Hebrews 10:26-27 (NASB95)
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
Hebrews 10:28–29a (NIV)
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot . . . ?
Hebrews 10:30–31 (ESV)
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
My experience with “presuming upon God’s grace” was horrific. I not only later received the “natural consequences” of my actions (which were negative enough), I experienced the immediate “terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.”
Though the horror of the “expectation” was real I did not experience the judgement I “expected.” At that moment of sin I expected to be rejected by God and go to hell. And He gave me no indication at that moment that that would not happen. I experienced the expectation of the fury of the flames of hell.
It was a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
I begged God to forgive me and not send me to hell. At that moment I realized I was not going to hell. I was trembling. My assumption that I could “sin without consequence” was replaced by reverent fear of God the Holy One and fear of sinning against Him.
Though I “deserved” to be punished “much more severely” God’s mercy saved me from my sin, His unlimited mercy triumphed over judgement of me.
Rather than being cast into hell I was taught a lesson and saved. You are welcome to judge my experience any way you like but I now fear “presuming upon God’s grace,” I have not “presumed” again, and I will meet you in heaven.
I AM for You! 