HEBREWS 10:26-31 THE FOURTH GREAT WARNING TO CHRISTIAN BRETHREN IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS 

We have previously brought out the realities of Christ’s two-part Atonement application (Matthew 28:19–20 that answers to its two teachings). Firstly, that of the wondrous welcome into the Holiest Place, and that through the one–time event of justifying faith in the uniting of faith with truth; confessing the need and receiving the gift of eternal life; (Luke 1:77) for which there is no further offering necessary. This assurance of debt paid is the act of the justifying Judge, Who after reviewing the charges brought against me finds me, the accused sinner, not guilty before the Law. The Atonement Blood of Christ satisfied the demands of the Law, in that what Christ did was imputed to my account. I reckon the Divine law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the penalty of the law of sin and death. I am dead to them because my Substitute died to satisfy them. I reckon myself dead to them, for I have been crucified with Christ, and in newness of life, in a newly made way, alive unto Christ.   

And the second part of the Atonement being the ongoing necessity of the sanctifying faith application, (1st Thessalonians 5:23… “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”) that of enlivened conscience directing unto minding the things of the Spirit/spirit through the renewed mind to Christ’s Words. Being unto fruitful and loving obedience, with confessions of ongoing shortcomings and sins in Heaven at the throne of grace. And that for granting mercy and grace in order to hold fast the shield of faith and not fling it away in patience lost, to finish the race, to battle, to overcome the flesh, to attain unto His promises and incomparable reward in the coming kingdom of Christ.  

And this great two–part Atonement is offered to the Blood–sprinkled and sealed Believer as an expression of loving obedience by the Son of God to the Father. And in the presentation and realization of this great Atonement, is the intent of full salvation for the recipient. There is an ongoing loving response by us expected by the Father as seen in previous verses.  

The Holy Spirit then turns and leads us immediately to the 4th great warning of the Book of Hebrews VERSES 26-31, that of the Father’s severe judgment response that should be anticipated as a fearful prospect to the sealed child of God in Jesus Christ (not for the babe in Christ). The prospect for harsh punishment awaits those more mature believers who were thoroughly enlightened and with intimate knowledge, who then willfully and willingly (as opposed to willfully and unwillingly) commits awful adversarial type sin. For God has just indignation for this type of person’s willfully committed sins, who is thereby guilty of critically abusing His Son’s ultimate selfless sacrificial offering. This severe warning is directed and warranted against the vacillating Hebrew Christians (and all other Christians down through time) that they might continually be fearfully alert and that they may steer clear of those destructive rocky shallows that threaten to sink their boat.  

Here in the Book of Hebrews is Scriptural example of willful apostasy of once zealous and faithful Christians, but in the face of long standing persecution are now wavering. This is the same warning warranted for the end–time believer waxing into like coldness due to wavering wholeheartedness because of ever increasing iniquity. (Matthew 24:9-12…“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”) The same warning extending to those critically appraising the goodness of the Father in the complacent Church of these end times. (Revelation 3:16… “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”) This warning is an amplification in intensity of the same warning of Hebrews 6:1-8, as it is a warning presented from the deeply offended Father’s viewpoint. (Jesus becoming the first accusing Witness in the sprinkling, and the Holy Spirit in the sealing Ephesians 1:13–14, becomes the 2nd Witness Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16. This Law of God concerning the need for 2 witnesses transcends both testaments.) 

READ ALONG. In HEBREWS 10:26-31 is the fourth of five direct great warnings in the Book of Hebrews…  

“For if WE (Paul includes himself) sin willfully… (sin and maintain a position of sinning (Greek) this high handed / presumptuous position of being “saved”– see  Numbers 15:30–31) …after we have received the truth, (experiential knowledge; where faith met truth in Christ’s Atonement) …there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins… (note the implication that there is an ongoing need for offering for forgiveness for Christians who sin “unwillingly” and unmaintained after having been saved) …But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (This is exampled in the Old Testament, which we shall look at in a moment, and predicted in the New Testament where He here threatens those fires on those who refuse the sanctifying offering of the second application of the Atonement of His Beloved Son, and that He will surely perform.) 

