Remember, if we knowingly choose wrong after gaining knowledge of the truth, we cannot offer sacrifice for our sins . . . we can only expect a fearful judgment and the heat of the fire waiting to consume the forces of opposition.
It sounds like, once you become a Christian, you had better be perfect from now on, or you will be doomed forever. And of course, I had not become perfect, so when I acted hatefully to someone else, or messed up and used bad language, or lied . . . it would be all over, for good.
So what then does it mean?
Well, the entire passage is about the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross, which forever washed away the sins of the faithful, of those that would receive his immeasurable gift. With such a perfect atonement, covering every sin of every sinner that ever sinned, how can it be made null and void, and imperfect, through this one pronouncement tucked away in the middle of a great discourse on grace? Are we forgiven completely and totally, or not?
It is talking about the vanity of thinking you can sin, and then do something to earn forgiveness . . . and then sin again and ask forgiveness through some act, in a never ending cycle. Let me say it again, a different way: you're forgiven! You are justified (made just and holy) through the blood of Christ! It's over!
The verse is also reminding us that we are going to die, anyway . . . the penalty of our original sin still holds. No matter what you do, you are going to die. And in the final day, God will indeed burn everything up! You can do wrong . . . and even if you are among the saved, you are going to feel the heat of judgment fire, like all the rest of us! You cannot stave it, or hold it off. You cannot pretend it will not happen; you cannot ignore God's judgment, through acts of sacrifice.
I believe that the writer of Hebrews is telling us to stop being so legalistic! If you live according to the law (do wrong) after having knowledge of the truth (God loves you, and you are saved), then you are still under the law! You will still be punished through death (we all will anyway). So why even try?
* You are saved. Christ will raise you up to eternal life on the last day, and,
* The world is still under the law (although you may be under grace), and we must all face death, for we have sinned.
Stop living as though you are under the law! The law is the law and it condemns us!
Live under grace and be free. Accept God's precious gift in Christ and live!
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