The writer of the Book of Hebrews is warning the Jewish Christians that if they, after understanding the wonderful provisions God has made for us through Christ, having tasted the Holy Spirit, the good Word of God, and powers of the age to come, then go out and sin willfully, they have left the covering of the blood of Christ. God has no more to offer them. Their future is one of fear of the Divine indignation.

Isn't this the same idea found in Hebrews 6:4-6?

Remember, we are still addressing the beloved, the holy brothers. We have not suddenly jumped to the unsaved, for goodness sake!

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 10:29)

I will not become angry. I simply refuse to get mad.

You see, I have had trouble in my ministry because Christians refuse to accept such verses as the above, claiming they apply to the unsaved. I get mad!

Now I am old and should not get angry. Also, I have no business getting mad at people just because they do not understand what God has said. Right?!

Dearly beloved, we understand that the context precludes a sudden jump to an unsaved audience.

However, let us look at what it is saying.

"Hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing."

Now I ask you. Are we speaking of an individual who at one time had been holy because he had been covered by the blood of the covenant? Does the tense of "was sanctified" suggest that at one point he or she had been a believer?

I think so. Grrrrrr.

What will happen to this former Christian? He will experience "sorer punishment." Right? Right! Yea for our side. Sorer than what? Sorer than the individual who despised Moses' Law and died without mercy under two or three witnesses. He was in fact stoned to death. But our sinning Christian will experience a sorer punishment than that of being stoned to death. After all, he has insulted the very Spirit of grace!

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. (Hebrews 10:30)

The Lord shall judge who? "His people." Not "mere professors," or the recipients of hypothetical situations, but His people!

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)

You got it? His people! The Lord shall judge His people!

Oy!

The next few verses reveal that these Jewish Christians were seasoned veterans of the faith. This is why their falling away from Christ was such a serious matter.

For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. (Hebrews 10:34)

They were not spiritual babies.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35,36)

Can you see how the above verse follows our primary themeùthat the Book of Hebrews was written to seasoned Christians, exhorting them to pursue Christ and warning them against falling away?

To be continued.