One of the most misunderstood passages in all of the Bible (2nd only to “judge not”) is Hebrews 10:26. We recently discovered John Hagee’s butchering of this verse to try and teach his false view that eternal life can be lost. Here is what the verse says:
Hebrews 10:26 KJV
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Ok, what does this verse mean? First of all, it is absolutely imperative with any verse in the Bible to understand the context in which it was written. We must look at the chapter as a whole, the overall topic of that chapter, who it was written to and for what reason.
So, let’s figure out the context for Hebrews 10:26 by looking at a few things. First of all, who was the book of Hebrews written to? Well, it is pretty obvious considering one of the first names Jewish people were called were Hebrews. Hebrews was written to the Jews. Secondly, what is, one, the book of Hebrews about, and two, what is chapter 10 talking about specifically
To summarize…
Chapter 10 of Hebrews is a message to the Jews, explaining how the old covenant was replaced by the new and better covenant found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The old covenant sacrifices only covered sin for one year and had to be repeated over and over again. When Christ came, He was sacrificed once and for all, never to be sacrificed again. The cross is God’s final and only sacrifice for sins and there is none else. Verse 26 tells unbelievers if they wilfully remain in sin, unforgiven, having not been cleansed by the blood of God’s only sacrifice, and having received the knowledge (not believed) of the truth of the gospel, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. In other words, there is nothing else they can do to be forgiven and be saved. They have knowledge of the truth, yet they continue on as unforgiven sinners. They shun God’s ultimate provision for sin. Verse 29 tells of the harsh penalty for dismissing the work of the Son of God for sinners.
Hebrews 10:29 KJV
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
The bottom line here is Hebrews 10:26 does not teach that a saved person can lose their salvation, as the individuals being referred to are lost, still holding onto the old covenant which does not save. Once saved always saved is Biblical truth…hold fast to it!
God bless
Jeff Wade