In Hebrews 10:9 we find the Apostle Paul, who received God’s Truth (Word–Jn. 17:17) by revelation directly from Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12), telling the Hebrew Christians that upon the death of the Messiah the Father took away the sacrificial “law that was added because of sins” (Gal. 3:19) in order to provide for God-seeking men a new type of relationship with Him, one in which the blood of Jesus Christ replaces the blood of animals. This new way has three primary effects: 1) it erases forever all sins of the past (Rom. 3:25); 2) it writes God’s eternal moral Law (the Ten Commandments) on the hearts of His true saints; and 3) it provides Holy Spirit power needed to obey the Law and thereby qualify for eternal life. However, as verse 10 along with other verses in the chapter reveal, knowing God’s Way, believing it, having it written in one’s heart and having the power to obey it, though necessary, do not guarantee salvation for the believer. One more factor is commanded by the Author of salvation.

Religious people have for hundreds of years believed that Hebrews 10:9-14 “prove” that obedience to God’s moral Law is not necessary to affect salvation. Such people, over two billion strong, know for a fact that grace and faith guarantee that, in the eyes of God, they are and will always be sanctified and righteous no matter what they do, say or think. A cursory reading of verses 9-14, combined with a lack of knowledge of and faith in other related passages, causes parishioners to believe this “truth” that is continuously proclaimed globally. In the next posting we will examine verse 10 and other verses in chapter 10 that expose Satan’s Law-nailed-to-the cross, no works-only believe, sinner-saved-by-grace theology for what it is–a lie. We will prove Scripturally that sanctification and righteousness are not, like Christmas toys, awarded without qualification, but rather are gifts that, though given by the Lord because of His grace, must be retained through obedience to His Word. L.J.