The Bible gives this solemn warning in Hebrews 10:26-27: “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”. Some have claimed that this warning is only for Jews or Jewish Christians. However, such a claim bears the mark of the unfortunate practise of only ascribing biblical blessings to the church, even those that are specifically addressed to the nation of Israel, while ascribing God’s wrath and severe judgments to the Jews. This error may be rooted in the erroneous Replacement Theology, i.e., God is done with Israel, and has replaced Israel with the Church. The Scriptures, however, warn the church against this Replacement Theology (e.g., Romans 11).
Some also claim that the book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians; consequently, the warnings in the book specifically apply to them. If that were true, then Christians who are not in Rome are not obliged to obey or follow any of the teachings and instructions in the book of Romans since it was written to the saints in Rome (cf. Hebrews 1:7). The same could be said of the other epistles since they were addressed to specific people or individuals. This illustrates the problem of disregarding the very thing the Bible is saying and its context, and rather forcing biblical texts/passages to conform to overarching themes we impose on the passage based on our traditions or preferred doctrinal stance. If we do agree that the epistles written to the saints in Rome and in Corinth apply to Christians outside Italy and Greece, because we fall in the category of God’s sanctified ones through Christ, then we must not fail to apply the same truth to the book of Hebrews. This will help us to understand its message to the church rather than simply ascribing everything we don’t like in the book of Hebrews to Jews.
It is worth noting that Hebrews 10:26-27 is not an isolated text. Rather, it provides a reason or support for the things that have been said in the immediate preceding verse and the prior related verses: “for.. if we go on sinning…” or “because if we go on sinning…” (Hebrews 10:26-27). Therefore, if we claim that Hebrews 10:26-27 must only apply to Jewish Christians, then the statements it supports must only apply to Jews, such as “Do not stop meeting together as some are in the habit of doing,,” (Hebrews 10:26) as well as “considering how to encourage one another unto love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Since these statements are contextually and biblically for the church, and not just for Jewish Christians, to claim that Hebrews 10:26-27 is only for Jews or Jewish Christians is biblically inaccurate.
Moreover, the admonition contained in Hebrews 10:26-27 is repeated in multiple places in Scripture as warning to the church. Thus, we are given no reason by which to claim that such severe scriptural admonitions are only meant for Jewish Christians or the nation of Israel. We shall look at a number of these scriptures in the next post.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
January 7, 2025.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God.