What does "fearful expectation of judgment" mean for Christians today? Context of Hebrews 10:27 Hebrews 10:26-27 states, “If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” • Written to professing believers tempted to abandon Christ for old rituals • Follows teaching on Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice (vv. 10-18) and call to draw near with full assurance (vv. 19-25) What “Fearful Expectation of Judgment” Means • A sober anticipation of God’s righteous response to sin—“raging fire” pictures certain, consuming judgment (Isaiah 66:15-16) • Fearful because it is unavoidable for those who reject the only atonement God provides (John 14:6) • Not mere anxiety but a settled, terrifying certainty awaiting the unrepentant Who Should Fear? • Deliberate, persistent sinners who spurn Christ’s sacrifice (v. 29, “trampled the Son of God”) • Apostates—people who once professed faith yet turn back, proving they never truly belonged (1 John 2:19) • Any who remain God’s “enemies,” refusing reconciliation through the cross (Romans 5:10) Implications for Genuine Believers Because Christ “perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14): • Assurance, not terror—“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) • Holy reverence—salvation is secure, yet casual sin is not an option (1 Peter 1:15-17) • Loving discipline—God corrects His children to keep them from the path that ends in judgment (Hebrews 12:5-11) Practical Takeaways for the Church Today • Guard the gospel: keep Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice central in preaching and worship • Foster perseverance: encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13) so no one drifts toward unbelief • Practice church discipline: corrective love can rescue a professing believer from the brink of apostasy (James 5:19-20) • Cultivate holy fear: a healthy awareness of God’s justice deepens gratitude for grace and fuels obedience (Philippians 2:12-13) • Urgency in evangelism: those outside Christ already face this fearful expectation; love compels us to warn and invite them to repentance (2 Corinthians 5:11, 20) Encouragement to Persevere Hebrews 10 moves from warning to hope: “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (v. 39). By holding fast to Christ, believers replace fearful expectation with joyful anticipation of His return and reward (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 1:3-5). |
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