the just live by faith

“ The Just Live

by Faith”Hebrews 10:26-39

The Word…•The Bible is absolutely awesome-- it comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable•It can strengthen and encourage the downcast Believer to go on, and can wake the backslider with thunder and lightning from spiritual lethargy and laziness•Jonathan Edwards preached such a message from this passage on 8 July, 1741, in Enfield Connecticut

The Word…•“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”•This happened during the 2nd Great Awakening Revival in America•Edwards was not a ‘fire and brimstone’ preacher•Nearly blind and in a boring monotone voice, he read this sermon to his people– before it was over they were on their faces sobbing, begging the Lord for forgiveness by the power of the Holy Spirit

“26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 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? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property,

knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,

HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;

AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

Hebrews 10:26-39, NASB

A. Comfortable in their sin..•Vs 26-31,

“26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 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? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”


A. Comfortable in their sin..•Vs 26-31, This is clearly referring to the ‘back-slidden’•There is an incorrect doctrine out there, teaching that to fall into this category is to lose one’s salvation, but look again at the pronoun used in V26…

“26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment ....”


A. Comfortable in their sin..•Vs 26-31, This is clearly referring to the ‘back-slidden’•There is an incorrect doctrine out there, teaching that to fall into this category is to lose one’s salvation, but look again at V26•It is “we”, not “they”; the author did not consider the backsliders as unbelievers who do not have salvation at this point•Word of God trumps doctrine!

A. Comfortable in their sin..•Who are these folks then?•Christians, who’ve decided to live their lives so carnally, that you can’t tell by looking that they were ever saved•There are stages of back-sliding too—•Drifting•Doubt•Despising– no longer sacrifice for willful sin

B. Afflicted for standing firm…•Vs 32-39,

“32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that

when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,

HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;

AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:32-39

B. Afflicted for standing firm…•Vs 32-39, the author now changes the scene from potential Divine Discipline, to persecution– they all had experienced some..•Unlike backsliders, the persecuted stood firm in their faith, despite threats and imprisonment •Could we handle this kind of persecution? •V 39 indicates the fate of the backslider too

C. Question…•Where are you going in your spiritual life?•Are you shrinking back to a wasted life, like before you met Jesus?•Where will you be a year from now of you continue down that road?•There is a former Calvary Chapel pastor, James Flanders who murdered his mistress…•He ignored one very important Biblical principle

“Can a man take fire in his bosomAnd his clothes not be burned?”

Proverbs 6:27, NASB

Take Home…

•To walk by faith means:•Obey God’s Word, and live for Jesus

the just live by faith

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