Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT
[26] “Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. [27] There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. [28] For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. [29] Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. [30] For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The Lord will judge his own people.” [31] It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Another warning, even more severe this time!

There is a stark contrast between God’s endless mercy towards those who repent of sin, turn away from unrighteousness, and embrace Jesus as Lord, and the judgment that will fall on unrepentant and rebellious people. Mercy! No mercy!

God is perfectly just. He leaves the choice to every individual. We are our own judges.

If God’s people, under the Old Covenant, perished without mercy for their disobedience, how much more terrible will be the fate of those who refuse God’s salvation through Jesus! God counts as enemies those who treat His Son with contempt. It is as though they are literally trampling Jesus under foot. God’s enemies have only one destiny, the eternal fires of hell.

This warning should be enough to scare the daylights out of unbelieving people. Yet, many still disregard God’s Word, and continue with their wayward lives as though God had never spoken. This stubborn attitude is the worst form of pride…treating God as irrelevant and choosing to do life their way.

Tragically, such people will only find out that God means what He says when it’s too late. The door to mercy will be closed forever. Imagine living forever tormented by literal fire and the inward fire of regret… “If only…” Regret is bad enough in this life, wishing we could turn the clock back on the consequences of our foolish decisions and actions. How much worse will be the torment of those who choose to ignore God and do it their way!

All the explanations from chapter 1 to chapter 10 of this letter conclude with this sobering statement,

Hebrews 10:31 NLT
[31] “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

We can either fall into the hands of a loving Father who holds and keeps us safe forever or we can fall into the hands of an enraged God who carries out His righteous judgment on those who choose to treat Him and His Son with disdain…

And those who do will have no excuse.

To be continued…