Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 2
The Theme of Hebrews: Don’t Get Cut Off for Unbelief
What Hebrews is teaching is the same gospel that we preach. It is the gospel of grace through faith. It is not a gospel of works. It is not a gospel of “saved by grace, BUT works are the result of salvation”.
It is our gospel. Paul’s gospel. The same gospel!
However, the thing that must be understood about Hebrews is…
It is written to Jews: to Hebrews: to the NATION of Israel… AS A NATION!
It is not written to individuals. It is written to… A PEOPLE: A NATION!
Now, there is application to the individual, but it is not written primarily to individuals. The aim is national. It is towards (directed AT) Israel as a people, as a nation.
And the theme of Hebrews is this: receive the grace of Jesus Christ by faith, and BEWARE of what will happen if you do not believe and rest in the gospel of grace!
Hebrews teaches that the old law is no longer to be followed. It is disannulled! There is a new law, and there is a new High Priest. And now you need to do one thing, one time, to get saved. You need to repent of works, and believe on Jesus Christ. You need to approach to Him one time, through faith, to receive the promise of eternal life.
But… beware of unbelief! If you (Israel as a nation) reject Christ, like your fathers rejected Moses, you will be CUT OFF.
If I had to give the theme of Hebrews in three words, it would be: BEWARE OF UNBELIEF!
And that theme is strong! You’re already familiar with our problem passages:
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible … 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we sin wilfully … there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God…
But there is more. This theme is throughout the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us thereforefear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
These warnings were given to the nation of Israel. Not that they should diligently keep the law. Not that they should live righteously and love their neighbors. Not that they should be careful not to turn back to their sins. But that they… as a nation… should NOT DISBELIEVE in the gospel of grace! Don’t turn away from the voice of God, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ!
These fearful warnings were given to the nation of Israel, because that is who the gospel was sent to FIRST. These fearful statements are throughout the book of Hebrews. Not just in chapters 6 &10. So if we want to understand our problem texts, we need to understand the context of these warnings, and thus the theme of the whole book.
This theme in Hebrews of these stern and fearful warnings being given to the Jews as a nation, as a people, is paralleled in the warnings given to the Gentiles as a people, in Romans 11.
Because I see such a strong parallel, I believe Romans 11 can help open up Hebrews. So I want to spend some time there to help us understand the position and the aim of Hebrews.
Romans 11 is also teaching our gospel, but it is directed at a PEOPLE, not primarily at individuals.
Romans 11:5-6 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant [of Israel – there is still a small remnant of saved people of Israel] according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
We teach that faith and works are NOT opposed. It is GRACE and works which are opposed. You can’t mix grace and works.
You have to have works (spiritual works) with your faith to obtain salvation. You have to move with your faith to obtain grace. But once you get grace, there can be “no more work” required.
If you still have to work, if you believe that works are the result of salvation and you believe that Christians must work, or WILL work, then grace is no more grace, and you get NO GRACE.
And it is this doctrine of grace without works, that Israel as a nation rejected, AFTER the book of Hebrews was written. And thus, as Hebrews warned them would happen, Israel was CUT OFF!
Romans 11:7-8 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
The position and the aim of both Hebrews and Romans 11 is NATIONAL!
Romans 11 is warning the Gentiles against being cut off for unbelief, just like Hebrews was warning the nation of Israel against being cut off for unbelief. And because Israel did not heed that warning, they (other than a small remnant) were cut off.
A person who is cut off, is blinded, and unable to understand the gospel, thus unable to get saved. That is what we are talking about: the impossibility of salvation.
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul may be talking ABOUT Israel in Romans 9 through 11, but he is not writing TO Israel. He is speaking TO us Gentiles. It is our gospel. It is our doctrine. It is not written TO someone else, and it is definitely not preaching a different gospel.
And in Romans 11, you can see how the nation of Israel is talked ABOUT vs how the Gentiles are talked about as a PEOPLE; not as individuals! Paul is speaking to the Gentiles and giving them warnings in Romans 11, as a PEOPLE, very similar to how the writer of Hebrews was giving warnings to the nation of Israel, collectively, as a PEOPLE. Listen to how Paul talks about Israel and about the Gentiles.
Romans 11:15-17 For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them [Israel] be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root [Jesus Christ] be holy, so are the branches [Israel]. 17 And if some of the branches [Israel] be broken off, and thou [not “ye” which might possibly be a description of individuals – but “thou” – the Gentiles as a whole, as a nation, as if they are collectively, one singular person], being a wild olive tree [a single tree, a single entity, with many branches], wert graffed in among them [Israel], and with them [with Israel] partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Romans 11 shows that that same gospel that Israel rejected, is the same gospel that is now sent to the Gentiles: the gospel of grace WITHOUT WORKS. It’s the same gospel. It’s the same covenant. God didn’t send a different gospel to the Gentiles… it’s the same one. It was just sent to Israel FIRST.
