Don’t Throw in the Towel

Why do some people turn away from the Christian faith? Is there a way to build a robust faith that endures through life’s hardships?

Don’t Throw in the Towel Hebrews 10:26–39

Don’t throw it away

This passage contains some strong warnings – but who are they aimed at? Firstly, in v26, the writer includes himself. We need to be humble enough to acknowledge we are vulnerable to making stupid decisions.

But it is ‘sinning deliberately’ that concerns him. Such a person knows the truth of the Gospel, but rather than it changing how they live, they continue to live as they want. They show a disregard for Jesus, for his death, and for God’s grace. This isn’t a Christian struggling with sin, it is someone who has made a deliberate decision against Christ.

The question to ponder is: could that be me, or you? If the warning stirs us to confession and repentance and trusting in Christ, we can know his Spirit is at work within us and we are secure in Him.

But how and why do people fall away in the first place?

The Slippery Spiral

The writer highlights three stages in the journey of falling away: Suffering – and not understanding God’s purposes in suffering; Thinking wrong things about God

• so that we drift away from the truth; and giving up meeting with other Christians.

And the writer makes it clear that if you keep walking that path there are inevitable consequences.

Heed the Warning

If we make God our adversary, where else is there to turn for salvation? If we say ‘no’ to the way he has provided to atone for our sins – where else is there to go for forgiveness? Such an attitude reaps terrible consequences, the writer says. God is a God of justice, and he will not leave wrongdoing unpunished.

But, deep down we all want God to be a God of justice. We just don’t want him to punish us. But the point of the gospel is that Christ has taken that punishment upon himself, so that we might know his grace.

So, how can we avoid taking that path? How can we be those who persevere and endure?

Live in the Light

Live in the light of the gospel: The writer reminds his friends how, after they were enlightened by the gospel, they endured through real suffering. When we understand who God is and what he has done for us, we won’t turn away.

Live in the light of his saints: these Christians cared for one another. When we face suffering and trial, we need one another, so don’t give up meeting together.

Live in the light of the real reward: They could respond to suffering with joy, because they knew the real reward lay up ahead. Live for that reward.

Live in the light of a strong God: the writer finishes by urging us to be people of faith – not in ourselves but in a God who gives us strength.