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26 For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and "zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries." (quoting from Isaiah 26:11)
28 If anyone did not regard the Law of Moses, that one dies without pities on "the word of two or three witnesses," (quoting from Deut. 17:6)
29 how much worse punishment do you think will be thought worthy to receive, the one trampling the Son of God, and having counted common the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of Grace?
This same process from Hebrews 6:4-8 can be recognized in 10:26–29, arranged in another syntactical order but with a complementary development:
(1) the experience of Christian life (“after receiving the full knowledge of the truth,” where truth here is the doctrine of the Gospel, v 26);
(2) the fact of apostasy (“if we are willfully sinning,” v 26, that is obstinately, maliciously, and with despite, which is the nature of the sin itself which is defined explicitly in v 29);
(3) the recognition that renewal is impossible (“there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins,” v 26);
(4) the imposition of the curse sanctions of the covenant (“a certain fearful expectation of judgment and "zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries.” v 27).
The passage is speaking to those who had made public professions of faith, but had apostatized, willfully rejecting the truth they had received. In other words, these were not true believers. The reiteration of the pattern of apostasy and its irreversible consequences demonstrates that 6:4–8 and 10:26–31 are complementary declarations.
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and "zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries." (quoting from Isaiah 26:11)
28 If anyone did not regard the Law of Moses, that one dies without pities on "the word of two or three witnesses," (quoting from Deut. 17:6)
29 how much worse punishment do you think will be thought worthy to receive, the one trampling the Son of God, and having counted common the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of Grace?
This same process from Hebrews 6:4-8 can be recognized in 10:26–29, arranged in another syntactical order but with a complementary development:
(1) the experience of Christian life (“after receiving the full knowledge of the truth,” where truth here is the doctrine of the Gospel, v 26);
(2) the fact of apostasy (“if we are willfully sinning,” v 26, that is obstinately, maliciously, and with despite, which is the nature of the sin itself which is defined explicitly in v 29);
(3) the recognition that renewal is impossible (“there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins,” v 26);
(4) the imposition of the curse sanctions of the covenant (“a certain fearful expectation of judgment and "zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries.” v 27).
The passage is speaking to those who had made public professions of faith, but had apostatized, willfully rejecting the truth they had received. In other words, these were not true believers. The reiteration of the pattern of apostasy and its irreversible consequences demonstrates that 6:4–8 and 10:26–31 are complementary declarations.