What about Hebrews' Warnings
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Hebrews 2:1-3
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26-31
Five times in the book of Hebrews, the writer warns his readers about the dangers of abandoning the Christian faith.
Three of these passages are often used by those who want to prove that you can lose your salvation.
We can’t possibly study in depth the book of Hebrews, but we definitely should address these verses.
Also we need to remember that no verse was written without a specific purpose in mind.
Due diligence is necessary to find the original meaning and intent in order to rightly divide the Word of truth.
The writer of Hebrews doesn’t come right out and tells us the purpose for the book of Hebrews, but in all probability, it was written to help the Jewish Christians that were tempted to fall back to the Jewish traditions.
This is just based upon the content of the book.
The author continually emphasizes that the Old Covenant is obsolete.
That would mean nothing to a gentile audience, so the Jewish audience makes much more sense.
Not only that, but he uses many references from the Old Testament to prove his points, with the assumption that these scriptures would carry a great deal of weight to his readers.
He emphasizes multiple times in the book that a concern that his audience would walk away from their dependency on Christ and return to their old traditions.
After all, many of these Jewish Christians faced severe persecution and opposition because of their faith.
Insults
prison
confiscation of property
sometimes even death.
Because of this pressure... some began to drift away.
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
So the writer of Hebrews challenges them pointing out Jesus’ superiority over the Old Testament prophets, the angels and even Moses himself.
Then he argues for the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over Melchizedek or Aaron.
He demonstrates the pre-eminence of the new covenant over the old.
He then challenges his readers to remain faithful in light of those who have gone on before them and follow their example of faith.
In the midst of all these arguments he gives these five warnings to not drift or fall away from their Christ alone stance and their faith in Christ.
Often these warnings are used to try to prove that those who go to live a life of sin have lost their salvation.
But this is not the obvious intent of the author.
It certainly doesn’t fit the context of this book, or these passages.
They were not leaving for a life of sin, they were leaving for a stricter, the less free rituals of Judaism.
So let’s look at these three warnings that are used to prove you can lose your salvation and let’s see them in this light.
Careful not to take them out of their context.
I. Warning 1: No Escape
I. Warning 1: No Escape
Hebrews 2:1–3
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
The author of Hebrews has just finished a very convincing argument over the superiority of Christ over the angels.
This concept may be foreign to us — that anyone would think that angels would be better that Jesus— but the Jews had a great respect for the messengers of God.
Now he begins a strong word of warning.
Give the more earnest heed …to the things they have heard.
Don’t let them slip!
The author of Hebrews says how much more responsible are we, who have Jesus revealed to us, than those who had the word spoken by angels.
First the author speaks of
A. Slipping Away
A. Slipping Away
This Greek word addresses his audience like a teacher who sees a student in their class drifting away from the topic.
He doesn’t want their focus to be drifted away from the subject matter.
In verse two the word “for” is the “or else” of the statement.
Pay attention or else...
He compares the consequences of Slipping away from the words of angels to the consequences of slipping away from the words and revelation of Christ.
To paraphrase, “If you think it was bad for those who ignored God’s message when it was communicated through angels, imagine how it is going to be for men and women who ignore a message that comes directly from His Son!”
The Word spoken by angels is generally understood as the Law as given on the Mountain.
the Jews in the early church were very proud that the Mosaic Law was given to them by God, through angels.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Even in Deuteronomy there is a reference to this:
2 And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, And rose up from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And he came with ten thousands of saints: From his right hand went a fiery law for them.
But the author is pointing out, yes Angels were used by God then, but now God himself has spoken and shown us the truth through Christ.
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
He is saying that if the law, which came by way of angels, clearly laid out penalties for those who disobeyed, the penalty will be much greater for those who disobey the commands of the Son of God!
The author then is kind of vague, he tells us the punishment is greater, but doesn’t explain what the penalty might be.
This has led people to fill in the blanks with their eternal salvation being in danger.
If the author knew this would be the penalty, why in the world would he be so vague about something so big as the loss of salvation.
B. Apples with Apples
B. Apples with Apples
Again remember the context of Hebrews - He is challenging his hearers to stay with their practice of Christianity and not go back to the bondage of the Law.
If what is meant here when he compares the slipping away from the law, to the slipping away from Christ is loss of salvation…then any violation of the Mosaic Law would have always mean lost of salvation.
But the truth is the breaking of the Mosaic law in no way jeopardized one’s eternal security.
It came with punishments, or as stated here “a just recompense of reward”.
But no where did the breaking of the law bring loss of their salvation.
If you broke a Mosaic Law you had a punishment.
Anywhere from paying a fine to losing your own life.
But the recompence of reward was always temporal in nature, not eternal.
If you do not gain heaven by keeping the law, then you cannot miss it by breaking it.
It will come with punishment and even loss of reward, but it is not what sends anyone to Hell.
To interpret these verses as a loss of your salvation is to completely misinterpret the author’s point altogether.
Just as Old Testament believers were chastened when they drifted away or disobeyed the law, so New Testament believers would be chastened as well—only greater.
Because we are responsible for what came directly from the Son.
This is the point of this passage…When a believer begins to drift away from the teachings of Christ, it is only a matter of time until the loving hand of God goes to work to get their attention.
This can be through sickness, accidents, sermons, songs, confrontation by a friend or loved one, the loss of a loved one, etc.
