Hebrews 12:25-29
In approaching the fifth and final warning, we again discover challenging language. Such language compels us to consider afresh what the spiritual position and prospects are of those to whom the warning is addressed.
Does the writer deem those who “refuse Him who speaks” (12:25 NKJV) as false professors who face the prospect of eternal fire and destruction (v29; cf. 2Th 1:8; 2Pe 3:7)? Does he consider the Hebrews as Christians who may lose their salvation if they “turn away from him that speaketh from heaven” (12:25)?1 Or does the writer regard them as saved, secure from eternal perishing, and sure of “receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved” (12:28)? Anyone wavering on this issue will inevitably question the meaning and relevance of the warning, whether for the Hebrews or present-day Christians. If the writer is addressing genuine converts, how should we interpret the warning?
Firstly, we must reject any form of teaching that suggests a born-again believer can lose their salvation. The eternal security of the child of God is affirmed consistently throughout the New Testament. Three facts are evident: (1) Eternal life is a free gift bestowed via the principle of grace. Therefore, it is not conditional upon the character or conduct of the recipient subsequent to its having been granted and received (Rom 5:15-18; 6:23; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 10:14,17). (2) The life imparted to the believer is eternal, which is neither created nor perishable (Joh 3:16; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 5:11-13,20), and is spiritual, which is beyond the realm and influence of the flesh (Joh 1:12-13; 3:6; Rom 8:33-39; Gal 3:3). (3) God promises all who have eternal life (by faith in Christ) deliverance from eternal death and security from perishing in the lake of fire (Joh 3:16,36; 5:24; 6:40; 11:25-26). The promise of Christ is clear and plain: “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish” (Joh 10:28).
So that no one who reads the letter to the Hebrews will have any reason to doubt God’s promises, the writer cites in Chapter 6 (vv13-20) the experience of Abraham (Gen 22:16-17), to whom God confirmed His promise with an oath. With two, not one, “unchangeable things” (i.e., the promise and the oath) in which it is “impossible for God to lie,” God has demonstrated beyond measure “the unchangeable character of his purpose” (vv17-18 ESV). We thus can be absolutely sure of “the hope set before us, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm” (vv18-19 JND). Like Abraham, we ought to be “fully persuaded” that God is able to do what He has promised (7:25; Rom 4:19-20; 2Ti 1:12), and He will keep and preserve those He has saved (Eph 1:14; 4:30; 1Pe 1:5; Jud 1; cf. Isa 46:11). With this in mind, we regard the expressions “eternal salvation” (5:9) and “eternal redemption” (9:12) as implying eternal security, and should not be taken as conditional or forfeitable despite the language of the warnings.
To grasp the meaning and personal significance of the warning for genuine Christians, we will consider it in the context of the chapter over four articles.
The Context of the Warning (12:1-24)
The Race to Be Run (v1)
Commencing with “therefore,” the writer resumes his exhortation to “go on unto perfection” (6:1), for which he sees himself and his beloved brethren (note “we” and “us”) as being in a race (12:1). Every believer enters this race upon new birth (Joh 1:12-13; 2Co 5:17). The allotted course “set before us” is predetermined by God for all believers, collectively and individually (cf. Act 20:24; 2Ti 4:7; 1Co 9:24-27). The glorious, heavenly goal at which all are destined to arrive is described in verses 22-24, immediately prior to the warning. In verse 22, “ye are come unto” is in the perfect tense (i.e., “you have come to” or “you came to”) and implies that all believers have approached the heavenly scene already (cf. Eph 2:6), proving yet again the writer is addressing the redeemed and eternally secure.
The Example to Be Followed (vv1-3)
Just as one enters the race by faith, the entire course must be run by faith (10:36-39; 12:1; 2Co 5:7). Faith is the exercise of obedience to divine revelation. It enables us to discern and appropriate the reality of spiritual promises that are invisible or not yet tangible, and to patiently wait for them (6:12,15; 11:1; Rom 8:24-25). Every hindrance (“weight”) and obstacle (“sin”) that impedes faith must be removed. To strengthen our faith, the writer reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of “witnesses” (12:1, martys), many of whom are listed in Chapter 11. It is not that they are presently observing us but, rather, they have borne testimony (11:2,4-5,39, martyreo) to the life that pleases God – the life of faith. None were immune to sin, failure, or lapses in faith, but these are not mentioned (cf. 10:17). They endured tremendous hardships, but they neither recanted nor abandoned faith (e.g., 11:25-27,33-38). They all “died in faith, not having received the promises.” By faith, they beheld the promises “afar off” and were “persuaded of them,” giving evidence that they longed and hoped for something infinitely better – a heavenly city prepared by God (11:1,13-16,39; cf. 12:22-24).
The supreme Example we are to follow is our Lord Jesus Christ. His perfect trust in and total dependence upon His Father in “the days of his flesh” were lifelong (e.g., Psa 22:9; 16:1-11; 22:8; Heb 5:7; Luk 23:46). By faith, He too saw “afar off” and hoped for glorious spiritual realities – “the joy that was set before him” (v2; cf. Psa 16:11). By faith, He “endured such hostility” (v3 NASB) and “endured the cross” (v2; cf. Php 2:8). By faith, He “finished” His course (Joh 17:4; 19:30). Therefore, we are to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,” and “consider Him who has endured” lest we “grow weary and lose heart” (vv2-3 NASB; cf. Isa 40:31).
As we run our course, may we be conscious of the pleasure that faith brings to God, and the besetting sin of unbelief. By faith, let us ever be “reaching forward to what lies ahead,” and to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:13-14 NASB).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