He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (Contrast Numbers 15:22-28 with Numbers 15:30-36. The first set of verses refers to the iniquity of sinning ignorantly, which is vicariously transferable by blood sacrifice, while the second set of verses refers to the iniquity of willfully and presumptuously sinning. This iniquity is non–transferable to the innocent animal… “his iniquity shall be upon him.” Which speaks to the grave point being made here; there is sin that cannot be expiated in the Gospel which this now before us examples/demonstrates.)  “Of how much sorer punishment, (what could be more sorer than torturous death provisioned in the Mosaic Law?) 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, (made it vain …“the sow that was bathed has returned to its wallowing in the mire”  be it overtly/openly or covertly after having been justified and sealed, is now representing Christ’s Blood impenitently/without remorse and treating it as but common blood) and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (despite meaning outraged; being here insulted, the Holy Spirit again personalized, being the purveyor of truth and grace rejected, sent by the Intercessor to His redeemed {John 16:14}. This callous sin exceeding that of grieving but falling short of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit {Matthew 12:31}, as it is Christ and His Blood that is being here discounted. These Two Witnesses then, Christ and the Holy Spirit, bring charge, where pity is forbid.) 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. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  The Father is not Love only, He is also “a consuming fire”. He is the Judge Who shall render to each according to His works. Here Paul draws the analogy for both peoples or groups of God to be judged (Deuteronomy 32:35–36 with 1st Peter 4:17), but the New Testament group stands in much loftier light and position, and so the offense becomes more heinous, in that His Beloved and Highly Exalted Son should be thus treated justly ignites the Father’s indignation. (We are judged harsher because we have been given more light and more capacity to overcome by His indwelling Spirit, but we spurn the Blood that has more efficacy than the discounted blood of bulls and goats.) 

Together both groups are subject to His present and future judgments. Every word we say has a recompense of reward or punishment. Having received the free gift of eternal life, Christians are judged as to the prize. For God expects a certain level of participation for those have been given the Divine nature that equips them to attain unto the prize. Those who attain have not spurned the 2nd application.  To whom did God give His Commandments on Mount Sinai? The unregenerate Egyptians? No, to His redeemed People. And to whom did Christ give His Commandments on the Mount of Olives? The unregenerate? No, His disciples. Then to whom was/is the responsibility for keeping (and penalty for not keeping) those commandments addressed to? Thus, in the Old Testament types alluded to here by Paul, is the clear implication for Christians of the fearsomeness of falling into the hands of the living God. The Old Testament allusions of fearful judgment and fiery indignation are found in Numbers 16 in the experience of Korah & Dathan and his company. These Christian Hebrews, to whom Paul addressed this Epistle, were on a similar disastrous course. In that the Israelites in Korah’s rebellion, resisting and refusing to continue to follow their High Priest and Redeeming Leader; Moses, the offense was met with the earth opening up and they went down alive into the pit/Hades. And fire came out from God and consumed 250 of them, whereby it was shown that “…these men have provoked the Lord.” This most fearful typical warning and example of the provoking of God, and falling into the hands of the one Who holds “..the keys of Hades and of Death” was brought home to the mind of these Hebrew Christians.   

This grave sin is not entirely unlike that sin of Adam. Adam, who had been in intimate relation, and sin being willful; in that Scripture declares he was not deceived, as opposed to some unwilling, or unwitting remorseful sin reluctantly committed in the weakness of the flesh. But it was deliberate, with intent and forethought. It is from this original sin that it is supposed was the basis from which Christ’s Words with similar warning to His followers came thousands of years later: “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and *wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth ambassadors, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”  [Luke 14:25-35]  (*Adam had willfully sinned, probably not wanting to forsake his wife, and suffered great loss, for there was not made any provision to come back into full restoration with God.)  

