Hebrews 10 | Can You Lose Salvation? Understanding This Warning

Hebrews 10 highlights the unparalleled sacrifice of Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament law, emphasizing its permanence compared to the temporary nature of the Mosaic sacrificial system. This chapter reiterates that while the sacrifices under the law served as a shadow of Christ’s ultimate offering, they could never completely remove sin. Jesus, through His single, perfect sacrifice, provides eternal redemption, a stark contrast to the repetitive sacrifices of the priests.

The discussion delves into how Christ’s sacrifice offers permanent atonement, liberating believers from the old system while pointing toward a life of sanctification. Verses like 10:12–14 are spotlighted to explain that Jesus’ act was once for all, eliminating the need for repeated offerings and securing eternal forgiveness. A question is explored regarding the purpose of the Mosaic Law if its sacrifices weren’t sufficient, highlighting that it served to reveal humanity’s sin and foreshadow the Savior’s complete work. 

In addition to theological insights, the podcast examines the practical implications of Hebrews 10, especially its encouragement to persevere in faith. The controversial passages about deliberate sin and falling away (10:26–31) are unpacked, emphasizing the danger of rejecting Christ and the exclusivity of His atonement for salvation. These verses are framed within the context of perseverance, urging believers to remain faithful despite trials and temptations. 

The episode also highlights the assurance believers can take from their faith in Christ’s finished sacrifice. The closing verses (10:35–39) remind readers of the importance of holding fast to their confidence in God, emphasizing that God’s people are called to endure and preserve their souls. This assurance of God’s faithfulness encourages believers to resist shrinking back, urging them instead to live boldly and securely in Christ’s completed atonement.

Ultimately, Hebrews 10 provides both a sobering warning and an uplifting promise. The chapter underscores the power and sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice while urging believers to persevere and live transformed lives. The hosts provide a balanced exploration of the chapter’s teachings, pointing listeners toward a deeper understanding of God’s plan and their part in it.

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Transcript

 Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10

[00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome to God's plan, your part year two, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire new Testament one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's plan and your part in it. Today, we are looking at Hebrews chapter 10. I would say for chapter 10, uh, the context of chapter nine is very important.

So I do think that if you're, if you're landing on this episode, you might want to check out Hebrews chapter nine. Um, essentially there's Probably two parts to this. One is just, uh, doubling down on the sacrifice of Christ and how powerful that sacrifice is. And then there are some encouragements and warnings in this chapter that have caused a lot of angst, uh, throughout history.

Because it's important to dive into them and see what they're saying. And so we'll We'll try to do that here. We talked a little bit about imagery yesterday too, like the back and forth between the process of offering sacrifices for sins and how Jesus ultimately did that, um, with himself as a perfect [00:01:00] sacrifice.

And I really liked today at the beginning of this chapter, Ryan was kind of mentioning that. this first part really connects back to yesterday. Um, and I've really liked verse 11 where it says every priest stands daily at his service offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Then verse 12 says, but when Christ had offered for all one, or excuse me, for all time, a single sacrifice for sins, he sat on the right hand of God waiting. From that time until his enemies should become a footstool for his feet. Um, and his single offering was like the perfect, um, so it's not like this thing that has to be constantly over and over and over and over again, which makes Christ unique.

And I really, really liked that. But I think I brought up a question earlier, um, to Ryan, cause I was like, how does this all connect? Like, I really like those, that imagery that we have over and over again of how it mirrors the old Testament priests. But I was asking Ryan, like, how does this? Like, why does, why should this part matter, um, or why is [00:02:00] this part important to us?

Mm hmm. On this side of things. And you had kind of, you made, you lined it up as like before, like, cause I said, aren't the old Testament sacrifices just kind of like pointless then, because I mean, not pointless, but it's like, if they didn't actually do anything, then what was the point of doing it? So it's not that they didn't do anything.

