Confidence Isn’t Always Easy

Hebrews 10:26-39

¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let 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. ²³Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

²⁶For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ²⁸Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹How 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? ³⁰For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ³²But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ³⁷For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; ³⁸but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” ³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

After the stirring words prior to this reading (vs. 19-25) the author offers up some stern warnings. God is not to be trifled with or disregarded, for the penalties are stiff. These words are written for the believing community, not those who have  yet to come to faith. And thus, he begins with the word “For”. This section is a continuation of the words we read yesterday.

For every believer, the words “if we go on sinning deliberately . . .” may strike fear in the heart. We all know with certainty that we continue to sin. But that is not exactly what the author refers to. Here we find someone who is thumbing their nose at God, willfully daring God to condemn their behavior. That is a piece of dangerous turf, for God will take you up on that taunt. I am reminded of the question parents ask all the time when their child has misbehaved. “Why did you do that?” And what is the consistent response? “I don’t know.” The child knows they have done wrong, but explaining it would be difficult, for they did it foolishly or thoughtlessly. We don’t grow out of that tendency. We still do things every day that are thoughtless or foolish – but still sinful. This is not the situation the writer to Hebrews is discussing. The sins mentioned here are willful, spiteful, and malicious.

Now the writer asks the readers to consider what their own response to that situation would be should they be placed into the role of judge in the holy courtroom. In verse 29 he places into the text “do you think”. This is a clear invitation to place ourselves into that role of judge and hand down a ruling. We wouldn’t allow blatant rebellion even as fellow sinners and so, neither does a holy God. He is justified in His ruling against such sin. The interesting dynamic here is that for such a sinner, there is no longer any recourse. They have rejected the sacrifice made for them by Jesus – which was the final sacrifice. There is no where else to turn. The old sacrificial system is gone, and Jesus is all they have left. No wonder it is a devastating choice.

Finally, we are encouraged yet again to hold fast to our confidence in the Lord and in the saving work of Jesus. There will be pain, disappointment, and seemingly endless struggle. Sometimes, it seems as though we must stand back and watch injustice prevail. But this passage promises that God sees it all. He will be the final Judge and all things shall be made right. That “right” may not happen as we want, hope, or believe is good. We are not confident that things will turn out the way we want them to. Instead we are confident in God. His wisdom is perfect and His plan will prevail – every time.