Believers Beware (Heb. 10:28-29)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 05-19-03

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Believers beware

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 10:28-29

 

            Message of the verse:  “28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”  (NASB)  “Anyone who refused to obey the Law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy.  Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.”  (NLT)

            In verse 28 the writer is getting his information from Deut. 17:2-7 which talks about a person who deliberately sins and is then punished by stoning.  I still believe that the writer is speaking to believers in this passage; however I still believe this passage has an application to those who are unbelievers and are considering the Christian faith, but then after they understand it turn away from it without receiving forgiveness in Christ Jesus for their sins. 

            The question is whether or not a believer can get himself into such a mess as described in these verses, can a believer trample under foot the Son of God, and do some of the other things described in these verses?  My answer is that I do believe that it is possible for a believer to do such things, because of the sin nature or flesh that they have within them.  If a believer continues to follow the deeds of the flesh then he can get himself into a position where he will do some of the things that are described in this passage.  Now the question is what will happen to this believer who does these things?  Paul deals with this issue in 1Corthians where he speaks about some people who have died prematurely because of sin.  (See 1Cor. 11:30)  1John 5:16 says this:  “ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.”  In conclusion I will again say that believers can act in way that disgraces the name of their Savior and Lord in such a way that the only thing that God will do for them is to take them home early so that they do not continue to disgrace the name of Jesus Christ.  There is another example of this in Acts chapter five that is familiar with most students of the Bible, where God took home two believers very suddenly.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I as a believer in Jesus Christ must be continually checking on my faith to make sure that it is real, and not in vain.  Paul speaks of this and I think that it is in 2 Corthians where this is found, but I am not quite sure of the exact passage.  As a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ who would be on my way to hell without this pardon that He has given me, should always be living my life to bring honor and glory to the Lord because of His wonderful gift of salvation that He has given to me.   “2Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?”  I am thankful to the Lord for showing this verse to me.

 

The Word of God was a big challenge to me as I read it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord in these times of difficulty, as there are a lot of people who are going through the same thing that Sandy and I are going through.  To trust the Lord who has led me out into this storm of His choosing.  I am comforted that Jesus Christ is praying for us as we go through this storm, that He knows all about this storm, that He will come to us in this storm, that He will help us grow because of this storm, and that He will see us through this storm.  I am so thankful for the message that Pastor Tim Konuch brought to us yesterday, as it was a message that the Lord knew we needed and He provided just what we needed.