It's that what they did was not permanent. And that is a very important distinction. And it's a distinction that's being made here in Hebrews 10, uh, highlighting the verses actually that you just highlighted. So, um, I'll just read them again because it is important. Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

But when Christ had offered for all times a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, uh, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet for by a single offering. He has perfected for all time. Those who are being sanctified. So the author here is using, um, a case that's called a lesser [00:03:00] to greater case.

Uh, it sounds kind of academic or wordy or something, but really he's just pointing out that, um, there has been a thing in place, but it is less powerful when compared to the greater thing that has been put in place, and it is common for the biblical authors to do that. Um, Um, we use it a little bit less nowadays.

So sometimes it can actually be a little bit confusing. Um, but basically what he's saying is, Hey, there was a system in place, uh, where a, a priest had to offer sacrifice for sins on a regular basis. So that sacrifice did cover your sins. It did provide atonement for sins, but it did not provide permanent.

Atonement for sins, right? And my question too, then was like, was asking about why bother with that? Not that they didn't need something like, cause I said, is it like an apology or something? And you had, you had said it was more or less just like a recognition of our sin and it is a foreshadowing that a need for that we have a need for a [00:04:00] savior.

And one day a savior will come and will deliver us completely and totally from our sins. This is why. Uh, we don't offer sacrifices anymore and sometimes actually, uh, people do still fall into this kind of nonsense today where they start having an affinity for sacrifices or thinking that we should have a certain celebrations certain ways.

What you're doing is actually falling into the power of the lesser, uh, which is the mosaic law, the old law. That did not provide permanent release from sins. That priest had to show up again the next time and offer, make offerings for sin again. And so it was not complete and total. And when Jesus comes, he is the perfect fulfillment of the requirement for the penalty for our sins.

And so his sacrifice is once for all, it is complete and total. His sacrifice covers our sin for all time. So again, this is a lesser to greater argument. [00:05:00] Um, it's not saying that the Mosaic Law is worthless. It's saying that it is lesser. Uh, and it was meant to show us our sin. It was meant to show us, um, the atonement that is necessary for right relationship with God.

Um, but ultimately it points us to Jesus. And without the Mosaic Law, we would not be able to understand Jesus. Because we wouldn't understand our sin. We wouldn't understand our need for deliverance, um, from the wrath of God. Well, I think there's something to be said, too. Verse 15 starts out talking about the Holy Spirit bearing witness to us.

Um, in verse 16 it says, uh, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days declares the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds. I like to think of that as almost just being like the spirit of God, like interceding for us, like reminding us of that and us.

I guess essentially just like asking for that forgiveness that's already offered because verse 18 says, where [00:06:00] there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Jesus already paid it. It's our recognizing and like, I guess, accepting that which kind of leads in to the next part. Well, let me just real quick, like Bible nerd, fun fact, um, in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 16 or verse 15, which you just read in the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us by the For after saying, then he quotes Jeremiah 31.

So the author of Hebrews is not saying, yeah, as you all know, Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 31, he says the Holy Spirit says, and then he quotes Jeremiah 31. Uh, this is another instance of the Bible itself, recognizing that the words of the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Um, not by men. So, um, that, that is actually a pretty important theological point.

And this verse supports that theological point that when we read the word of God, we are reading words that have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and are not. originating from men. That's why [00:07:00] he says the Holy Spirit said it, not Jeremiah said it. So, um, then we will, I mean, to, to speak directly to where you're going, uh, we will dip our toe into this super controversial part of Hebrews 10, um, because the language here in Hebrews 10, the second part of it, what like basically starting in, um, probably verse 26 specifically and moving on, um, it's, it's pretty heavy.

And at first reading, I would say it does appear to say that if you turn your back on Jesus, there is no forgiveness coming for you. And this has been problematic for people because it appears to imply that there is no grace. That there is no forgiveness, that when you accept Christ, you cannot sin any longer because if you do, you'll be rejecting Jesus outright.

