I have watched the sermons of many pastors, hoping that one could make plain the warnings contained in the Book of Hebrews, but seeing that all discussions of the book are not consistent within, I settled on the one that says it's written for the saints in the tribulation.
Hebrews can be a daunting book, but like every other book it can be understood, both in doctrine and application, like any other book: fervent study.
It must be kept in mind that this is an Epistle written by a Hebrew to Hebrews who lived in the first century. But like all we have been given in the New Testament, it has great relevance to Christian Doctrine.
In regards to "making plain" the warnings, this is one of the reasons many do not study the book: false teachers have wrested these amazing teachings to teach loss of salvation—and that scares people! I know it scared me, lol, when I began my study. But I began that study because I wanted to know the truth, whether Eternal Salvation was real, or if it was in error. I am happy to announce that my studies not only find the Book of Hebrews affirming Eternal Salvation, but we find the most incontrovertible statement of Eternal Security within Hebrews.
Consider:
Hebrews 10:26-29 KJV
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
The L.O.S.T. (loss of salvation teachers) have taught this statement as meaning "...if Christians continue to sin there is no more sacrifice for them," or in other words...they will die in their sins and end up in Hell. The problem they have is ...
... this is in direct contradiction to what the Book is teaching.
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries.
28
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 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?
"Moses law" is a reference to the Covenant of Law, a huge theme in Hebrews. What the Writer (and ultimately the Holy Ghost) is speaking about are those who have rejected the Gospel of Christ. Sure, they were among those gathering. They professed, at least for a time, that Christ was Lord. But the willful sin is not sins (plural), it is sin, singular.
Note in v.28 the reference to those who rejected Moses' law, or, the Covenant of Law, or, as it is generally called...the Law. This is a reference to those from the previous economy, the economy in which relationship with God was through the Covenant of Law. The Writer is contrasting those who rejected the Covenant of Law with the New Covenant, as noted in v.29. They are rejecting ...
1. Jesus Christ;
2. The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ;
3. The Death that ratified the New Covenant, and by implication ...
4. The New Covenant;
5. The Comforter. The Spirit of Grace is the same Spirit taught in the rest of the New Covenant, and the rejection is the convicting ministry of the Comforter, Who has as a primary focus the intent to convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Of sin—because they (those He ministers to, natural men) believe not on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:7-9).
Note that those who reject Christ, His Death, His Covenant, and the ministry of the Holy Ghost—have no other sacrifice they can turn to for salvation. While "another sacrifice" might not be relevant to those of us in this century, it was extremely relevant to the Jew who had all his/her life offered up the sacrifices of the Law. The sacrifices of the Law
did in fact bring about remission of sins, but that remission was temporal and temporary, that is why they needed to be offered over and over (and over and over and over ... ). The Writer has just made this point in the beginning of the Chapter:
Hebrews 10 KJV
1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things,
can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
The sacrifices of the Law could not make perfect those offering them, because they could not take away sins. Perfection is a reference to completion, so what he is saying is that those sacrifices could not make one complete in regards to remission of sins.
Now see the Sacrifice that does:
Hebrews 10 KJV
10 By the which will
we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
We are sanctified once for all by the offering of Christ, and we are made complete in regards to remission of sins ...
... for ever.
Now how one goes from that clear statement of Eternal Security to "Christians will lose their salvation is they keep on sinning" is not so mysterious. The L.O.S.T. seek to keep men enslaved to fear and deny them the hope they have. If we are not fully trusting in Christ for our salvation then we simply are not trusting in Christ. And that is one of the Book's intents, to instruct Jewish believers that they cannot maintain the Law, and that relationship with God is now through Jesus Christ and the Covenant He has established. That is the intent behind Christ's teaching of "The True Vine." He is and always has been the means of relationship to God.
Again, this would have had a significance to a first century Jew that does not apply to us. They were still offering sacrifices. That they needed to be redeemed from the Law would have been a hard lesson for those who had been born and bred under the Law.
Galatians 4:4-6 KJV
4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
My advice would be the same I followed when I decided to study Hebrews. I heard a preacher say, "Before I presume to teach out of any Book, I read it fifty times." I set about to do that and before I had gone through it ten times it was beginning to make sense, and it is now my favorite book.
Good luck with your studies!
God bless.
