Lesson 20
Hebrews 10:26-39 New King James Version
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has 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?
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” g]says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But recall the former days in which, after you were h]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on i]me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your j]goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves k]in heaven.
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while, And Hel] who is coming will come and will not m]tarry.
38 Now then] just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who draw back to o]perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
First Impression?
Back to difficult stuff
26-27 – If A, then not B, but C and D for E. – But a certain fearful expectation of judgement. Is this the same as being 100% positive and 100% scared of judgement?
• Eventually decided that the verse could be talking about people who reject Christ living without care about the outcome of their lives or Christians not living the life God wants for them.
28 – This was always my hang up with the law. Two people or even three might get together and lie. How does one live in a world where truth is so impartial?
• Live know that only God’s truth matters and any suffering because we rest on His truth is gain.
29 – How does one even being to imagine such a punishment?
• We cannot possibly understand this level of rejections true damage without being God. Only He can know.
30 – Is this judging the same judging that we are not to do? How is it different?
• No. God is looking at the heart in its truth and we can only see the output.
31 – Is the path to salvation along this recognition of fearful repercussions, or is salvation not a process?
• We decided that there are aspects of accepting Christ that are beyond our ability, but understanding the negativity of eternal damnation is probably not required to want to love Jesus.
32-34 – Does this paint a picture of the mature Christian finally putting self-respect in his past?
• We are to lose ourselves to Christ, but we are to maintain a sense of the value He has that he died for.
35 – Confidence leads to a reward. – How important is this reward?
• We did not get here, but I waffle on the need to serve to be rewarded.
36 – enduring, doing, receiving – A promise. Is this a promise we look forward to earning?
• Probably not with the tremendous zeal it deserves.
37 – Will not tarry – The book I am reading that has a similar eternal perspective as does the Bible, how does your yearning to be with Christ and your desire to wait patiently weigh in your heart?
• I think they are two weights on the end of a balance. Neither can outweigh the other, but both are beneficial.
38 – What does draw back mean in this verse?
• I believe it is talking about people who reject Christ and are never saved after hearing about Him.
39 – Perdition – What is that? And do you have to believe in a soul to be saved?
• I had to look it up. The two questions seem to be unrelated. Again I bring up the potential for a list of things you must understand to be saved, but again, I think love for Christ is sufficient.