Today we will see more of how the law was laid down only to set the stage for Christ and his sacrifice. If we didn't know we needed salvation, then how would we know what it was when we found it? This is the question that the law answers, as it tells us the need we have for Christ's sacrifice. As we see in the beginning of Chapter 10 the sacrifices made in Old Testament times were not enough to truly absolve one of sins because they needed to be constant. Only the blood of Christ was good enough to end the system of sacrifices.
"11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." – Hebrews 10:11-14
It is enough, but what happens if we continue to sin once we accept this precious gift? Here in Hebrews 10 we begin to see the divergence of the word as we get an explanation of what happens when we turn our backs and continue to willfully sin once we accept the gift of Salvation. This is like intentionally turning your back on God. There are consequences to these actions and they will not go ignored. That is not to say we are perfect once we do accept Christ. Even a true believer in Christ can become lost and lose their way. Because of a relationship with Christ we can come back in repentance and get back on track. No one is perfect. God has promised to not turn his back on us as long as our faith is genuine.
"26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" – Hebrews 10:26-29
Does this mean there is no salvation and that we can fall away from God's love once we have accepted it? I am not the person to answer that, as there are differing schools of thought on this. Personally, I believe you can actively rebel against God and still commit sin knowingly, but I also believe that it is impossible to fall away from His love. To me His love is so deep and so pure that He will pursue you even through your own sin. He will fight to bring you back into the fold of His love if You have already once called upon His name. From my personal experience I know that I have often knowingly fallen short of Chrsit's glory even after I have accepted Him into my life. Each time though he has never given up on me and though there have been consequences, some of them dire, He has still been there and brought me back to the correct path.
"35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." – Hebrews 10:35-36
To me this tells me why we must persevere even in the face of our own sin. When we first receive Christ there is a boost of confidence, but being human it quickly fades as we learn to walk in His light instead of our own. God eventually teaches us that we can stand in His confidence even after our own early confidence fades away. There is a certain peace and joy that comes from this, but it takes a long time to go. That is where perseverance comes in.
TODAY'S QUESTIONS:
- Is it possible to fall away and lose your salvation?
- What does it mean to have confidence in the Lord?
- Even after you receive Christ what do you still need to work on?
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