July 13, 2009 A Healthy Fear
Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 15,16,17,18; Hebrews 10
Scripture Focus:
Hebrews: 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Observation:
I’ve heard this phrase many times, but always referring to the unsaved. I was surprised to realize, when I read the context of this phrase in Hebrews 10, that the author is talking about believers.
Verse 29 says, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
And verse 30 says “The LORD will judge His people.”
These verses speak of those who become Christians but later willfully turn their back on God. Of them the writer of Hebrews says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Application:
I don’t believe a person can lose his salvation by sinning—otherwise, why would we need 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”?
I do, believe, however, that it’s possible for me as a Christian to turn my back on God and reject him, or to choose to continue to sin willfully, even when I know it’s wrong. Hebrews is clear that such people will receive a fearful fate. In vs 39 it says, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition (affirming that it’s possible to do so), but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
No, I don’t believe in the “once saved, always saved” theory, but neither do I believe it’s a common or simple thing to lose my salvation. There is no need for the believer to be afraid of losing his salvation accidentally, but there is a place for a healthy fear of God when we deliberately choose to continue sinning even when we know it is wrong.
Prayer:
Father God, may I never be one of those who fall back to perdition, but may I always be counted with those who believe to the saving of the soul.