And because Israel, as a whole, rejected the gospel of grace, they were broken off, CUT OFF, and it was then granted to the Gentiles to be graffed in, that is, to be ABLE to partake of the New Covenant.
But… only as long as the Gentiles partake of the New Covenant by faith; by believing in the gospel of grace… without works.
If the Gentiles (as a people) don’t believe, if they “fall away” by unbelief, like Israel, then they will get the same judgment that Israel got: cut off with the impossibility of salvation.
So Paul gives the Gentiles stern warnings in Romans 11, the exact same type of warnings, as we see given to the nation of Israel in Hebrews.
Romans 11:20-25 Well; because of unbelief they [Israel as a nation, except for a very small remnant] were broken off, and thou [the Gentiles as a people] standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [Hebrews 4:1 – Let us therefore fear] 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed [Hebrews 3:12 – Take heed] lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell [Hebrews 4:11 – lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief], severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou [The Gentiles as a whole] also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. … 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Because of unbelief in the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ, Israel as a nation has been blinded, has fallen, has been severed, broken off, cut off, and cast away!
The only reason we (the Gentiles by nature) have the gospel available to us, is because the gospel was first sent to Israel and they, as a nation, rejected it.
So God counted all Israel to be in unbelief, blinded them, and sent the gospel to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all [as a nation] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Israel fell away from the New Covenant, fell away from grace. They were cut off in unbelief.
Because of Israel’s fall, which was warned against in the book of Hebrews, the Gentiles as a whole are now grafted into the tree of Israel, the tree of Christ, to take PART of the New Covenant BY FAITH.
But just like the Jews got a warning against unbelief, Paul now says, to the Gentiles as a whole… take heed, fear, lest thou also be cut off in UNBELIEF!
You see, the gospel is the same. The gospel of grace that we are saved by today… is the same one that was first sent to Israel.
In Paul’s writings and in Hebrews and in all the Jewish epistles. New testament salvation is by the same gospel. And being cut off from that salvation that is offered, is not due to one’s fleshly evil works, but only for one’s REFUSAL to BELIEVE that gospel. Only because men refuse to REPENT of their works and REST in Christ. And that IS what Hebrews teaches!
The theme of Hebrews is a warning to the nation of Israel to believe the gospel, and not get cut off for unbelief, just like their fathers were cut off for unbelief, in the wilderness.
That whole generation that came out of Egypt (minus a very small remnant) was cut off and died in the wilderness! Likewise today, those that God brings near to hear, and receive salvation under the New Covenant, if they refuse it, they get cut off and die! Why??? For UNBELIEF!
That is key to understanding these difficult passages in Hebrews: They are about either BELIEVING the gospel when it is sent to you, or GETTING CUT OFF for unbelief.
In the OT, the Jews under the law were CUT OFF from their people for various reasons:
If you did not receive circumcision, you were CUT OFF (Gen 17:14).
During the passover if you ate LEAVENED bread, you were CUT OFF (Exo 12:19).
If you did WORK on the sabbath, you were CUT OFF (Exo 31:14).
If you ate of the sacrifices, the holy things, while you were unclean, you were CUT OFF (Lev 7:20-21,22:3).
If you ate blood, you were CUT OFF (Lev 7:27).
If you offered a sacrifice in the wrong place, you were CUT OFF (Lev 17:8-9).
If you committed incest, adultery, or bestiality, you were CUT OFF (Lev 18).
If you ate of the sacrifices outside of the acceptable time, you were CUT OFF (Lev 19:8)
If you went after familiar spirits, or wizards, you were CUT OFF (Lev 20:7)
If you didn’t eat the passover when you were able to, you were CUT OFF (Num 9:13).
If you touched a dead body and did not purify yourself, you were CUT OFF (Num 19:13,20).
And ultimately, and primarily, if you refused to obey the law, but despised the word of the Lord, you were CUT OFF (Num 19:20).
What does it mean to be “cut off”? Primarily, it means to die – to be killed.
Zechariah 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Jeremiah 49:26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
To be cut off is to be killed, to die. So these things were all worthy of death in the OLD testament. The man that did them was no longer allowed to be among the people and no longer able to come before the presence of the Lord.
Leviticus 22:3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
If that person did not repent, BEFORE he was cut off, there was no hope of forgiveness, no hope of salvation.
