"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt" (Hebrews 6:4-6).
This passage describes the lover of religion who delights in the Law. Moses taught the Israelites to offer regular sacrifices for repeated sins exposed by God's written Law. Jesus offered one sacrifice, himself, and "we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). The writer of Hebrews compares the new to the old, the cross of Christ to the Law of Moses, and it is not even close, "Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses" (Hebrews 3:3). It is called grace, and the problem with grace is it requires absolutely nothing from us. It offends the pride of the religious who insist on contributing to their own salvation. One sacrifice is not enough for their sin.
The lovers of legalism have not discovered the delight of grace. They nibble at the edges, but the freedom frightens them, so they go back to the safety of rules and regulations. They refuse to bite deeply into grace, but if they ever do, they will never again be satisfied by the Law.
Ask any kid, "What is the best sandwich ever made?" It's the Peanut Butter and Jelly, no competition. Unless you were a kid in my youth group. A kid who was served my wife's Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.
I run into these kids, 5, 10, 20 years after graduating. You know what they remember? They remember when they were introduced to the Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly. I hear it all the time. They liked the old PB&J, but it doesn't stand up to the new. Ask anyone who has tasted one. There is no going back.
Daily Prayer
God, You are so good. To be welcomed into Your family, to experience Your warmth and love, to understand what life is all about, to really live - what more could I ever want? (The answer is nothing more. You are above and beyond my deepest desires.)
Thank You for the blessings of heaven, of Your Kingdom. There is a better life than this world offers. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. I look forward to the day when Your Son reigns over the heavens and the earth in perfect peace and righteousness.
Amen
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