Hebrews 10:31

Hebrews 10:31 ^ESV

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

 

For many Christians, the idea of fearing God is anathema.  Relying on a misunderstanding of ‘salvation by grace through faith’ and ‘eternal security’ they blithely assume that they can go through life with little or no concern about their own sin or the salvation they think they have.  However, the NT gives us plenty of reason to fear: note the numerous passages found in Hebrews including the paragraph this verse is found in; note also 2 Cor 13:5; note even more closely how in each of the parables found in Matthew 25 those who were condemned expected to be saved; and finally, Matt 7:21-23!

 

Indeed it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

 

Why should it be fearful to those who are saved?

 

Ultimately, for those who are saved: for those who are trusting the promises of God; for those who are testing themselves to see that they are in the faith; for those who find themselves living a life of repentance and possess a singular joy in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death, indeed for those who belong to Christ, there is no fear.

 

The context for Hebrews 10:31 begins in Hebrews 10:19.  An entirely new section of the book has opened up for the reader.  In the first section Jesus is compared to various OT types and found superior.  A transition occurred at the end of Hebrews 7, but really taking over starting in Hebrews 8.  Then in Heb 9 & 10 the author shows the superiority of the Heavenly tabernacle over the earthly and therefore of the New Covenant over the Old.  Now!  Now, that this superiority is demonstrated there is a way we should live.  This is begun in Heb 10:19-25 with a positive description, and followed in Heb 10:26-31 with a negative.

 

Faith or trust, specifically in Christ’s promised finished work that is superior to any and every other work (even those commanded in the Old Covenant), is the means for believers today to take part in the grace that belongs to those whom God foreknew.  Because this is true, do not keep on sinning so that you may be rescued from falling into God’s hands while remaining one whose sins have not been forgiven.

 

Praise You Father for the Old Covenant to show Your justice and Your mercy!

Praise You Son for the New Covenant to show Your justice and Your mercy!

Praise You Spirit for communicating that mercy to me!

 

Fearing God together with you,

Pastor Greg