Hebrews 10:28-39

The Just Shall Live by Faith

What it says:

Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

What it means:

Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

He that despised what? Moses' law.

Define: Despised – regard with loathing and contempt, to dislike intensely, an attitude of utter disgust or hatred toward someone or something considered to be worthless, inferior, or undeserving of respect; disdain, disrespect, scorn, derision, disapproval, hatred, condescension (Antonym: admiration)

What did he die without? Mercy.

Define: Mercy – compassion, kindness, or forgiveness from those in authority, pity, clemency, understanding, leniency, benevolence

What is the antonym to mercy? (Antonym to mercy: cruelty, unkindness, brutality, ruthlessness, harshness)

How many witnesses to the crime were required to condemn the guilty? Two or three witnesses.

There has been a comparison going on between the law that Moses received from God and gave to the people, and the new covenant that Jesus mediated for God and the people. So far we have been seeing that the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is far superior to Moses law, but that does not mean that the law should have been despised before Jesus replaced it. The law was also given by God as a gift to man. Our author is now repeating his admonitions to the new Christians to continue to be faithful, and warning against apostasy. As an example and a proof of the serious nature of willful disobedience (quitting believing) he is referencing the following from Moses’ law:

Deu 17:2-3  If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;

What had they wrought (carefully worked or done)? Wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God.

What had been transgressed? His covenant.

What had they served and worshipped? Other gods, or the sun, moon, and stars (the host of heaven).

Wickedness in the sight of the Lord was to transgress (overstep the boundary) of his covenant by serving and worshipping other gods or planets, or whatever man is prone to worship other than God, Himself. Notice the Lord said “which I have not commanded.” Idol worship is something that man does on his own – usually as a result of not knowing God – but these people had known God!

Deu 17:4  And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:

What took place when the elders heard of one of their own doing idol worship? They held an investigation (enquired diligently) to find out if the accusation had any truth to it.

Define: Inquired  (Enquired) – investigate, ask, query, request, question, see if, make inquiries, find out

Define: Diligently – industriously, meticulously, conscientiously, thoroughly, attentively, carefully (Antonym: hastily)

What were they seeking with their inquiries? The truth.

An investigation had to be conducted to find out the truth. People were not charged with a crime simply on the voice of one witness – or tattle tale, or gossip. The priests and elders inquired diligently to find out the real truth of the matter. A man or woman was only to be condemned if they had truly committed idol worship.

What was idol worship called? Abomination.

Define: Abomination – outrage, disgrace, scandal, eyesore, atrocity, hatred, dislike, repugnance, loathing, revulsion, abhorrence, detestation

What is the antonym to abomination? (Antonym to abomination: love)

Idol worship was called abomination because the idol worshippers did not love the Living God.

Deu 17:5  Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

What happened to the adulterous idol worshippers? They were stoned unto death.

The idol worshippers were to be executed by stoning at the gate of the city. This was not a minor offense.

Deu 17:6  At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

There had to be at least two witnesses and three was better, but, if there was only one witness they were not stoned. A sentence as harsh as this one required that it be verified.

Deu 17:7  The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

You had better be sure about being a witness too, because you would be required to “cast the first stone.” Evil was removed from among them by execution of the guilty. Notice that all the people were to take part in the execution. I think this would have really brought home the gravity of the situation to each and every one of them and they would have thought twice before doing idol worship. By this they were putting evil away from among themselves.

God views idol worship as adultery towards Himself:

Jer_5:7  How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

What is God’s first question here? How shall I pardon thee for this?

God is concerned with pardoning them. He desires to pardon them, but, if they are willful and adulterous in turning their backs on Him and refuse to repent, they leave Him no recourse (no way out) but to punish them.

What is the punishment (Deu 17:5)? They were stoned unto death.

What had the children done to God (Jer 5:7)? They had forsaken God, or abandoned Him.

Who were the children swearing by instead of God? Things that were "no gods" -- idols.

What had God previously done for them? He had fed them to the full.

Think about them being fed to the full. God had provided good land for planting, good rain for growing plenty of food, good houses for them to live in, many sheep and animals, vineyards and everything that goes along with that to make sure they were well taken care of and well fed.

After they were well fed then what did they do? Then they committed adultery.

Define: Adultery – infidelity, disloyalty, falseness, treachery, betrayal, deceitfulness, faithlessness (Antonym: faithfulness, truthfulness, realistic, authentic, closeness, accuracy, loyalty, devotion, trustworthy, stanch, dependable, reliable, dedicated, committed)

Where did they assemble? In harlots houses.

What picture does “assembled themselves by troops” create in your mind? There were so many people doing idol worship that they had to regulate and organize how many could go to the whore houses at a time. It was a traffic jam of monstrous proportions!! Back in Deuteronomy if one person was found doing idol worship the whole community stoned them. In this verse it sounds as if they would be hard pressed to find one person who was not doing idol worship!! They had all turned against God. How could God pardon this?

This is what happened to those who abandoned God and became unbelievers after they had known God and been fed by Him. He wanted to forgive but they did not seek Him for forgiveness, they gathered together in orderly groups to worship in harlot’s houses – the homes of the false gods. See what God says in the next verse:

Jer 5:8-9  They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.  Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

God laid out his case against them very clearly. He described them as fed horses who are chasing after their neighbor's wife.  He asks them, “Shall I not visit for these things?”  Then he asks, “Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” No one wants an avenging visit from the Lord!!