Now understand, you can’t just take those things out of the Old Testament, and apply them to the New.
Under the Old Covenant, they could get cut off for sinning in their flesh.
But no one gets cut off from the New Covenant for sinning in their flesh.
However, the Bible says these things (the OT stories, and the law, and the prophets) are written, and they happened, as EXAMPLES to learn from.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
I believe you could study each one of those things for which men got cut off from Israel in the Old Testament, and map it to a spiritual wickedness for which men get cut off from Christ in the New Testament.
And if you did it right, you’d find that each one maps to the same spiritual sin: the sin of unbelief.
The sin of rejecting and/or defiling the gospel of grace with flesh and blood; with man’s fleshly works. With our UNCLEANNESS upon us.
Leviticus 22:3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
Going to the Lord for salvation, with uncleanness still upon you… with your FLESH, with your fleshly works still included… approaching to the Lord to be saved by a false gospel of works salvation…
That is the sin worthy of getting cut off from grace, cut off from the New Covenant!
You can’t just take the OT things and apply them to our flesh today. But you can use those things to learn how the New Covenant applies to men SPIRITUALLY today.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The things in the OT are written for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS. They are written and preserved for our learning of SPIRITUAL truths.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [carnal things under the Old Covenant] are temporal; but the things which are not seen [spiritual things under the Old Covenant] are eternal.
You can learn from the things that are seen, because they are a shadow of the true. But the truth is in the things which are NOT SEEN.
Galatians 4:22-24 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Those thing happened as an allegory (but they actually happened!)… for our understanding.
You can learn about the two covenants, and the differences between them by the things that happened in the OT.
The first covenant was carnal. It was fleshly, and stood only in fleshly, carnal, commandments and ordinances. It applies to those that are born after the flesh. It applies to FLESH.
Galatians 4:28-29 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
The second (the new) covenant is spiritual. They that are of it are not born after the flesh. They are not flesh at all.
The New Covenant does not apply to FLESH. It does not stand in FLESHLY things, it is not obtained or performed by fleshly works. It does not PROFIT the flesh AT ALL. And likewise, the reasons that one would get cut off from the New Covenant, are not fleshly.
No fleshly sin is worthy of being cut off from the Spirit.
Dec 16 2024
Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 2
Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 2
The Theme of Hebrews: Don’t Get Cut Off for Unbelief
What Hebrews is teaching is the same gospel that we preach. It is the gospel of grace through faith. It is not a gospel of works. It is not a gospel of “saved by grace, BUT works are the result of salvation”.
It is our gospel. Paul’s gospel. The same gospel!
However, the thing that must be understood about Hebrews is…
It is written to Jews: to Hebrews: to the NATION of Israel… AS A NATION!
It is not written to individuals. It is written to… A PEOPLE: A NATION!
Now, there is application to the individual, but it is not written primarily to individuals. The aim is national. It is towards (directed AT) Israel as a people, as a nation.
And the theme of Hebrews is this: receive the grace of Jesus Christ by faith, and BEWARE of what will happen if you do not believe and rest in the gospel of grace!
Hebrews teaches that the old law is no longer to be followed. It is disannulled! There is a new law, and there is a new High Priest. And now you need to do one thing, one time, to get saved. You need to repent of works, and believe on Jesus Christ. You need to approach to Him one time, through faith, to receive the promise of eternal life.
But… beware of unbelief! If you (Israel as a nation) reject Christ, like your fathers rejected Moses, you will be CUT OFF.
If I had to give the theme of Hebrews in three words, it would be: BEWARE OF UNBELIEF!
And that theme is strong! You’re already familiar with our problem passages:
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible … 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we sin wilfully … there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God…
But there is more. This theme is throughout the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us thereforefear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
These warnings were given to the nation of Israel. Not that they should diligently keep the law. Not that they should live righteously and love their neighbors. Not that they should be careful not to turn back to their sins. But that they… as a nation… should NOT DISBELIEVE in the gospel of grace! Don’t turn away from the voice of God, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ!
These fearful warnings were given to the nation of Israel, because that is who the gospel was sent to FIRST. These fearful statements are throughout the book of Hebrews. Not just in chapters 6 &10. So if we want to understand our problem texts, we need to understand the context of these warnings, and thus the theme of the whole book.
This theme in Hebrews of these stern and fearful warnings being given to the Jews as a nation, as a people, is paralleled in the warnings given to the Gentiles as a people, in Romans 11.
Because I see such a strong parallel, I believe Romans 11 can help open up Hebrews. So I want to spend some time there to help us understand the position and the aim of Hebrews.
