The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Hebrews 10:26-

Does the "he" refer to the apostate or to Christ? If it refers to the apostate, it sounds like a fall from grace, a loss of salvation, does it not?

1. The "he" is clearly the apostate individual.

2. Yes, it can be misconstrued as teaching one can 'fall from grace'. On the most basic level, this text can be correctly understood if one applies the Bible's own hermeneutic (method of interpretation) of which one of the fundamental principles is, the less clear passages are always to be interpreted by the more clear. So, how does this principle apply here? There are many clear passages which teach that NOT ONE sinner who is truly united to Christ due to the Spirit's work in him and his consequent believing upon Christ can be nor will be lost, e.g., Jh 6:37,47; 17:2; 10:28,29; Rom 8:29,30; Eph 2:4-13; 2Thess 2:13,14; Titus 3:3-7; 1Jh 2:19.

Those who have received Christ with a true Spirit-wrought repentance and faith will continue to hold on to Christ due to the work of the same indwelling Spirit and thus exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Yes, sinners are justified by faith ALONE... but not by a faith that IS alone. Put another way, a genuine justifying faith is also a persevering sanctifying faith. Another example of the type of individuals which Heb 10:26-31 is speaking about can be seen in the parable of the Sower; Matt 13:3-16; Mk 4:3-20; Lk 8:5-15.

I have noted John MacArthur interprets the "he" as referring to Christ in that passage, but that is quite awkward, it seems to me........

Yes, I find MacArthur's interpretation to be 'awkward' too. Syntactically, the "he" belongs with all that precedes it and that which follows it. Secondly, if the "he" refers to Christ, did He count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing and was He 'sanctified' by the blood of the covenant? Surely NOT. I am thinking that MacArthur is probably understanding the word "sanctified" in reference to Christ as He was consecrated to His high priestly office. However, the entire passage is addressing the aggravating sins which the apostate commits and they being so heinous that there is no possibility of reconciliation.

Hebrews 10:29 (ASV) "of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged 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 word "sanctified" here can mean "to be set apart" rather than to be actually made holy". When this type of person professes faith in Christ, albeit a spurious profession since it is empty, not having been wrought by the Holy Spirit, that person is received into the fellowship of God's people; the Church and thus this profession signifies a being set apart from the world and a joining to Christ and His Church outwardly. Or, perhaps the author is intending we understand it as "by which there is sanctification".