Today’s Bible Reading:
Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10
Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:
Topic: Backsliding
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:26-31
26 If we
deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
no sacrifice for sins is left, 27
but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume
the enemies of God. 28
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two
or three witnesses. 29
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? 30 For we know him
who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The
Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb 10:26-31 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
This is an ominous warning. Can a Christian—one who has
repented and received Christ as Savior—lose their salvation by committing sin? This
passage seems say yes to that question. The writer of the book of Hebrews has
very lucidly explained how Jesus, as our High Priest, has fulfilled the law of
sacrifice for sins. In Christ there is no longer any need for yearly sacrifices
of atonement for our sins because He has offered Himself by the shedding of His
own blood once for all (see yesterday’s journal entry). Therefore, it follows
that if one willfully rejects Christ after having once accepted His sacrifice for
their sins, there will not be any other sacrifice; “no sacrifice for sins is left” (v. 26).
The language used here is important. Notice that the
implication is not directed to believers needing to fear losing their salvation
if they make mistakes or stumble. It is directed to those who “deliberately keep on sinning.” The
language is explicit: those who willfully, willingly, voluntarily, deliberately
choose to turn their backs on all they have received, all they have been given,
all the truth they have learned and acquired, are essentially repudiating
Christ’s sacrifice for them.
APPLICATION:
Does this mean that when a Christian backslides there is no
longer any hope for them? I don’t think so. God’s love and grace are boundless.
The danger lies not just because one backslides, but when one chooses not to
repent, not to ask for forgiveness, and rejects living in and for Christ. To do
so is insulting to the Spirit of Grace; it is like trampling the Son of God
under foot and treating His blood as unholy (v. 29). The result for such: “…a fearful expectation of judgment and of
raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (v. 27). When does
someone reach that point? That is a judgment left only for the perfectly just
Judge to determine.
Eternal life with the Lord in heaven is available to
everyone. Why anyone would choose to lose paradise I cannot fathom.
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord for the gift of
eternal life to come and abundant, meaningful life today. Forgive me my sins each
and every day along the way as I confess them to You and strive to live my life
in and for You. With all my love and devotion through Christ. Amen. –AP
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