It is the sin typed in that of Nadab and Abihu, the man in Numbers 15:30-36 who “despised the word of the Lord” by gathering sticks on the Sabbath, Eli the High Priest, Dathan and his followers, Korah and his followers, Ananias and his wife, Esau… 

The question then, that begs an answer, is what is the sorer punishment? Whatever the punitive affects, they are described here as inescapable, as there remaineth no more sacrifice or offering of remission for it. Such as may be somewhat exampled in David’s wicked sin with Bathsheba, for which there was no remission for those sins; murder or adultery, under the Law of Moses. His life was therefore demanded. Yet, because of his contrite heart and the promises of God to him in relation to Christ, God exhibited forbearance / set aside his sin short of forgiveness (Romans 3:25) and spared David’s life. But in spite of this; the apple of God’s eye, the one seen as a forerunner type for Christ, experienced severe punishments for his crimes that followed him all of the remainder of his life. (2nd Samuel 12)  The principle established is that a child of God, redeemed by the Blood of Christ, yet whose willful sins have no grant of remission, that is to say done with an high-hand, even when contrition and sorrow is expressed when the seriousness of our actions are discovered to us, yet “his iniquity shall be upon him.” He shall not escape these sins. (In Acts 17:30, Paul talks about how in times past, God winked at sins done in ignorance, but now we shall not escape the weight of our offense.) His sins shall overtake him, though God passes over him the fullness of the severity of the penalty due the offense. 

In the case of the apostatized Christian, the treading under foot the Son of God afresh, Whose Blood had ransomed him and set him apart, he now willingly abandons. This is an offense far exceeding that of David’s. The severity of punishment could conceivably demand eternal death, but because of God’s great love and respect unto His Son’s Atonement Blood, He sets the sin aside; that is to say …“…through the forbearance of God.” This forbearance of God is based upon the heart of the one who sins. And although the saved offender shall be spared the extreme warrant of penalty, eternal death, he shall but hardly escape, as his punishment shall be severe / “sorer.” God’s loving forbearance; in either the Old or New Testament is not the setting aside of His Justice and Holiness, for His forbearance is conditioned by punishment in accord with this un-remittable sin, its weight of offense, this crime being severe, so is the punishment. 

To comprehend this is to comprehend the principles of Christ’s Redemption set forth in this chapter, that redemption cancels the penalty of eternal death unconditionally on everyone that is sealed by the Holy Spirit in Christ’s Blood and is then a child of God. And furthermore, provision is provided for forgiveness and complete remission of ongoing remittable sins, but it does not assure the more enlightened and knowledgeable Christian unconditional forgiveness of all his ongoing sins, and the consequences of his willful ongoing/maintained sins. But on the contrary, Scripture sets forth both the principle of forgiveness for ongoing sins in the Atonement of Christ through repentance and ongoing judgment for unrepentant sin. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (See also 1st Corinthians 11:25-33 which talks about judging yourself so you do not eat and drink the body and Blood of Christ unworthily and bring ‘damnation’ to yourself. Also see 1st Peter 4:17. The subject of chastening judgment shall be taken up in greater depth in chapter 12.)   

This crime warned of in Hebrews is great, being described as adversarial behavior expected of God’s adversaries, not His children. Its punishment is described as fearful and fiery. What “sorer” punishment is contemplated here? Christ lays before us the warning possibility, so in line with the course on which these Hebrew Christians have charted: “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” [Luke 12:4–5]  

These Hebrew Christians were fearing man because of their persecutions. Paul had to remind them in verse 31 of Hebrews 10 that it was a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul (a reference to the first death): but rather fear him which is able to destroy both the soul and body (a reference to the second death) in Gehenna.” [Matthew 10:28] (Gehenna being a reference to Hades in the center of the earth and its different locales. Hades or Sheol with different locales being more vividly described in Luke 16:19-31). These verses set before the ‘saved’ Christian disciple the sure possibility of punishment after death, as does that reality which Matthew 25:30 & 24:50–51 has in view.  

