Question: “Hey, I have a question about Hebrews 10 and the ”worse punishment”. This is a really difficult one, and I hope you have time to answer this. I have heard many times that this text refers to a loss of reward at the bema seat, however the text specifically says that the punishment the apostate who would sin willfully is worse than for the one who was put to death in the Old Testament. The problem is, if someone was put to death for sin in the Old Testament, wouldn’t that also implicitly include a loss of reward? If they did a sin bad enough to be stoned, wouldn’t that include a loss of reward after their death? So how can judgement at the bema seat be worse punishment then? I heard some whom I asked believe that the bema seat is more strict than the rewards judgement the Old Testament saints would experience, however what do you think?”
Answer:
Thanks for your question. It’s a good one.
The warnings in Hebrews 10 are directed to believers who deny the sufficient work of Jesus Christ on the cross, specifically that His shed blood, and prefer the Old Testament bull and goat sacrifices. These believers have become apostates. They have fallen away from the truth which is found in Jesus. They are still believers, but they are now going to lose eternal rewards. Think of this as opportunity cost. What cost does the apostate believer pay? I believe it’s two fold.
One, they will not be able to earn rewards they would have earned by abiding in Christ. They are, by definition, fallen away and unprofitable. Their faith is dead, or profitless, because it has no works. Still saved? Yes.
Two, they face the increasing chance that God will carry out severe chastening in this life, and this will most likely result in their physical destruction. Lot is a good example of God’s chastening hand. Moses is another example of God withholding rewards for unfaithfulness or sinful behavior.
Chew on these things, brother. Let them be an encouragement to add to your faith, abide in Christ, and seek Him above all else.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-17)
“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” (2 Peter 2:7-8)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:7-12)
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14-17)
A reminder… salvation is permanent and cannot be lost, ever. However, the believer can forfeit joy in this life and opportunities to reign with Christ in this millennial kingdom because of their continual sin. This is serious. I believe very few people understand how serious it is to waste this life with sinful living.