26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said,"Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10)
Wow, Hebrews once again lays us bare. Is this not us? What do I deserve, other than judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume, death without mercy. I am one who would spurn the Son of God and profane his blood and outrage the Spirit. Even outraging the Spirit of grace! I deserve this fearful thing. The living God, my vengeance is his, and he will repay! The Lord will judge me!
But this scary passage is immediately following one that might seem more familiar.
19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
How good our God is. For though we deserve those things, we have a high priest over the house of God who intercedes for us, and we have his blood that speaks on our behalf. We can draw near with full confidence. Though our God is living and his judgement is dreadful, we can hold fast to our confession of hope even without wavering, based on the fact that our God is faithful and he has promised us.
Understand the seriousness of our God and the covenant we have entered into with him, but rejoice in his grace which has made a new and living way that we might enter into his holy places.
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