Continuing in willful sin after knowing the truth is a grave danger, as it leads to a terrifying expectation of judgment. This is not about committing individual sins but living a life indifferent to the truth once known. The unpardonable sin is the inability to authentically repent, which occurs when one persistently rejects grace and truth. The passage in Hebrews 10:26-31 warns that those who continue in such a path become adversaries of God, trampling underfoot the Son of God and regarding His sacrifice as common. This serves as a solemn reminder to examine our hearts and ensure that we are not treating the blood of the Covenant with contempt. [04:07]
"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are knowingly continuing in sin? What steps can you take today to turn away from this path and seek genuine repentance?
Day 2: Becoming Adversaries of God
Those who become adversaries of God are not merely sinners but have actively opposed God by trampling on the sacrifice of Christ. They treat the blood of the Covenant as common and insult the Spirit of Grace, showing a profound disregard for the sacred. This is a serious offense, as it reflects a heart that has turned away from the truth and rejected the grace offered through Jesus Christ. The passage calls us to recognize the gravity of such actions and to ensure that we are not guilty of treating the sacred with contempt. [06:48]
"Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:28-29, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on how you view the sacrifice of Christ. Are there ways in which you might be treating it as common or with indifference? How can you honor the sacredness of His sacrifice in your daily life?
Day 3: The Visible vs. True Church
The visible church includes both true believers and those who are outwardly sanctified but not truly transformed. The Bible often refers to the visible church as God's people, yet not all within it are saved. This distinction calls for self-examination of our faith's authenticity. It is crucial to ensure that our faith is genuine, leading to a life of perseverance and transformation. The challenge is to examine whether we are truly living in the light of the truth we have received or if we are merely going through the motions. [13:29]
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'" (Matthew 7:21-22, ESV)
Reflection: Consider your involvement in the church. Are you truly transformed by the truth of the Gospel, or are you merely participating in religious activities? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God?
Day 4: Outward vs. True Sanctification
The sanctification mentioned in Hebrews 10:29 is an outward, religious separation from the world, not the true transformation of heart described in Hebrews 10:14. True sanctification leads to perseverance, while mere outward sanctification can lead to judgment if faith is abandoned. This distinction emphasizes the importance of a genuine transformation of the heart, rather than simply adhering to religious practices. It is a call to ensure that our faith is not just an external display but a true reflection of a changed heart. [19:30]
"For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey. Is your sanctification merely outward, or is it a true transformation of the heart? How can you pursue a deeper, more authentic relationship with God?
Day 5: The Call to Repentance
The message concludes with a call to repentance, urging us not to scorn the blood of the Covenant or insult the Spirit of Grace. Instead, we are to receive the righteousness of Jesus, ensuring that our faith is genuine and leading to eternal security. This call to repentance is a reminder of the seriousness of our faith journey and the importance of living in the light of the truth we have received. It is an invitation to examine our hearts and ensure that we are not merely going through the motions but are truly transformed by the grace of God. [22:53]
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness? How can you embrace the righteousness of Jesus and ensure that your faith is genuine and transformative?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound warnings and truths found in Hebrews 10:26-31. The passage challenges us to examine the state of our hearts and our relationship with God, urging us not to treat with contempt the blood of the Covenant or insult the Spirit of Grace. The text warns of the dire consequences for those who continue to sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth. Such individuals face a terrifying expectation of judgment, as they have become adversaries of God, trampling underfoot the Son of God, and regarding His sacrifice as common.
The passage describes two groups of people: those who have become fit for judgment and those who once knew the truth but have turned away. The former are characterized by a willful persistence in sin, becoming adversaries of God, and treating the sacrifice of Christ with disdain. The latter were once enlightened, having received the knowledge of the truth, and were even considered part of God's people. Yet, their failure to persevere in faith reveals that their sanctification was merely external, not a true transformation of the heart.
This message serves as a solemn reminder of the seriousness of our faith journey. It calls us to examine whether we are truly living in the light of the truth we have received or if we are merely going through the motions. The visible church, like Israel, contains both true believers and those who are merely outwardly sanctified. The challenge is to ensure that our faith is genuine, leading to a life of perseverance and transformation.
