Apostasy in Hebrews.

When I started working through Hebrews in my quiet times, I knew that I would eventually begin wrestling with passages on apostasy that, on the surface, seem to contradict any doctrine of perseverance and undermines assurance. Key passages generally are 2:1-4; 3:7-4:11; 6:4-8; and the text I thought about this morning, 10:26-31. I think it shows simultaneously that there is a real threat of apostasy (I don't buy the argument that these are just heuristic warnings), but apostasy is not in fact possible after genuine conversion; instead, apostasy mirrors the seed that grows, but the roots are shallow and it dies.

In the text right before 10:26-31, the author is expounding the great assurance that we have in God's promises and the confidence that we have by the blood of Jesus. It seems rather odd that he would switch suddenly to questioning this blessed assurance that he is calling his readers to nourish. Instead, I would posit that the author's descriptor of "sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of truth" is found later in v. 29 as spurning the Son of God, profaning the blood of the covenant, and outraging the Spirit of grace. This "sinning" is not the failings of genuine Christians to be permanently faithful this side of heaven, but instead a sin that is deliberately deserting Christ.

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Saw this posted on the internet, Timmy Brewster singing "All I Have is Christ" at the Next Conference (which Samuel's going to and wants to find people to go with!). I've been listening to it this morning a few times. I think we might start singing it at CHBC, or at least was hinted at last evening service?

I love the violinist in first chair, keeping up the Asian pride (like Chofi!)