A friendly reminder, I, I immediately, when I was reading this last tale and part of the chapter, I was thinking to myself about non believers, period. And that is not the case for this. This is like for [00:08:00] believers that decide for themselves that they, like, I'm rejecting this. Correct? There's a lot of controversy around this.

And I would encourage you, if you want to do a deep dive into this topic, yeah, like, sure, hear what we have to say, but also just do some further study on these passages. This is one of those complicated Hebrews passages. Um, I would say, and this, there are people that will make this case, um, the, the original audience of this book were believing Christians, and the purpose of the book was to call them to Persevere, to continue, to move on further in their faith, to not give up their faith.

And so when we read these passages, you can assume that the intended audience is Christian believing people. When I would say that too, even just calling out verse 32, recall the former days when after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with suffering. So, this is referring to somebody who, like, Hey, like, after you were enlightened, after you, like, experienced salvation, you've had struggles, you've had difficult things, and you've been [00:09:00] persevering.

So again, like, the point is to call people to perseverance. I think the issue here is people who appear to be part of the believing community, Who appear to be desiring to follow Jesus, but ultimately fall away from following Jesus and reject Jesus. And what the author is saying is, Hey, like, if you are part of the community of faith and you turn your back on Jesus and you do not return to Jesus, there is no other form of forgiveness.

There is no other form of atonement coming for you. Jesus is the only way to have forgiveness for your sins. And that, you know, if all you do is. Look at this verse. Um, these couple of verses you can get easily confused, but if you hold this passage in context of other passages throughout scripture, obviously there is grace available in Christ.

Uh, obviously we are to be forgiving each other as Christ has forgiven us. We are not called to be, [00:10:00] um, completely 100% perfect all the time. Um, but we should. Pay attention and we should strive to not fall away from Christ. So I think these are people who essentially in my mind Pretend to be Christians really in name only and then fall away and the author is saying hey Like if you fall away if you reject Christ, there is no way forward for you.

You will come under judgment Well verse 37 Old Testament callback from I believe it's Habakkuk. Is that how you say it? Mm hmm Yet a little while And the coming one will come and will not delay, but my righteous, excuse me, but my righteous one shall live by faith. And if he shrinks back. My soul has no pleasure in him.

Um, so I think that's probably speaking to that a little bit more too, where like, we don't just talk about this life of following Christ and then just fall away to the wayside when things get hard or when things become difficult or whatever, like you need to persevere. And I think that's what this [00:11:00] is calling out in reference to what you were saying.

Just to continue to flesh out that controversy, like the. The New Testament seems to teach, and I guess I shouldn't say seems to teach, the New Testament teaches, um, that salvation is a free gift from God. You don't earn it by your works. God has freely given it to you and therefore it, you can't lose it, which is controversial in some circles.

Um, so I would, I would say here in this passage, What's being taught is that if you are identified as set apart, if you appear to be part of the Christian community, and then you turn your back on Christ and reject him, there is no other available atonement for you, and it's very likely that you were never a part of that Christian community in an authentic way in your life.

In the first place, because salvation is a free gift from God, and when we receive it from God, we actually desire to be sanctified. The Holy Spirit moves and works in our lives and actually does actively sanctify us. And so if you don't have that working in your heart, in your mind, your soul, your spirit, [00:12:00] um, it's very likely that you never had a relationship with Christ in the first place.

Maybe you were just academically trying to understand him. Maybe you were just enjoying going to a church service or something, um, but if you reject him, you turn your back on him, you walk away from him. There's no other available atonement for you. I feel like this, uh, passage doesn't really get preached a whole lot anymore.

