent profession of our faith for others to see and hear? (vs 23)
- NOT care and love our spiritual family (vs 24)
- Forsake the assembly of His people by rejecting the meeting of His church and denying the promise and hope of His second coming? (vs 25)
After receiving the truth of His salvation and the need to be living witnesses for Him, to choose to desert these teachings is proof that the sacrifice of Christ had never been applied to our sins. It is clear that we have never been saved, in spite of what we may have believed about our spiritual condition.
All we have to look forward to is fear as we receive a sentence of eternal punishment that will be shared by all those who are opposed to Christ.
(28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (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?
Of those who rejected the 10 commandments were sentenced to death in the OT, how much greater punishment can we expect if we have heard the truth, claimed to be a follower of that same set of truths and then apostatize (reject what we had claimed to have once believed).
In doing this, we are stomping Christ into the ground; calling His shed blood impure and of no value; and done insult to the ministry of the Spirit of grace. In other words, we have willfully counted as worthless the doctrines we once claimed to believe.
(30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
How can we know, with certainty, that we are headed for eternal punishment when we reject that which we claim to possess? We must simply remember Christ’s position as judge and His attribute of justice.
The Lord makes it plain that He will:
1. show Vengeance - vindicate Himself while punishing wrongdoing.
2. make Recompense – to repay in like kind
3. Judge – to render decision to punish fairly
When we recognize His position as impartial judge over all, we should fear Him realizing that we all will be held accountable for our profession of faith. Was it a genuine, gracious intervention by our Lord or an outward hypocritical declaration coming from the lips of sinful man?
Someday we all will face a living God who will justly judge our profession of faith in comparison to our life that was lived.
(32) But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; (33) Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. (34) For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
It is explained that a great encouragement to hold fast to our profession of faith is found in our remembrance of our previous faithfulness to Christ. The Jewish believers faced great times of persecution at the hands of their enemies and, yet, they remained faithful to the Lord.
Also, they showed great concern for others who faced persecution as well, by giving of their possessions to other persecuted Christians. They did this because they realized they had far greater riches awaiting them throughout eternity.
(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
They were to remain confident of their salvation and continue strong in their service to Him. All they needed was patience. It would be then that they would receive the blessings of their Lord. They were to realize that Christ was soon to come and help those who were facing persecution and opposition for their faith.
(38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The outstanding characteristic of one that is genuinely saved is that they live their life by faith. This includes continually trusting in the truths of God they have heard, learned and experienced in their lives. Trusting in their Lord will become a way of life. Their life will be characterized by an attitude of trust as they live their life for Him.
If any man draws back from his faith, becoming apostate, God will have no pleasure with them. This truth was affirmed in the Old Testament and now being referenced in the New Testament as well (Ezek 18:24).
For those who have received the authentic salvation that proceeds from our Lord they will continue on to the salvation of their souls. Their consistent life of faithfulness will be their proof they have been saved and therefore, will receive their souls salvation in the last day.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
The preceding verses gave us ample information to make a Godly judgment concerning each of our lives. In this posting we have come face to face with the principle we find in Ezek 18:24…
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Let us all make sure our faith is a living, consistent, continuing faith. For a professing Christian this is the most important question that he can seek to answer.
May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.
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May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
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