"No Sacrifice for Sins is Left"

Our readings this week have brought us some difficult verses to dig into. For some, the verses are unacceptable, but for others they are a warning of the consequences of deliberate rejection of Jesus. Some would say that the scripture is dealing with those that only appear to have been saved, but never really were. Others say that the verses deal with those that were once saved, but have fallen away. What does the scripture actually teach? That should be our attitude as we approach any scripture. Prayerfully approach God’s Word with the desire to understand what He is communicating.

Our verses to consider are Hebrews 10:26-39. Take a couple of minutes to read through these verses a few of times.

The Hebrew writer is a Christian and he is writing to Christians, so when he says "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth", who is he talking about? Remember this is one Christian writing to other Christians, who is the "we"? Who has "received the knowledge of the truth"... non-Christians? "No sacrifice for sins is left" would indicate that at one time the person had been the beneficiary of "sacrifice for sins” if none is left after they "deliberately keep on sinning". And what is the result of the loss of this "sacrifice for sins"? He tells us plainly enough…."A fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." (v 27)

Difficult language to accept, for sure. As a Christian, I must understand that my willful rejection of Jesus, my deliberate decision to "keep on sinning" has consequences for me. The Hebrew writer tells us that the result of our decision to live in sin will result in the loss of the sin covering blood of our Savior. The Hebrew writer wants this to be perfectly clear to us, so he gives us a second argument with the same result. "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (v 29) We, the readers are confronted with the requirements of the Law of Moses for those that reject the Law. We are told they "died without mercy" (v 28). As this letter was written to Jews, this argument is taken from their understanding of the law. So what is he saying? Clearly, whoever this is, this person that "has trampled the Son of God under foot" is the same person that received sanctification through the blood of the covenant. Who has been sanctified by the blood of the covenant? Non-Christians?

Thankfully the writer does not leave us without hope. The writer tells us that we "need to persevere".  "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (v 35,36) Don't give up. Persevere in doing the will of God, and in the doing of it we will receive what He has promised. Don't quit living for God, don't quit living the Christian life and fall back into your sinful life and face God's wrath. Rather, remain faithful and God's reward is sure. He concludes the section of scripture with additional encouragement for us. "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (v 39) Some evidently did and will "shrink back" and that is a sad thing to see. No doubt, we have seen this happen in our churches and in our lives... people living a faithful life only to become entangled in sin again. What is the outcome? The writer tells us that those that shrink back, those that give up their faith will be destroyed.

In my talk with a friend today, we discussed how lightly sin is taken these days. I understand that we are immersed in a society that laughs at sin, but as Christians we must understand the seriousness, the consequences of sin. Sin put Jesus on the cross and sin will take untold millions to eternal punishment. Sin is serious business with severe consequences! May each of us determine to live Godly lives that reflect our Savior and may we persevere and receive what He has promised.