Hebrews 10:26-39 NKJV
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,” 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 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 me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves 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 He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the 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 perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:26-39 serves as both a solemn warning and a steadfast encouragement for believers in Christ. In these verses, the writer of Hebrews addresses the danger of willful sin and the necessity of enduring faith in the face of trials and persecution.
These words carry a profound reminder of the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice and the assurance of salvation found in Him alone. The writer begins by cautioning against the deliberate rejection of Christ’s sacrifice for sins. To willfully continue in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth is to trample upon the grace of God and invite His righteous judgment. Such a stance disregards the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and demonstrates a lack of reverence for the blood of the covenant.
Yet, amidst this sobering warning, there shines a beacon of hope. The writer reminds us of our past endurance in times of persecution and suffering. We are urged not to cast away our confidence in Christ, for it holds a great reward. Through faith and patience, we inherit the promises of God, just as our forebears did.
We find solace in the assurance that God is faithful to His promises. Even in the face of trials and tribulations, we can trust in His unchanging character. He who has promised is faithful, and He will sustain us through every trial.
As we journey through life, let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering. Let us encourage one another in love and good works, spurring each other on toward love and good deeds. For the day of Christ’s return is drawing near, and He will not delay in fulfilling His promises.
Therefore, let us live by faith, trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross. In Christ, we find the strength to endure, the grace to persevere, and the hope of eternal glory. May His Spirit empower us to live lives worthy of the gospel, shining as lights in a dark and broken world.
Let us pray: O God, you gave your Holy Spirit to your apostles. Give your faithful people what they ask for in their prayers so that those you have given faith may also receive your peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.