Romans 11 is also teaching our gospel, but it is directed at a PEOPLE, not primarily at individuals.
Romans 11:5-6 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant [of Israel – there is still a small remnant of saved people of Israel] according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
We teach that faith and works are NOT opposed. It is GRACE and works which are opposed. You can’t mix grace and works.
You have to have works (spiritual works) with your faith to obtain salvation. You have to move with your faith to obtain grace. But once you get grace, there can be “no more work” required.
If you still have to work, if you believe that works are the result of salvation and you believe that Christians must work, or WILL work, then grace is no more grace, and you get NO GRACE.
And it is this doctrine of grace without works, that Israel as a nation rejected, AFTER the book of Hebrews was written. And thus, as Hebrews warned them would happen, Israel was CUT OFF!
Romans 11:7-8 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
The position and the aim of both Hebrews and Romans 11 is NATIONAL!
Romans 11 is warning the Gentiles against being cut off for unbelief, just like Hebrews was warning the nation of Israel against being cut off for unbelief. And because Israel did not heed that warning, they (other than a small remnant) were cut off.
A person who is cut off, is blinded, and unable to understand the gospel, thus unable to get saved. That is what we are talking about: the impossibility of salvation.
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul may be talking ABOUT Israel in Romans 9 through 11, but he is not writing TO Israel. He is speaking TO us Gentiles. It is our gospel. It is our doctrine. It is not written TO someone else, and it is definitely not preaching a different gospel.
And in Romans 11, you can see how the nation of Israel is talked ABOUT vs how the Gentiles are talked about as a PEOPLE; not as individuals! Paul is speaking to the Gentiles and giving them warnings in Romans 11, as a PEOPLE, very similar to how the writer of Hebrews was giving warnings to the nation of Israel, collectively, as a PEOPLE. Listen to how Paul talks about Israel and about the Gentiles.
Romans 11:15-17 For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them [Israel] be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root [Jesus Christ] be holy, so are the branches [Israel]. 17 And if some of the branches [Israel] be broken off, and thou [not “ye” which might possibly be a description of individuals – but “thou” – the Gentiles as a whole, as a nation, as if they are collectively, one singular person], being a wild olive tree [a single tree, a single entity, with many branches], wert graffed in among them [Israel], and with them [with Israel] partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Romans 11 shows that that same gospel that Israel rejected, is the same gospel that is now sent to the Gentiles: the gospel of grace WITHOUT WORKS. It’s the same gospel. It’s the same covenant. God didn’t send a different gospel to the Gentiles… it’s the same one. It was just sent to Israel FIRST.
And because Israel, as a whole, rejected the gospel of grace, they were broken off, CUT OFF, and it was then granted to the Gentiles to be graffed in, that is, to be ABLE to partake of the New Covenant.
But… only as long as the Gentiles partake of the New Covenant by faith; by believing in the gospel of grace… without works.
If the Gentiles (as a people) don’t believe, if they “fall away” by unbelief, like Israel, then they will get the same judgment that Israel got: cut off with the impossibility of salvation.
So Paul gives the Gentiles stern warnings in Romans 11, the exact same type of warnings, as we see given to the nation of Israel in Hebrews.
Romans 11:20-25 Well; because of unbelief they [Israel as a nation, except for a very small remnant] were broken off, and thou [the Gentiles as a people] standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [Hebrews 4:1 – Let us therefore fear] 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed [Hebrews 3:12 – Take heed] lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell [Hebrews 4:11 – lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief], severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou [The Gentiles as a whole] also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. … 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Because of unbelief in the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ, Israel as a nation has been blinded, has fallen, has been severed, broken off, cut off, and cast away!
The only reason we (the Gentiles by nature) have the gospel available to us, is because the gospel was first sent to Israel and they, as a nation, rejected it.
So God counted all Israel to be in unbelief, blinded them, and sent the gospel to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all [as a nation] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Israel fell away from the New Covenant, fell away from grace. They were cut off in unbelief.
Because of Israel’s fall, which was warned against in the book of Hebrews, the Gentiles as a whole are now grafted into the tree of Israel, the tree of Christ, to take PART of the New Covenant BY FAITH.
But just like the Jews got a warning against unbelief, Paul now says, to the Gentiles as a whole… take heed, fear, lest thou also be cut off in UNBELIEF!
You see, the gospel is the same. The gospel of grace that we are saved by today… is the same one that was first sent to Israel.