There are those in modern day Christendom who have thought that God is so merciful and His words of grace so encompassing, who later wander outside the house sealed with Passover’s Blood. They have the idea that because they are His people, in Christ, this allows them to lay all responsibility of sanctification upon the Most High. These have not seen that God warns believers against tempting Him, or that responsibility goes hand in hand with privilege. They have, in their religious reasonings, eliminated the possibility that Christians are accountable for their sins in any meaningful way, and have, to their own shame dangerously proclaimed that Christians are forgiven all their sins; past, present and future. (Because of this presumptuous declaration, they exempt those who believe this teaching from the Kingdom of Christ. They have only taught the application of the 1st part of the Atonement. See Matthew 18:6 for the fearful possibility of consequence for those who put such great a stumbling block before the young/newly redeemed in Christ.) Many teachers in Christendom have tried, be it so weakly, to assign the crime and sorer punishment here in Hebrews 10, as reserved for those who are merely professing Christians or Jews. But then there is no question of “…how much sorer punishment suppose you…”  to ponder for them.  

And equally undiscerning are those Christians who have decided that one who has been truly redeemed, may afterwards lose his gift of eternal life. For them it is an easy answer to say, “…these have in the end lost their salvation once gained and their fate will be found to be in the eternal Lake of Fire.”   

But many who have rightly allowed the Scriptures to mean what they mean, regardless of religious predisposition and prejudice, have reconciled the Scriptures (as science has reconciled the two forces that hold this earth from spinning off into space).  They have understood the two parts of the Atonement which is often obscured to the nominal or denominationally indoctrinated Christian. That truth being that there is the gracious gift of eternal life on the one hand and the prize of faithfulness in service with promised eternal inheritance on the other hand. In understanding the difference between the gift and the prize, all the dots are connected and the scriptures work in harmony with one another. They understand that their applying the Blood is not the fullness of salvation. It is comparative to Israel being redeemed by the blood/saved out of Egypt, but not obtaining possession of the Promised Land, which only comes by fighting and overcoming.   

Now even with these who have gained the knowledge of the gift and the prize, there is division, in that some, in lack of knowledge, oppose the Scriptural Truth of the necessity of a future resurrection out from among the dead, in that they have decided that Scripture (mainly three; 2nd Corinthians 5:6, Ephesians 4:8, and Philippians 1:23) proves all Christians when they die go directly to Heaven (albeit they must grant without their bodies) and are welcomed into the immediate presence of God (a view foreign to Christians for 500 years after Christ’s ascension (2nd Timothy 2:18) a belief and doctrine that sets itself  against the truth alluded to by Peter in Acts 2:34a. It is a view that asserts all Christians are essentially glorified at death, without their body and thereby are not, themselves, in need of resurrection, save their bodies, which they foolishly say answers to the resurrection. They effectively do away with the ancient Scriptural doctrine and promises of the First Resurrection out from among the dead as a reward for faithfulness in service. (Luke 14:14, John 5:28, 1st Corinthians 15:23, Luke 20:35, Philippians 3:11, and Revelation 20:5–6) And since all Christians go to “Heaven” at death, into the very manifest presence of God, it would be inconceivable, having obtained that glorious state (and that without body), that at some point later they could be subject to any of the punishments detailed throughout Scripture for unfaithfulness by Christians in service while upon the earth. This great error sets itself in array against Scriptural truths of sure realities of penal punishment for the unfaithful Christian at Christ’s Return and or after death. And if there be any such thing as punishment or chastisement of God on His Children, it is thereby limited, to this present life on the earth, in that whatever the possibilities this sorer punishment represents, according to this popular Christian doctrine, it then must be administrated before death.  

But to those Christians who have gravely pondered the question, directed by the Spirit of God and who have rightly discerned the Word of God, that the Father should be feared; for lesser or sorer punishment such as these verses represent, He can and surely will inflict both here on the earth while alive and continuing upon the soul after death on those so determined. They have pondered the question and escaped the web of deception in the leaven of Rome and Protestant reform, and have seen the Truth of Hades’ present realities, in that all mankind still go there upon death and there await resurrection. Where the judgments (as well as the comforts) represented in Scripture may be carried out upon Christians so determined as deserving of whatever this sorer punishment represents, thereby extending beyond this life into the afterlife, albeit the fearful and fiery punishment aspect must most assuredly is of a temporal kind relating to abatement after a certain determined time. For loving parental penal punishment always has a purging corrective end in view; although  “sorer” judgments undoubtedly will also carry an aspect of eternal consequence of loss… (See 1st Samuel 3:12-14, Matthew 12:31–32, and Matthew 5:19) 

“Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.”