Is Forgiveness Complete?

Hebrews 10:26-28 "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses."

This passage, often used against the truth of pure grace, appears to sound an alarm about intentional and knowledgeable sin, suggesting that it leaves no room for forgiveness. However, an examination of these verses reveals a better and more profound message.

In verse 26, the absence of a specific sin raises the question: What sin is this that seemingly precludes forgiveness? Verse 29 provides the answer: it involves trampling underfoot the Son of God, deeming the sanctifying blood of the covenant as unholy, and displaying contempt for the Spirit of grace.

The recipient of "judgment and fiery indignation" is the one who rejects the sacrificial work of Jesus, echoing the sentiment in John 3:36. Belief in the Son promises everlasting life. At the same time, disbelief invites a perpetual sense of hell on earth. Crucially, verse 26 doesn't declare an end to forgiveness for believers; instead, it asserts that "there remains no more sacrifice for sins." Tailored for Hebrew believers, the passage cautions against persisting in animal sacrifices, suggesting that reliance on such rituals undermines the sufficiency of Jesus' atoning blood. (Remember the Book of Hebrews was written for the Jews.)

The Apostle Paul's earlier counsel in the chapter underscores believers' confidence to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." This assurance, derived from being cleansed by the Word, contradicts the notion of living in dread of God's judgment. The distinction arises from the audience addressed in each passage. Through the blood of Jesus, believers need not fear approaching God, possessing the "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." Those born again have no reason to trample on the sacrifice; instead, they revel in the "full assurance of faith" that Jesus bore the weight of their judgment.

Messages instilling fear of a loving Father should be discarded. Just as you wouldn't want your children to tremble in fear of you, or their parents, genuine fear of God reflects respect and acknowledgment of authority without the expectation of harm. God, the perfect parent, nurtures us with unparalleled care. Let's wholeheartedly embrace His guidance without unnecessary fear, secure in the unwavering assurance of His boundless love.