In Paul’s writings and in Hebrews and in all the Jewish epistles. New testament salvation is by the same gospel. And being cut off from that salvation that is offered, is not due to one’s fleshly evil works, but only for one’s REFUSAL to BELIEVE that gospel. Only because men refuse to REPENT of their works and REST in Christ. And that IS what Hebrews teaches!
The theme of Hebrews is a warning to the nation of Israel to believe the gospel, and not get cut off for unbelief, just like their fathers were cut off for unbelief, in the wilderness.
That whole generation that came out of Egypt (minus a very small remnant) was cut off and died in the wilderness! Likewise today, those that God brings near to hear, and receive salvation under the New Covenant, if they refuse it, they get cut off and die! Why??? For UNBELIEF!
That is key to understanding these difficult passages in Hebrews: They are about either BELIEVING the gospel when it is sent to you, or GETTING CUT OFF for unbelief.
In the OT, the Jews under the law were CUT OFF from their people for various reasons:
If you did not receive circumcision, you were CUT OFF (Gen 17:14).
During the passover if you ate LEAVENED bread, you were CUT OFF (Exo 12:19).
If you did WORK on the sabbath, you were CUT OFF (Exo 31:14).
If you ate of the sacrifices, the holy things, while you were unclean, you were CUT OFF (Lev 7:20-21,22:3).
If you ate blood, you were CUT OFF (Lev 7:27).
If you offered a sacrifice in the wrong place, you were CUT OFF (Lev 17:8-9).
If you committed incest, adultery, or bestiality, you were CUT OFF (Lev 18).
If you ate of the sacrifices outside of the acceptable time, you were CUT OFF (Lev 19:8)
If you went after familiar spirits, or wizards, you were CUT OFF (Lev 20:7)
If you didn’t eat the passover when you were able to, you were CUT OFF (Num 9:13).
If you touched a dead body and did not purify yourself, you were CUT OFF (Num 19:13,20).
And ultimately, and primarily, if you refused to obey the law, but despised the word of the Lord, you were CUT OFF (Num 19:20).
What does it mean to be “cut off”? Primarily, it means to die – to be killed.
Zechariah 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Jeremiah 49:26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
To be cut off is to be killed, to die. So these things were all worthy of death in the OLD testament. The man that did them was no longer allowed to be among the people and no longer able to come before the presence of the Lord.
Leviticus 22:3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
If that person did not repent, BEFORE he was cut off, there was no hope of forgiveness, no hope of salvation.
Now understand, you can’t just take those things out of the Old Testament, and apply them to the New.
Under the Old Covenant, they could get cut off for sinning in their flesh.
But no one gets cut off from the New Covenant for sinning in their flesh.
However, the Bible says these things (the OT stories, and the law, and the prophets) are written, and they happened, as EXAMPLES to learn from.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
I believe you could study each one of those things for which men got cut off from Israel in the Old Testament, and map it to a spiritual wickedness for which men get cut off from Christ in the New Testament.
And if you did it right, you’d find that each one maps to the same spiritual sin: the sin of unbelief.
The sin of rejecting and/or defiling the gospel of grace with flesh and blood; with man’s fleshly works. With our UNCLEANNESS upon us.
Leviticus 22:3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
Going to the Lord for salvation, with uncleanness still upon you… with your FLESH, with your fleshly works still included… approaching to the Lord to be saved by a false gospel of works salvation…
That is the sin worthy of getting cut off from grace, cut off from the New Covenant!
You can’t just take the OT things and apply them to our flesh today. But you can use those things to learn how the New Covenant applies to men SPIRITUALLY today.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The things in the OT are written for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS. They are written and preserved for our learning of SPIRITUAL truths.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [carnal things under the Old Covenant] are temporal; but the things which are not seen [spiritual things under the Old Covenant] are eternal.
You can learn from the things that are seen, because they are a shadow of the true. But the truth is in the things which are NOT SEEN.
Galatians 4:22-24 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Those thing happened as an allegory (but they actually happened!)… for our understanding.
You can learn about the two covenants, and the differences between them by the things that happened in the OT.
The first covenant was carnal. It was fleshly, and stood only in fleshly, carnal, commandments and ordinances. It applies to those that are born after the flesh. It applies to FLESH.
Galatians 4:28-29 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
The second (the new) covenant is spiritual. They that are of it are not born after the flesh. They are not flesh at all.
The New Covenant does not apply to FLESH. It does not stand in FLESHLY things, it is not obtained or performed by fleshly works. It does not PROFIT the flesh AT ALL. And likewise, the reasons that one would get cut off from the New Covenant, are not fleshly.
No fleshly sin is worthy of being cut off from the Spirit.
By Pastor • Christian Doctrine, Problem Texts • 0