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NASB | Hebrews 10:26 ¶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 10:26 ¶ For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate], |
Bible Question: Is this "consuming fire" one and the same as the fire of hell or the lake of fire? IMO, no. This is not referring to eternal damnation. I'd be interested in what others think, and why. |
Bible Answer: I do believe that it is referring to what awaits those who have broken covenant with God and shown themselves to not be His people. The situation that the writer of Hebrews was addressing in the entire epistle was the temptation for professing Jewish believers to return to the Law. After chapters of showing both the true role of the Law and the superiority of Jesus to Moses, the author begins in 10:18 to encourage them to hold fast to the confession of faith in Christ, and to encourage the other members of the congregation to do the same. All of them have received the knowledge of the truth by being members of the Christian community. To depart from that and return to the sacrifices is foolish, for apart from Christ there remains no sacrifice for sins, only judgment. To reject Christ is to reject the only intercessor and Great High Priest there is, and what remains is yourself taking upon God's holy and eternal and just wrath. This is a very strong passage supporting the doctrine of the Preservation (Perseverance) of the Saints. Those who truly belong to Christ will by the Spirit's power hold fast to their confession (10:23), will not trample the gospel underfoot and insult the Spirit of grace (10:29), will not throw away their confidence (10:35), will endure (10:36), and will not shrink back (10:39). Those who do were never Christ's in the first place. --Joe! |