Many times even the natural consequences are used by God to get our attention and bring us back.
Let’s move forward to the second warning that is used to try to prove loss of salvation.
II. Warning 2: Falling Away
II. Warning 2: Falling Away
Hebrews 6:4–6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
These verses are used more than any other to support the idea that you can lose your salvation.
A. Takes It Too Far
A. Takes It Too Far
At a glance you could maybe see their point.
But unfortunately for those who do not believe in eternal security these verses seem to go a step further than they want to believe!
If these verses are talking about losing our salvation there is no hope of ever being saved again!
“It is impossible…to renew them again unto repentance.”
Most would not agree with that interpretation.
Realistically it cannot mean loss of salvation.
Not to mention we cannot take one passage and ignore all others that say just the opposite.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Keep in mind the audience this was written to:
These were primarily Jewish Christians.
The author was not concerned about them falling into a life of sin, but falling back into the Law…turning away from Christ as being all that they needed.
He wanted them to come to the realization of who Christ is, the ultimate High Priest, the once and for all sacrifice for sin.
B. Not Taken Far Enough
B. Not Taken Far Enough
Some interpret these verses as speaking of those who are not saved, having had a light of the truth given to them, the Holy Spirit convicted their heart, they have tasted of the good word of God…but they did not truly believe.
Jesus spoke of this in His parable of the soils.
Some seeds fell on stony places, and they sprang up but did not have the depth of soil to really grow, and were scorched by the sun because they had no root.
Some fell among thorns but as soon as they sprung up the thorns choked them out.
They tasted the truth, but did not come all the way by faith, and they fell away.
Those who have done this…it is nearly impossible for them to come back to God by repentance.
They have heard that Christ died for them, they were convicted of it, but did not come by faith…the author likens their coming back to this kind of readiness...to needing to crucify the Son of God again.
It’s not impossible, God can do all things, but it is very difficult.
C. Not Taken Literally
C. Not Taken Literally
Another interpretation of this passage relies on the word “if” in verse six.
“If they shall fall away.”
Those that hold to this second interpretation say that the author is giving a hypothetical statement: “If a Christian were to fall away” - they would need to crucify Christ again in order to be saved.
Knowing that this is impossible seeing his previous statement in:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The argument uses the absurdity that Christ would have to be crucified again and again if the hypothetical statement were true.
The only problem with this argument is that the word “if” is not in the original language.
Many argue that it is understood in the language, but it makes it difficult for a textual argument.
However the point still stands without it, just not as strongly as the first interpretation.
Either way, many passages make it abundantly clear that salvation is eternally secure!
So we must look to interpret these passages in light of all of Scripture.
Let’s look at the third of the warnings that are used.
III. Warning 3: No More Offering
III. Warning 3: No More Offering
Hebrews 10:26–31
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.
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?
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.
Again, Isolated from the context this warning can seem to prove their point.
A. Too Late for Forgiveness
A. Too Late for Forgiveness
Assuming for just a moment that they are correct, these verses would lead us to the conclusion that any intentional or willful sin that we commit would eliminate us from being able to be forgiven.
There is no more sacrifice for sins.
But verses prior say,
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Jesus is out of the sacrifice business!
The next time he comes he will not come as a sacrifice, but as a judge.
If this verse teaches that those who willfully sin lose their salvation, then it teaches that salvation is lost forever.
I have not met any Christians who believe that.
B. Too Late for Reward
B. Too Late for Reward
In the verses leading up to this warning, the author encourages his audience to follow through with their commitment that they made to Christ, considering all that Christ has done for us!
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
He then declares
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Then he applies the principles within them:
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The day approaching is the second coming of Christ and the Judgment Seat of Christ.
But he challenges them to live a life for Christ not as one who will forgive them, but as one who will judge them.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The coming judgment is the motivation for godly living, not fear of loss of salvation!
All of the Christian’s actions and deeds will be tried by fire!
The fire is not connected with punishment, but judgement.
He continues and says, “if you think it was bad for those who despised the law, imagine how bad it will be for those who despised the Son of God, and counted the blood an unholy thing.”
The author is pointing out that our willful sin is a great insult to the shedding of Christ’s blood, it is an insult to the Holy Spirit of Grace who saved us and leads us.
We are going to give an account of ourselves to God!
We will not face eternal damnation, but we will face judgment and loss.
all the works that we have done will be burned to ashes.
It will have been for nothing!
The believers who live for themselves and give little or no thought to the things of God will find themselves in a very terrifying place.
Hebrews 10:31
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Conclusion
As we can see, although these passages cannot be reconciled with all the rest of Scripture to mean that you can lose your salvation…there is much at stake here!
We need to take heed to those things we have learned, and not let them slip!
We have been given the full revelation of God by Jesus Christ himself, the Son of God…not just by angels.
With a greater messenger and greater revelation comes greater responsibility to follow!
Christ has paid an awful price so that we can have salvation, we must truly be willing to serve Him with everything we have.
Father’s let me speak to you for a moment!
Your children are looking at you!
Your grandchildren are watching you!
You will give an account for every time you lead them astray from God’s Word in your actions, your speech or in the things that you love more than God.
This third warning is given to remind us that we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day!
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
All the deeds that we have done will be judged by fire, not the fire of punishment, but the fire of judgment!
Will we suffer loss, or will we be rewarded?
It is up to you!