Key Takeaways
1. Willful Sin and Judgment: Continuing in willful sin after knowing the truth leads to a terrifying expectation of judgment. This is not about committing individual sins but living a life indifferent to the truth once known. The unpardonable sin is the inability to authentically repent, which occurs when one persistently rejects grace and truth. [04:07]
2. Adversaries of God: Those who become adversaries of God are not merely sinners but have actively opposed God by trampling on the sacrifice of Christ. They treat the blood of the Covenant as common and insult the Spirit of Grace, showing a profound disregard for the sacred. [06:48]
3. **Visible vs. True Church**: The visible church includes both true believers and those who are outwardly sanctified but not truly transformed. The Bible often refers to the visible church as God's people, yet not all within it are saved. This distinction calls for self-examination of our faith's authenticity. [13:29]
4. Sanctification and Eternal Security: The sanctification mentioned in Hebrews 10:29 is an outward, religious separation from the world, not the true transformation of heart described in Hebrews 10:14. True sanctification leads to perseverance, while mere outward sanctification can lead to judgment if faith is abandoned. [19:30]
5. The Call to Repentance: The message concludes with a call to repentance, urging us not to scorn the blood of the Covenant or insult the Spirit of Grace. Instead, we are to receive the righteousness of Jesus, ensuring that our faith is genuine and leading to eternal security. [22:53]
What are the two groups of people described in Hebrews 10:26-31, and how are they characterized? [02:31]
According to the sermon, what does it mean to "trample underfoot the Son of God"? [06:28]
How does the sermon describe the difference between the visible church and the true church? [13:29]
What is the significance of the phrase "knowledge of the truth" in the context of Hebrews 10:26? [09:36]
Interpretation Questions:
How does the sermon interpret the concept of willful sin, and why is it considered so serious? [04:07]
What does it mean to treat the blood of the Covenant as common, and why is this seen as an insult to the Spirit of Grace? [07:25]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that sanctification can be merely external rather than a true transformation of the heart? [19:30]
How does the sermon explain the relationship between perseverance in faith and eternal security? [17:13]
Application Questions:
Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be treating the sacrifice of Christ as common? How can you change this perspective? [07:25]
The sermon warns against willful sin. Are there patterns of behavior in your life that you need to address to avoid becoming indifferent to the truth? [04:07]
How can you ensure that your faith is genuine and not just an outward appearance? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God? [13:29]
The sermon calls for self-examination of our faith's authenticity. What practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to regularly assess your spiritual health? [13:29]
Consider the concept of the visible church versus the true church. How can you contribute to fostering a community that encourages genuine faith and transformation? [13:29]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of repentance. Is there something specific you need to repent for today? How can you seek God's grace in this area? [22:53]
How can you actively avoid insulting the Spirit of Grace in your daily life? What changes might you need to make in your attitudes or actions? [07:42]
Sermon Clips
do not treat with Scorn the blood of the Covenant do not despise and insult the spirit of Grace that right now in this room is brooding over this people but rather repent yield and receive the ASB bestus righteousness of Jesus and clothe yourselves with it so that when you walk into the flame of Judgment at the end it will be like a vacation on the beach with the sun shining bright and not fire [00:00:06]
for whom is there no longer a sacrifice for sin get the question now and ask is that me for whom is there no longer a sacrifice for sins but only a fiery terrible expectation of divine wrath now the answer to that question is what this text is all about and it is given in two ways and we'll take them one at a time [00:01:25]
they go on on sinning willfully two words are very crucial here the tense of go on sinning present continuous action go on sinning and then this other word coming in to show you the kind of persons they become willfully willfully so there's a extent to it and there's a aggravation to it [00:02:57]
this text is not about any old particular sin that you might call the unpardonable sin many people have wrestled with this text what's the unpardonable sin here that goes beyond forgiveness it's not talking about a sin lust greed some terrible sexual thing you might do they're all forgivable [00:03:34]
the unforgivable sin is the sin for which you cannot authentically repent and that arrives in life when you willfully pursue against Grace knowledge blood Son of God sin do not presume that you may not cross it this afternoon do not presume that you have five years before you get to that point [00:04:48]
the fury of God's fire will consume the adversary Aries that's the second description of what people have become who are Beyond this they're not just people who sin here or there or fight in and out of lust or something these are people who become the adversaries of God [00:05:54]
they have trampled underfoot the Son of God the Son of God has appeared to them in some way in a sermon on the radio in in their Bible reading he has as it were laid himself on the ground as a sacrifice to be received as their substitute they have looked at him become a little bit religious and stepped on his neck to move on to sin [00:06:19]
they regard as unclean or common the blood of the Covenant unclean not quite the right word I don't think it's common ordinary nothing special nothing sacred nothing precious here and so many of them have come to church and they have stood or walked or sat and taken that little cup of the emblem of the most precious reality in the universe [00:06:55]
the spirit of Grace moves in this building every Sunday it's moving right now the spirit of Grace is brooding over this room right now you are here by virtue of the spirit of Grace in your life you you might sit there and say I've never never known the spirit of Grace how could I insult the spirit of Grace [00:07:42]
they are described surprisingly to our ears I think as God's people look at verse 30 to explain what's happening in Divine Vengeance he says at the end of verse 30 the Lord will judge his people now that is very important to understand the Dynamic of this text you must come to terms with the fact that this judgment this wrath this fire this anger is coming against my people says the Lord [00:10:29]
the process of spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ in verse 14 proves a genuine United heart to Christ however whatever it was in verse 29 simply exacerbates the Judgment when a person throws over his face so what could it be I mean what what what is what is this sanctification in verse 29 after which you can be lost [00:19:16]
it means a religious separation from the world as you draw near to the people of God and indeed to God it means an outward purification of Life Like Jesus said you cleanse the outside of the cup it's coming under the influence of the truth Sunday after Sunday in the reading and the preaching and the singing and the praying of God's word which has an inevitable moral impact upon people's lives who are not born again [00:20:02]