I feel like it might've been one of those 1950s, like, Oh, all hell and damnation. But like verse 20, verse 29, how much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the one who's trampled underfoot the son of God? Uh, then at the very end, I will repay vengeance is mine. Verse 31, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But it is. Whoa! It is. I know, but it's interesting that like, that's not really talked about. Well, I mean, historically, this is a very complex, complicated passage. It most likely does not fit into a I don't feel like it's complicated. That feels pretty straightforward to me. Most likely it doesn't fit in like a flowery topical sermon on, you know, whatever the topic is of the day.[00:13:00]

But it is important to pay attention. It really is. Because, um, in today's world, we've I think accidentally sometimes turn Jesus into somebody that's just okay with anything and accepting of everything. And it is important to point out, uh, that the author of Hebrews is saying, Hey, you do not want to be on the wrong side of God because God does have a standard.

And when you purposefully and willingly reject that standard, you will come under judgment on 26. If we keep. going on sitting deliberately after receiving the knowledge of truth and there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury that will consume the adversaries.

And just in case that seems too heavy and too dark, um, remember. What verses come after that because the chapter chapter 10 actually lands on but we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed But are of those who have faith and persevere or sorry those who have faith and preserve their souls So [00:14:00] again, yes, like if you reject God You're in a bad place.

That is that is not good for you. That is not good for your actual lived out life It's also not good for your eternal destination because you will be against God and you will come under judgment But at the same time God has provided a perfect sacrifice for us His forgiveness for sin is available. It is once for all it is not God's desire that you should be cast out under judgment It's his desire that you should pursue right relationship with him and so the author of Hebrews Is I think really representing those two sides really well, like, yeah, like you will come under judgment, but that's not who we are.

We are the ones who persevere in the faith. We follow Christ. We obey his commandments. We enjoy the salvation that comes from him. We are being sanctified. We are persevering and therefore we are preserving our souls. And that is not only available to some tiny, small, special group that is available to all.

But the harsh reality of the world [00:15:00] is that some people. Um, hear of that available forgiveness and still reject it. So, uh, there you go. What do you think of your part for today? I think you, I think you kind of wrapped it up. Cause I was going to say that verse if you didn't. So again, just verse 39, but we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

So yes, punishment is real. Yes. There are penalties for like essentially stepping all over what Jesus has done for us. So. If that is the case, we are not a people who just kind of sulk in our sin and take advantage of the, the ultimate cost that Jesus had to pay for us. We do not shrink back and are destroyed, but we have faith and preserve our souls because of what he's done for us.

So, I think that's probably encouraging to wherever you're at. Whatever things you feel like might be holding you back, change those things so that you live a life that is safe. So, I think that verse stuck out to [00:16:00] me, I think it's probably pretty applicable to anybody hearing this today. Um, so I hope you enjoyed chapter 10 with us today.

We'll probably be back again tomorrow, hopefully, yes. Monday. Just kidding. Monday. With chapter 11. Thanks for joining today's episode of God's plan. Your part, as always, please consider partnering with us as we are a listener supported podcast that we hope to continue to grow with support from listeners.

Just like you we've made it super easy to partner with us and you can support us by following the link in our show notes or our description. You can support us with as little as 3 a month. Every little bit of this helps so much. And we're so thankful for your support with that in mind. Here's today's reading.

Hebrews chapter 10. For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, [00:17:00] would no longer have any consciousness of sins.

But in these sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in the sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings, these are offered according to the law, then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will.

He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never [00:18:00] take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet.

For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us. For after saying, This is the covenant that I will make with them, after those days, declares the Lord, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds.

Then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh, And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled [00:19:00] clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately, after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much more punishment do you think will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he has been sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay. And again the [00:20:00] Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But recall the former days when after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

For yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay. But my righteous one shall live by faith and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Thank you so much for listening to today's [00:21:00] episode of God's Plan, your part.

Don't forget, you can find us on just about every social media platform and YouTube. Let us know what you thought of today's episode, and if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there. You can also reach out to us directly at godsplanyourpartatgmail. com. As always, if you don't have a Bible, or if you'd like to use the one that we use, reach out to us via email and we'll be happy to send one to you.

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