Public Disgrace

Public Disgrace

May 1, 2018

Hebrews 6:6  ". . . To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace."

The book of Hebrews was written to Hebrews who were becoming Christians, or early Christians, after living a life of strict Mosaic law. These were devout Jews that were used to studying Scripture, living out their faith, who had now come to faith in Jesus as the savior. Their theology needed adjusting, however, since they were used to looking at things only according to how they had always seen them. They needed perspective, not a new perspective, but an enlightened perspective. They were accustomed to living with rules and regulations. They had an existing relationship with the God of their fathers and were now being brought into their own relationship with the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. It was a shock to their system, just as much as Christianity can be a shock to any new believer.

The author of Hebrews, not actually known, makes it clear the reading audience understood a priest, priestly duties, and of sacrifices. The author warns the Jewish Christians about abusing the system though, like some people (and many today) get accustomed to doing. It is easy to accept salvation, then sin, then accept salvation again, then sin, then accept salvation again and again. The Jews under the Mosaic law simply had to go to the priest, present a sacrifice for sins, then all would be right again with God. Under the enlightened scenario of their new faith in Jesus, this was warned against as an option. The author of Hebrews said they have to work hard not to fall away in their faith. They are allowed to sin, but not fall away in that sin and its life. The difference was, and is, a lifestyle. The Hebrews were cautioned about living the new lifestyle of Christianity, accepting its teachings, even promoting its teachings, then reversing in that lifestyle. Once you move forward there is limited, in any option, of turning back. He makes the consequences well known.

The  Bible is very clear that once we know and understand the lifestyle of the Christian, and implement that lifestyle, deviating from it is not an option. Deliberate, habitual, and perpetual deviation from the Christian life, after salvation is grounds for dismissal. The Bible says we would be subjected Jesus to public disgrace. If Jesus is in Heaven, how then can we subject Him to public disgrace? Well, once a Christian lives a Christian lifestyle, promoting its virtues, it becomes known to the public that Christ is the center of that life. It is like wearing the name of Jesus on your forehead for the world to see. No matter where you go or what you do, you become associated with the name of Christ. But after that, after becoming associated with Christ, being known as His follower, then consequences become severe. 

The point the author was trying to make was a mental picture each Christian should put in his mind when presented with the opportunity to sin. In the old understanding, according to the Mosaic law, they had to picture themselves presenting a sin offering, a cost they may have been prepared to take. Under the new imagery, prior to sinning, you are to envision yourself humiliating Jesus and being burned in Hell, a cost that should be too grave to consider worth it.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Hebrews 5 & 6