The Willful Sin of Apostasy

Introduction: The 4th “Warning Passage”

The Danger: Apostasy

The Previous Warnings:
• 2:1-4 (warning) – 2:5-18 (encouragement)
• 3:7-4:13 (warning) – 4:14-16 (encouragement)
• 5:11-6:8 (warning) – 6:9-20 (encouragement)

The similar pattern: 10:19-25 (exhortation), 10:26-31 (warning), 10:32-39 (encouragement)

I: TO WHOM IS THIS WARNING ADDRESSED?

A: Professing Christians (v.26)

B: People connected with the church
- Received the truth (v.26)
- Rejected “Moses’ law” (v.28)
- “ was sanctified” (v.29)

II: WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE DOING?

A: Sinning willfully (v.26) = apostasy

[Apostates]… are not such as offend in any way, but such as forsake the Church, and wholly alienate themselves from Christ. For he speaks not here of this or that sin, but he condemns those who willfully renounce fellowship with the church. John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews.

B: 3 things (v.29)–
-Trample the Son of God underfoot

-Profane the blood of the Covenant

-Insult the Holy Spirit

III: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS?

A: Judgment (vv.26,27)

B: The identity of the judge (vv.30,31)

C: Insight into the nature of the judgment (Matt. 26:36-46; 27:45,46)

Conclusion