(Vs. 26-27) These words have been wrongly made use of in order to prove that persons who commit sin after baptism are lost or should be excluded from the fellowship, and they have brought great distress to the honest heart that is burdened with a sense of inward sin and realizes that ALL of our sins have a degree of willfulness. THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WHOLE IS THIS: After men have embraced and professed the truth of the gospel of Christ (and particularly the great truth of this chapter--that Jesus Christ is the only High Priest, His blood the only atonement, His sacrifice the end and fulfillment of all types) AND YET AFTER ALL THIS, against all evidences, light, and revelation, they willfully deny the sufficiency of Christ and the efficacy of His sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice for sin--there is no other Saviour! There is no help for them, no hope, only a certain fearful judgment against them eternally. There is no going back to the Mosaic ceremonies; so if you willfully turn from Christ, there is no hope! (Acts 4:12; I Cor. 3:11.)
(Vs. 28-29) God gave the moral and ceremonial laws to the people through Moses, and any person who rejected them or set at naught their rules and sacrifices was put to death (Deut. 17:1-6). While the tabernacle and ordinances stood, they were binding upon the people. If God poured His wrath upon those who made light of the types, think how severe shall be His judgments upon those who reject or make light of the precious blood of His dear Son. A return to circumcision and ceremony (away from Christ) is to bring contempt upon the Person of Christ (Gal. 5:1-4; Gal. 4:21).
(Vs. 30-31) Such persons who choose will-worship, circumcision, works, and law in the stead of the revealed Christ have every reason to expect the wrath and judgment of God to fall on them; for it is threatened in the Word of God (Deut. 32:35-39). We have many examples of God's dealing in wrath with Israel when they turned to idols. It is a fearful thing to incur the wrath of the eternal and living God (John 3:36).
(Vs. 32-34) To encourage these Hebrew believers to persevere in Christ and to hold to their confidence in Him and not be disturbed and discouraged by false prophets, ceremonialists, and legalists (who would question their liberty in Christ), Paul tells them to remember the early days of faith when they endured mocking, ridicule, and affliction. When you left the world to walk with Christ, they did not allow you to leave peacefully; but you knew that in heaven you had a family, an inheritance, and a lasting glory, even if you lost everything here. The people you lose for Christ's sake are nothing compared to the family you gain. The comforts, pleasures, and fame of this world are soap bubbles –the glory of heaven is eternal.
(Vs. 35) Cast not away your confidence, your boldness in Christ; for great reward is in store for the true believer.
(Vs. 36) You have great need of patience and perseverance in Christ, for the fulfillment of the promise is to those who continue in the faith of Christ (Heb. 3:6, 14; Col. 1:19-23).
(Vs. 37) Yet a little while and Christ will come for His own (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11). When Christ comes, He will put an end to all suffering and death (I Cor. 15:24-26; Rev. 21:4-5).
(Vs. 38) True believers live by faith, not by law, works, merit, or ceremony.
3. That life shall be PERFECTED by faith –all of grace! Works make no contribution to our life in Christ; and if any professor of faith draws back to ceremonialism or away from PURE faith in Christ, "My soul hath no delight in him."
(Vs. 39) True believers will not and do not leave Christ, nor will they take up beggarly elements in the place of Christ. "To whom shall we go? He hath the words of life." (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:38-39.)