A Terrifying Expectation

Hebrews 10:26-31

Introduction

1.      The writer moves from “confidence” to “warning”

2.      In the Old Testament, the Jews had the mount of blessing and the mount of cursing

3.      Adam and Eve had the garden of Eden and the tree that could bring death

4.      In the New Testament, there is heaven and hell  

Discussion

1.      The danger of willful sin

a.       There are sins unknown to be sin at the time committed and there are sins of which we are aware while committing them  

b.      Consider what he has just said about “forsaking the assembly”  

c.       When he speaks of “If we go on . . .” there is the suggestion that he is not considering “one time” offenses, or even occasional offenses, but those that are committed regularly and often  

2.      The danger of insulting the spirit of grace

a.       Consider the phrase, “Don’t insult my intelligence”  

b.      The “spirit of grace” is God’s tendency, or propensity, to forgive offenses against Him  

c.       Paul has something similar in mind in Rom 6:1  

d.      The seriousness is contemplated in the phrase “trampled under foot the Son of God” and “has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified”  

3.      The Lord will judge His people

a.       This has to be considered in its context of “If we go on sinning willfully”  

b.      Confirmed by Peter – 1 Pet 4:17  

c.       Confirmed by Paul – 2 Cor 5:10  

d.      Judgment often means “condemnation”  

Conclusion

1.       The writer’s use of “we” means that the warning is aimed at Christians, not unbelievers

2.      There is no unconditional eternal security

3.      There are promises of blessings and there are obligations to be met in order to enjoy those blessings