Key verse: 6
THESIS: The ultimate denial of Christ is to consider Him, having heard, and then deny Him. That is, to do as the Jew: to crucify Him to yourself, to render Him and His work none effective and His blood nothing more than common, thus putting Him to open shame (Hebrews 10:29).
DEFINED: Falling away, in this context, is to consider His sacrificial act for remission of sin, consider His blood common (non-atoning), and return to the temple's Levitical animal blood sacrifice for their annual remission of sins.
I. SCRIPTURE BACKGROUND (Read in order the following passages.)
HEBREWS 9:2-28
(key vs.9-14)
key vs.28,29
key vs.38,39
II. THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION
(One must keep in mind the parable of the different classes of hearers put forth by Christ Himself. Mat.13:18-23; Mk.4:14-20; Lk.8:9-15. Compare with Heb.6:7-8.)
These Hebrew christians fall into this category as do all hearers of His word. In this instance, the writer is addressing
two groups of hearers: (1) those who hear and mix the word with faith unto salvation, and (2) those who hear and do not. These Hebrew
christians were only at their beginning point of salvation (5:12; 6:1), being made
"partakers" of a heavenly calling (hearing the word). They were entering into the work
of the Holy Spirit for repentance unto salvation. They were denouncing animal (blood) sacrifice for their
remission of sin for the blood sacrifice of Jesus unto salvation.
Because of persecution and pressure to denounce Christ and this new emerging sect of Judaism being established apart from the law of the
temple worship and to return to the accepted Levitical animal sacrifice for the remission of sin, they were in danger of trodding under
foot the work of the blood of Christ for their atonement. They were close to being in danger of not mixing or having faith in what they
had heard in the gospel. Thus, some, possibly, had not proceeded through and beyond the point of repentance, on into the deeper things
of faith. Therefore, it is not enough to hear but one must also believe and obey. Faith is the opposite of unbelief
and is the substance, the glue if you will, which draws us into and seals us in Christ. Any thing that is not of faith is sin. It is not
the works of the Levitical acts of animal sacrifice, but the work of God—FAITH—that makes atonement for sin!
(Jn.6:29; Heb.9:13-14)
These Jews were in danger of turning away from the atoning blood work of Christ to return to the old law of animal blood work for their
atonement. The temple in Jerusalem and its practices were not yet interrupted (10:11) However, with the temple's destruction in
70 AD, this practice ceased, making it impossible for the Jew to return to the animal sacrifice for blood atonement.
Christ knew and forewarned of this event (Mt.24:1-2). It would then be impossible, having turned away at this time,
to be renewed unto repentance when the old way would soon pass away entirely!
So, faith in Christ is essential for salvation. The old way was soon going to pass. Faith, then, must come with
hearing the word for one to be secure in Him (Rom.10:8-10). Once in Him, then there is no falling away. For He will
keep that which we have committed to Him unto that day (day of salvation - II Tim.1:12). Therefore, there is no
shame in Christ and no danger of slipping. Shame in His work is only found in the unbeliever and it is a stumbling
block to the Jew.
Hebrews is written to move the professing Jew from the law and old covenant to a believing Jew in grace and faith in
the new (ch.11). The writer clearly states that he doesn't believe these new professing Jews are those who will
turn back, but, in fact, are now new (babes)—believing Christians (10:39). Therefore, they should move on
from those fundamental doctrines pertaining to their salvation into the deeper things of maturing sanctifying faith (6:1).
We know then that Christ's blood sacrifice was and still is essential for the remission of sin because God abolished the Levitical
animal sacrifice and priestly order and duties with the destruction of His earthly temple in 70 AD, thus authenticating
the atoning work of His Son (10:1-12; 9:22-28). His alone has been the only blood
sacrifice acceptable to our God for the remission of our sins in these past 2000 years! There has been no levitical blood offered
yearly for 2 millennia. (The blood of bulls could only purge the flesh. It took Christ's blood to purge the
conscience—to give access to the holy of holies for annual remission.) Therefore, there either has been no remission and we
are yet in our sins, or, God's word is true! Christ's work is complete and legitimate once and for all, for everyone, unto the
end of the ages (Eph.2:8-9). The veil has been rent, not to be replaced or repaired, for all to look within and enter. It is
finished. We have now only one High Priest who has entered the heavenly holies and sat down at the right hand of the Father to make
intercession for us. It is by His grace and not levitical work (animal sacrifice and annual earthly priestly functions of atoning)
that we are saved from our sin. It is a gift from God, leaving no possibility from human boasting. Amen!
(Heb.6:1) Therefore, let us press on from these essential, fundamental elements of our salvation
(Christ's doctrine) and run the race with patience, looking unto Jesus author and finisher of our salvation
(Heb.12:1). We have a great host of witnesses already gone before us testifying to these truths. As with His first covenant with
early man, and all succeeding, He will remember this one as faithfully! It is not based upon our work nor requires our remembering, though
we should. We neither earned it nor are we capable of keeping it. He will remember when He sees the Blood. As the thief hang dying on the
cross, the first to enter, remember his words as he looked upon the Blood:
Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Lu 23:42)
The choice, then, is everyman's. Either the law (works) and blood of bulls
(which was only given as a precursor of the authentic to come) or grace and faith in Christ.
So, it is either works or grace. And God says it is grace (Rom.4:16). Therefore,
there is no salvation outside of Christ and His atoning work (Acts 4:12).
Falling away today? To what stands may one fall? There is no other blood, period, that is presently being offered for any's remission of sin.
It cannot be bought. There is no object of required value nor deed for excuse or mitigation. One is either in Him who purchased it for us
or separated eternally from Him. The great stumblingblock to man's wisdom and obstacle to his entering. Forgiveness is always possible to
the one who repents (turns from his old way—or returns to God) and trusts in Christ and His atoning work of the cross
(II Peter 3:9).
So, when you hear men say there are other ways, ask yourself: at what cost? At whose hand? To what degree? And how must I live? Just remember, none have paid so great a price nor require so little in return—but to believe. Each has a soul that is worth saving and is not hindered by price for its purchase. Only believe!
Author: Ken Livingston
We encourage you to use these studies as you will.
All we ask is for you to e-mail us as to your actual use of them.
