Hebrews 10: Good News or Bad? Answering a Muslim Challenge

A Muslim critic recently pointed to the Tagalog translation of Hebrews 10:26-27 and asked a very challenging question: "Ito ba ay turo ni Jesus' Christ??? Magandang Balita ba ito, o Masamang Balita???" (Is this the teaching of Jesus Christ? Is this Good News, or Bad News?)

The verses they quoted sound intense: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."

It is a valid question, and honestly, if we just read it isolated from the rest of the Bible, it sounds scary! Let's break this down point by point using a simple Q&A format.

Q1: Is this really the teaching of Jesus Christ?

A: Yes, absolutely. Sometimes critics try to separate the teachings of the Apostles from the teachings of Jesus, thinking they contradict. But the writer of Hebrews is actually preaching the exact same message Jesus taught.

• Jesus taught the exact same warning: In John 15:6, Jesus said, "If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."

• Jesus warned about ultimate rejection: Jesus clearly taught that if we ultimately reject Him after knowing who He is, there is no other way to the Father (John 14:6).

The Bottom Line: The writer of Hebrews isn't inventing a new, harsh doctrine. He is faithfully applying Jesus' teaching about the reality of judgment for those who completely turn their backs on the truth.

Q2: Is this "Good News" or "Masamang Balita" (Bad News)?

A: The Gospel is the ultimate Good News, but this specific verse is a loving warning about the Bad News of rejecting it.

Think of it like a doctor who just found a 100% effective cure for a deadly disease.

• The doctor says: "I have the medicine that will cure you completely (Good News). But if you throw this medicine away and deliberately refuse to take it, there is no other cure left, and the disease will destroy you (Warning/Reality)."
  
  
• Is the doctor giving "bad news"? No, the doctor is offering life and giving a loving, honest warning about the consequences of rejecting that life.

Hebrews 10 is simply saying: Jesus is the only cure. If you reject His sacrifice, God doesn't have a "Plan B" to save you.

Q3: What does it mean to "deliberately keep on sinning"? 

A: This is where context is everything! The critic's challenge assumes that if a Christian stumbles, makes a mistake, or struggles with a sin, they immediately lose their salvation and are thrown into hell. That is not what this verse means.

• It's about Apostasy, not daily struggles: The Greek word for "deliberately" here implies a high-handed, intentional, and final rejection of Christ.
  
  
• Walking away from Grace: As believers, we believe in the reality that a person can freely choose to walk away from God's grace (apostasy). This verse is a stern warning to believers: Do not harden your heart! Do not turn your back on the Savior who bought you. If someone fully abandons their faith in Jesus and goes back to a life of rebellion, they place themselves outside of His saving grace.

Q4: Why does it say "no sacrifice for sins is left"? 

A: This is the key to the whole chapter! The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were being heavily persecuted. Because the pressure was so bad, some of them were thinking, "Maybe I'll just go back to the Jewish temple, follow the Old Covenant law, and sacrifice sheep and goats again to avoid persecution."

• The Old Covenant is Over: The writer is reminding them of New Covenant Theology! The Old Covenant system of animal sacrifices is finished. It's obsolete.
  
  
• Jesus is the Final Sacrifice: Christ is the once-and-for-all sacrifice. If a Jewish believer rejects Jesus to go back to the temple and the old laws, they will find that God no longer accepts animal blood. There is literally no sacrifice left for them in the temple.
  
  
• God has established the New Covenant in Christ's blood. To reject Jesus is to reject the only sacrifice God will ever accept again.
  
  

Pastoral Takeaway for Us Today

So, how do we answer our Muslim friends when they bring this up?

We answer with grace and clarity. We can tell them: "Actually, this verse highlights how precious Jesus' sacrifice is. It shows that Jesus is the final and only way to be forgiven. It is the ultimate Good News that our sins can be washed away by Him! But it also honors human free will, God will not force us to accept it. If we walk away from the only door to salvation, there are no other doors left."

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