Daily Devotional for Thursday, July 28

No More Sacrifice

Opinions differ as to whether the Hebrew writer has a believer or an unbeliever in mind here. I think this passage refers to a believer, but I may be wrong. This passage follows the admonition to not forsake the assembly, the church, directed toward a believer (verse 25), and it is followed with a warning about the Lord judging each believer (verse 30). 

How bad can a believer get? Peter said that a believer can forget that his sins have been forgiven (2 Peter 1:9), and John said “There is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:16). God will actually take a believer’s physical life to stop his rebellion against Him, and John said do not pray about this. So, a believer can get really bad! What I see here is a believer who is backslidden in the extreme. He has turned his back on God and the church of his membership. He has even disdained the blood of Jesus Christ and “despite the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29). 

Does this mean that God takes away his salvation? No, God does not break His promises no matter what you do. But He will chasten His child (Hebrews 12:5-11). The passage does not say that there is no forgiveness available to such a backslidden believer. Instead, it says there is “no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26) other than who has already been sacrificed, Jesus Christ. There is always forgiveness with Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Thought: Instead of willfully sinning, confess your sins and be forgiven. 

Phillip Miller