“We Are Not of Them Who Draw Back”

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, 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, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? - Hebrews 10:26-29

    There are many who begin the race, but never finish, -- many who run well for a season, but in time fall by the wayside, -- many who, like Judas, Demas, and Diotrephes, seem to be stalwart examples of faith and faithfulness, but at last deny the faith, forsake Christ and his people, and make shipwreck of their souls.

    These facts, so often illustrated in Holy Scripture and verified by observation, cause great concern in the hearts of men and women like us who struggle with sin. True believers are often like the true apostles of our Lord. – On that night when he announced that one of them would betray him, those whose hearts were true quaked with fear, saying, “Lord, is it I?”

    After reading the warnings given to us in this tenth chapter of Hebrews against such apostasy, when we read verse 39, we have reason to shout with joy and thanksgiving to our God who keeps us by grace. – “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

    This last section of Hebrews 10 was written specifically to encourage us in perseverance; and the source of encouragement is the assurance that true believers shall persevere unto the end. The righteous shall, indeed, hold on his way. Christ’s sheep shall “never perish.” Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ. God’s elect shall persevere unto the end, because we shall be preserved and kept unto the end by God’s almighty, immutable grace.

    Apostasy and Willful Sin

    Once again, we have here a word against apostasy. In verses 26 and 27, the apostle describes what apostasy is. This description must be understood in its context. Here the Holy Spirit clearly makes apostasy to be connected with the forsaking of Christ, his gospel, his church, and the worship of God in the assembly of his saints.

    These verses are perverted by many in their attempts to prove that true believers can be lost - that people who commit sin after being saved by the grace of God are lost. That heresy is so totally contrary to the Scriptures that it needs no more refutation than the teaching of reincarnation. Yet, an incorrect interpretation of this passage has caused great distress upon many genuine believers. The fact is, honest hearts, burdened with a sense of inward sin, realize that all of our acts of sin are, to one degree or another, willful acts.

    This is what the text means. -- After a person has embraced and professed the gospel of Christ (and particularly the great truths revealed in this chapter: that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only and all-sufficient High Priest of God’s elect, that his blood is our only effectual atonement, and that his sacrifice is the end and fulfillment of all the types and shadows of the law) -- and yet, against all evidences, light, and revelation, willfully denies the sufficiency of Christ and the efficacy of his sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice for sin; there is no other Savior! There is no help for him, no hope for him, but only a certain fearful judgment awaiting him eternally. There is no going back to the Mosaic law, rituals and ceremonies. So if anyone willfully turns from Christ, there is no hope! (Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 3:11).

    The willful sin spoken of in verse 26 is the abandonment of Christ, his gospel, his worship, and his people. It is going back to the law, going back to works religion, -- going back to the world.

    That is exactly the way this apostasy is described in verses 28-29. God gave the law to Israel by Moses. Anyone who rejected God’s law or set at naught the rules and sacrifices of the law was put to death (Deut. 17:1-6). While the tabernacle, temple, and ordinances of the law stood, they were binding upon the people. If God poured his wrath upon those who made light of the types, think how severe his judgments shall be upon those who reject and make light of the precious blood of his dear Son! A return to circumcision and ceremony is turning away from Christ! It is bringing contempt upon the Son of God and the gospel of God’s free grace (Gal. 5:1-4; 4:21).

    We must not shy away from the very strong words the apostle was inspired to use in describing what this apostasy involves. -- It is treading under foot the Son of God. -- It is counting the blood of the covenant, wherewith a person has been outwardly sanctified (by the profession and practice of religion), a unholy, common, ordinary, meaningless thing. -- It is doing despite to the Spirit if grace.

    Awaiting Judgment

    Those who abandon Christ and the gospel of God’s grace and glory in him never knew him. Nothing awaits them but wrath and judgment (vv. 30-31). “They went out from us because they were not of us.” Such people, those who choose will-worship, circumcision, works and law in the stead of the revealed Christ, have every reason to expect the wrath and judgment of God to fall on them (Deut. 32:35-39). It is a fearful thing to incur the wrath of the eternal and living God (John 3:36). Ask Noah’s generation, the inhabitants of Sodom, or the sons of Korah. -- “Be not high minded, but fear” (Romans 11:21-22; John 3:35-36).

    Assurance

    In verses 32-34, the Holy Spirit calls us to remembrance. To encourage us in perseverance, to encourage us to go on in faith, trusting Christ, even in the face of great temptation and opposition, to hold to our confidence in him and not be disturbed and discouraged by false prophets, ceremonialists, and legalists (who would rob us of liberty in Christ and take us away from the simplicity that is in him), Paul urges us to remember the early days of faith when we endured mocking, ridicule and affliction.

    When you left the world to walk with Christ, the world did not allow you to leave peacefully; but you knew that in heaven you had a family, an inheritance and an everlasting glory, even if you lost everything here. The people you lost for Christ's sake are nothing compared to the family you have gained. The comforts, pleasures and fame of the world are nothing but soap bubbles. The glory of heaven is eternal.