For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 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? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10: 26-31 (NKJV).
As has been the case throughout the book of Hebrews, the writer follows each promise with an earnest plea for the reader to take heed and to listen. He has presented Jesus Christ as Superior to the Prophets, superior to the Angels and as the Great High Priest who can wash away the sins of all who will come to Him for salvation. Now, comes the warning once more, “Oh, do not neglect to come to accept Him as your Savior.” The writer knows, as do I; that some will hear the truth of the gospel and will walk away. Some will say, “there are many ways to God and I am a spiritual person; while in their hearts rejecting the only means of salvation—Jesus Christ.”
Anyone who believes that Jesus was merely a prophet or good man “tramples the Son of God underfoot.” There are those who wish to be politically correct by saying, “Well, there are many ways to God—following Christ is only one of many”. The ones who proclaim that are counting the blood of the covenant as though it meant nothing—when for Jesus it was everything. Those who have heard the gospel, have felt the urging of the Holy Spirit and have refused to surrender their heart-have effectually insulted God’s Grace toward them.
All too often, even as Christians; we fail to mention the truth of God’s Righteousness and Justice. God hates sin. Sin separates us from Him and the purpose for which we were created!! We were created so that God might pour out His abundance of love and joy upon us. He wishes to share with us His Glory. We have no glory of our own; but, He wishes to shower us with His!! Our self-centered, self-exalting hearts stand in rebellion to this. There is no greater evidence of God’s wrath against sin than the fury lashed forth upon His own beloved Son as He suffered and died in our place. To think that there could be any other means of Salvation other than through Jesus is like spitting in the face of God!! Were there any other means in heaven or earth to provide salvation to mankind, Christ would not have died!! Anyone who has heard the gospel and has refused to accept it as the only way of salvation, falls into the hands of a living, breathing God’s Wrath for all of eternity.
In order for me to understand the magnitude of Grace and the price that Jesus paid for me; I must understand the magnitude of God’s Wrath against sin!! Jonathan Edwards lead a great revival in the 18th century with one of his most famous sermons being: “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God.” In this sermon, Edwards points out the truth of God’s Wrath against sin and that it is merely grace that steadies God hand to wait. God pours out His Common Grace upon all the world as He Waits to give men and women the opportunity to come to Jesus as their Savior.
“That the reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God’s appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost. The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. “There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God.” By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God’s mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment”- except from Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards.
We must never look lightly upon Grace as though it were something so common and insignificant. I pray each day that I might be ever mindful of the Grace that has been given me and never take it for granted.
I would be amiss if I did not point out one more fact. Do these verses suggest that those who are saved can lose their salvation? No!! Remember the covenant purchased by Christ?
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”[c] 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:14-17 (NKJV)
[bctt tweet=”For all those who reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus there is only left God’s wrath.” username=”effiedarlene”]
Instead of a song today, I urge you to listen to this video by John Piper. Love Jesus More than Anything
Picture used by permission from https://unsplash.com/@repponen The inscription I added
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.