I would like to do a proper breakdown of Hebrews 10:26.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. Hebrews 10:26
I have seen this verse used many times as an argument for why one can lose their salvation.
I am not here to debate if “once saved – always saved” is true. I won’t even entertain the argument on this post. This post is not meant to sway you one way or another.
I am just over here walking out my own salvation.
What I am saying…this verse needs to be removed from the argument.
This verse in no way says that if you sin often, the blood of Jesus won’t cover you.
It really doesn’t.
I can understand why one would think that. I remember lamenting over that verse when I first read it. I didn’t yet understand how critical it is to read scripture in its proper context.
I am forever grateful that someone with really sound theology broke it down for me in a way that I could digest.
I am going to attempt to do the same here.
The first thing we have to do when reading any book of the Bible is look at who the author is.
Hebrews Author: Unknown (not helpful)
No one knows for certain.
Some say the Apostle Paul.
Others say, Barnabas.
A select few say, Priscilla. (Get up off the floor, it’s gonna be okay. It’s just a theory.)
Traditionally, Paul the Apostle was thought to be the author. However, since the third century, this has been questioned, and the consensus among most modern scholars is that the author is unknown.
One of the mysteries of God.
When was it written?
The best guess is 25-30 years after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. This was the timeframe held by the early church fathers.
Now let’s take a look at who this book was written to.
The book is called Hebrews because it was written to Jewish converts. Not the Gentiles but SPECIFICALLY to the Jewish people. This is important and we will review why in just a bit.
So the audience was Jewish Christians who are believed to have been living in Jerusalem.
The author is trying to build up their faltering faith. This was most likely due to the very strong Jewish influences in the city and their families. It could also be because of threatened persecution.
Recap of Hebrews:
• Jewish Christians falling back into their old Jewish ways.
• The Hall Of Faith (one of my favorite parts of this book) the audience is challenged to remain faithful to Jesus, who is greater than all the former (Jewish) heroes of the faith.
• The Supremacy of Christ
• Perseverance in Christ, especially in the face of persecution.
The author of Hebrews encourages the “Hebrew Church” not to return to the old covenant practices and to remain in the new covenant established by Christ.
Now let’s get to the verse in question because it will make a whole lot more sense.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
The Author is addressing that the people have been sinning willfully, then performing animal sacrifices and saying “Okay, that sin is covered, so now I can sin some more.”
The author now issues a warning….
If believers, who have the knowledge of the truth, trample under foot Jesus’ sacrifice by considering Christ’s sacrifice as insufficient (by doing animal sacrifice), then go on sinning willfully, they can expect judgment from God.
In the context of this chapter, the Author is not writing that we can lose our salvation.
If that were the case – the parable of The Prodigal Son would be null and void.
If that were the case – we are saying that The Power of The Blood has a cap.
If that were the case – we are saying that God does in fact hope that some will perish, when He, Himself said He hopes NONE will perish.
All believers still struggle with their sin nature in this life on earth.
Have you thought anything less than honorable and loving about another person this week?
Then you are a murderer.
Unless of course you are covered by The Blood of Jesus.
Brothers and Sisters the entire Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 is made up of SINNERS made righteous by CHRIST!
Long story short, in this verse the author is saying….
“Stop killing the goats and sheep and return to the true gospel! You can’t just sin and kill your goat and then carry on like a sinner! The animal blood no longer covers your sins. Repent and return to Christ!”
And that my friends is what that verse actually means.
Let me close out this post with two things….
1. The entire Bible was written for you. But the entire Bible wasn’t written to you.
2. Roman’s 6:1-6
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
We are no longer slaves to sin, death, hell, or the grave because we believe ON Christ. Yes, you will know a tree by its fruit. However, some fruits take longer to mature.
To learn more about Heidi and her Kingdom passion, visit Kingdom Come Home
Featured Image by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
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