Beth-El Baptist Church

08/19/2007

Greg Tomlinson


What does Hebrews 10:29-31 have to do with eternal security?


There are many people who use Hebrews 10:29-31 as justification for the idea that a person can lose his salvation. It is good to understand what the author of Hebrews, and God, meant by these verses if a Christian cannot lose their salvation.


  1. Understanding biblical interpretation?

Isaiah 28:10 1 Corinthians 14:33


The scriptures must be understood by understanding basic principles and building from there for the most complex principles. In other words, the more complex and indirect understanding of scripture cannot violate the simpler statements and understanding of scripture.


  1. What are some the clearer and more easily understood passages?

John 6:27-29, 39-40; 10:27-29 Ephesians 1:13; 4:30

Romans 8:38-39


These passages clearly state that when someone belongs to Jesus, they can never be removed from his presence and that when we believe we receive the Holy Spirit that seals our future until the end. It is also clear that it is impossible for the believer to escape the love of God through Jesus Christ.


With this information in mind. Let us take a look at the Hebrews 10 passage.


  1. What is the immediate context of the passage?

Hebrews 10:1-4

Levitical sacrifices are a precursor to what is to come (Jesus) and must be continually offered while serving as a continual reminder of the sinfulness of the sacrificer without its removal.


Hebrews 10:8-12

With the sacrifice of Jesus, the old sacrifices and repetitive system have been taken away and replaced with the new sacrifice which has only been offered once and will never be offered again.


Hebrews 10:14

Jesus' sacrifice has eternally perfected those whom are sanctified for by its offering.


Hebrews 10:17-20

Jesus' sacrifice did not cover, but removed the sins resulting in complete forgiveness for which there is no longer any need for a sacrifice.


Hebrews 10:22-25

Believers are urged to follow the total cleansing, conscience and bodies, with the full assurance of faith without questioning our relationship. It is a call to “do” and not just “think”. The call includes the need to encourage one another into obedience and faithful works for which we have been cleansed (Ephesians 2:10).


Hebrews 10:26-27

A person who knowingly and willfully disobeys God's commandments, although he is completely and perfectly aware that what he is doing is disobedient, will never find any other sacrifice to cover his sins. The only sacrifice that could be offered, Jesus, has already been offered and effectively rejected. The only thing this person has remaining is to face hell. This is a description of someone with head knowledge of Jesus' sacrifice and their sin but they thoroughly reject his saving grace (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).


Hebrews 10:28-29

According to the Mosaic Covenant, the rejection of the Law of God received a death sentence (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). Since the covenant of Grace is much more valuable than the covenant of Law, an even harsher punishment is to be expected for the one that rejects the covenant of Grace.


The only part of this that draws people to the idea of 'loss of salvation' is the phrase 'wherewith he was sanctified'. The phrase is taken by some to indicate the he was truly a believer who turned his back on the gospel of grace. A Further look at this passage is to follow.


Hebrews 10:30-31

This is a reminder that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the judge. Only Jesus can declare the guilt or innocence of an individual and those who are found guilty of His blood will receive the rightful revenge and thus will be in the hands of the living God. He will see Jesus not as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), but as the Lion of Judah who reigns with an iron scepter (Genesis 49:9-10).


Hebrews 10:32-39

The encouragement to remember the early days of their faith and the difficulties that they went through. Their troubles were because of their belief and because of their believing friends. This is a call to endure to and through the end. They are to await the return of Jesus with great expectation and joy. We are to look at the commands of God in such a way that salvation results rather than reject them and face eternal judgment.


  1. What does he mean by 'wherewith he was sanctified' in 10:29?

Wherewith – Who, which, what, that

he was sanctified – Consecrated to God. Occurs in only two places (in this exact form)

Numbers 6:12-13 – (he) Consecrated (himself to the Lord)

Numbers 20:12-13 – (he (the LORD) was) sanctified (in them or before them)


The question that needs to be asked is who or what is sanctified. If the 'he' that is sanctified is the individual then there is the need to understand that the only sanctification or separation as holy before God is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is their only hope of sanctification, which he has rejected.

Acts 4:12 1 John 2:1-3

1 Corinthians 7:14


If the 'he' that is sanctified is the Lord Jesus Christ, this would very well match the passage in Numbers 20. The Lord is being sanctified or represented as separate from others.

Hebrews 7:26 Isaiah 5:16