unto men.' (Matthew 12:31) But that misunderstanding is reading the Bible out of context and making doctrine, not of the totality of God's Word, but out of a single verse that is meant to be only a part of its complete tapestry.
This biblical simplification has deceived so many, and in the process denied the very same their Christian inheritance of everlasting life, as an unforgiven sinner cannot enter the Kingdom. And who is the architect of deceiving those of faith? As always, it is Satan. He knows he cannot claim the followers of Christ, as no one can snatch us from God's hands. 'And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.î (John 10:28) But, and this is where Satan strikes, we can exercise our God-given free will and walk away from the unmerited and loving gift of salvation. Of course, no one in their spiritual right mind would turn from the Holy City in exchange for hell, so Satan deceives us into believing
we can live a profligate life without everlasting consequences. In this case, he has us believing only a fraction of the gestalt God provides on the forgiveness of sins. And because so many of us want to do-our-own-thing, we readily embrace a false doctrine that says Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross washes away our continued disobedience so we may have everlasting life.
But that's not true.
One of the most often overlooked and/or misunderstood books of the Bible is Hebrews, specifically chapter 10, verses 26 through 31. 'For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the
Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.'
These verses, perhaps more than others, make clear God's intent regarding the sacrifice for our sins; i.e., there is far more involved than the sacrifice of Christ, as the other part of the equation is our response to His sacrifice. Thatís what Satan is trying to hide from us. The Bible says that if we continue in our sins after knowing the truth, 'there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.' And that would include the sacrifice of the Cross. And without the blood washing us clean, no one is innocent enough to be in the presence of the Lord. But, and this is where the rubber meets the road, the matter doesnít end there. The Bible says that continued sin not only removes the covering of the Cross, but makes us 'worthy' for a punishment in excess of dying without mercy. And just in case there's any misunderstanding, the subject is punctuated with the terrifying admonition that, 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' The Bible is replete with God's love for His children, and this is another instance. Yes, some might see the warning in Hebrews as harsh, but those who know God see it as another example of His loving care. He wants us to be saved, and for His goal to be realized we have to know the truth. His truth. The only truth that matters.
