A FEARFUL THING

Hebrews 10:26-39

If we sin willfully or deliberately it is fearful thing because there is no more sacrifice to be offered for our sins.  The writer has already addressed this idea in Hebrews 6:4-6; “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

Here he refers to the ones who have received the knowledge of truth, and turn away, while earlier he refers to the once enlightened, ones having tasted the heavenly gift, partakers of the Holy Spirit, having tasted the good words of God and the powers of the age to come; it they have done this and fall away there is nothing left to bring them back. 

Remember this entire writing is addressed to an audience who were being tempted to leave Christianity and go back to the Old Covenant.  He warns them early to “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;” (Heb. 3:12) These Christians were in danger of committing the deliberate sin of apostasy.  Apostasy is the falling away from God’s truth.  To receive the knowledge of the truth and to reject it is to give up on the only way of salvation.  There is nothing left. 

What the person who once knows and turns away has to look forward to is a fearful expectation of judgment, a fiery indignation, and a devouring.  Judgment will not be a pleasant thought for that person.  A person that is once a faithful believer and turns back can only look forward to a fire that will consume God’s enemies.  That is a fearful thing!  “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (2 Thess 1:7-8) “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”  You do not want to be in that group against the Lord!

The entire study of Hebrews has revealed to us the significant superiority of Christianity over the Old Covenant.  We are truly blessed to be living in the time after Calvary.  There is no comparison.  But even under the Mosaic Law the punishment for disobedience was severe.  Death was pronounced at the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Ex 21:15-17"Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death."Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death. "Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.” It is very serious business to fall into the hands of the living God.  And if the punishment was strict and serious under the inferior law of Moses, how much more serious will it be for one who transgresses under the New Covenant of God’s Son? 

What is one doing when they turn back from God, having been enlightened, having come to a knowledge of the truth, and returning to their old way?  They are trampling the Son of God underfoot.  When you turn back, you are putting into contempt everything that God’s Son did and stands for.  That is a very fearful thing to do!  You are treating the crucifixion at Calvary as a common event and that the special blood that was shed on the cross; that set us apart, as a common thing.  What a fearful thing to do!  Thirdly by turning away you are insulting the Spirit of grace.  If one willfully turns away from God they; “have trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace.” ‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”

As evidenced throughout the NT and especially noted in the book of Hebrews, there are frequent quotes from the OT.  The author uses two quotes from Deuteronomy to remind that judgment will be; “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” says the Lord and “The Lord will judge His people.” Believe and do what you may; choose to turn away but you will answer for what you do.  There is a day coming and it will be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.”

Jesus would tell us in Luke 12:4-6 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” 

Then the writer of Hebrews tells the original readers to be reminded of the former days when they were illuminated, when you were enlightened, when you received the light of Jesus Christ into your life.  So as he did in the first discussion of this matter in Hebrews 6; the writer encourages the readers after pronouncing a serious statement of truth.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but just remember how it was when you first believed.  Recall those former days and avoid the temptation of turning away from God’s way.  It is probably a good thing for us to spend time in reflecting on how close to God we were at one time and make sure that we have not digressed from that closeness.  We should always be on an upward path of growing closer to God, because it is a fearful thing to fall short.

The original readers were reminded to remember the struggles and sufferings they endured in their early days as followers of Christ.  And if they did not suffer directly themselves, they had companions who were made spectacles by reproaches and tribulations.