Mat_10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,

Define: Sorer – more painful, more uncomfortable, more stinging, more angry, more cross, more annoyed, more upset, more wounded

When a person becomes apostate, or anti-Christ, who have they trodden under foot? The Son of God.

In the superlative!! This is so much worse than idol worship. The Son of God had been seen on this earth by many of those who would be reading this epistle. There are many witnesses in the Bible, and outside of the Bible too, that He was here and was crucified for our sins. The people this epistle was written to had seen the Lord for themselves!! Many of them had witnessed his miracles, his teaching, his ascension into heaven!! Many of them had heard his voice in the flesh with their own ears!!

and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

What has the apostate called “an unholy thing?” The blood of the covenant."

Define: Unholy – secular, desecrate, earthly, sinful, uncommitted, impious, ungodly,

Whose blood is this? The blood of Jesus Christ.

By what had he been formerly sanctified?  The apostate had previously been sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Define: Despite – contempt, angry hatred, disdain, dislike, disrespect, disapproval, scorn, hatred, derision, condescension (Antonym: admiration)

Who has the apostate done despite unto? The Spirit of grace.

They have despised the Spirit of grace!! The Holy Spirit.

Who is the Spirit of grace?  God.

Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.

To whom does vengeance belong? The Lord.

Define: Vengeance – revenge, retribution, reprisal, payback, retaliation, settling of scores, punishment

What will the Lord do? "I will recompense, saith the Lord."

Define: Recompense – reward, compensate, repay, reimburse, pay off, balance, make up for

We are not required to stone the anti-Christ because God, Himself, will wreak vengeance upon those who betray Him. God says He will recompense, repay them in kind. What you sow, so shall you reap.

Hos_8:7a  For they sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind.

Job_4:8  As I have seen, the ones who plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same.

And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Whom shall the Lord judge?  His people.

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The Pulpit Commentary: …David, when the option was given him, preferred falling into the hand of the LORD to falling into the hand of man (2Sa 24:14), trusting in the greatness of his mercies. But the case contemplated here is that of its being "too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice." Fearful (the writer would say) is the thought of being exposed, without possibility of escape or of atonement, to the wrath of the Eternal Righteousness.

1Th 1:9-10  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

The word “but” shows that he is now turning away from the idea of God’s vengeance on the apostate, and calling to mind “the former days” when the readers had first been illuminated.

Define: Illuminated – clarified, shed light on, enlightened, elucidated, made clear, explained, revealed

Of what had they been illuminated? They had been enlightened about Jesus Christ. After they were converted to Christ, they endured a great fight of afflictions.

Notice they fought against afflictions -- which is spiritual warfare. A painful battle took place. The new believers were subject to a great deal of persecution from their fellow Jews, especially, but in Gentile quarters rumors had spread about Christians being evil people and they suffered in the spirit through many hideous and tragic things.

Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

Define: Gazing – looking, staring, fixing their eyes on, watched, gawked at, gaped at

Define: Stock –performers as in a theater, the company of people putting on a performance; made to perform like livestock or trained seals
 
Their suffering came from two directions. Some of them had been made a “gazingstock” or “spectacle.” They had been put on display for the world to see their sufferings simply because they had put their faith in Christ.

The second direction was from becoming companions with those who were so used – others who were treated like animals and made a spectacle of.

Define: Spectacle – made a public display, show, scene, exhibition, presentation, showcase, exposed

By what were they made into a gazingstock? By reproaches and afflictions.

Define: Reproaches – criticism, censure, reprimand, blame, accusation, scolding, rebuking, chiding, pointing the finger at

Define: Afflictions – suffering, difficulty, burden, problem, hardship, pain, trouble, misery, misfortune

For an example of the reproaches and afflictions let us briefly recall the story of Stephen the martyr from these few scriptures that contain his name:

Act_6:5  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Act_6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Act_6:9  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Act_7:59  And they stoned Stephen, (who was) calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Act_8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Act_11:19  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

Act_22:20  And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

Once Stephen was stoned a great persecution arose for all who held similar beliefs in Jesus Christ. The persecution continued from the time Paul held the cloaks of Stephen’s executioners until Paul, himself, was converted and put in chains to be an ambassador of Christ to the Romans – and even beyond that time.

Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds,

The author is pointing out that in the beginning they had become companions together with him in the great conflict of suffering and they had had compassion on him while he was in bonds – or handcuffs. They showed kindness to him.

and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,

They had been so overjoyed at what Christ had done for them that they did not care that their goods had been spoiled, or stolen, or burned. They actually took the spoiling of their goods joyfully – knowing that in the final hour they meant nothing anyway!

knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Where did they have knowing? In yourselves.

They had knowledge of Jesus Christ, deep within themselves, so when their goods and substance were spoiled it made no difference to them. They had full assurance of faith and looked forward to something a great deal better.

What did they know they have in heaven? A better and an enduring substance.

Define: Substance – tangible physical matter that can be touched and felt, material wealth, matter, stuff, core, essence

Define: Better – improved, enhanced, superior, surpassing, excelling

Define: Enduring – lasting, continuing, durable, permanent, stable, long-term

He is comparing spoiled goods in this life, with a better and enduring substance in eternity with Christ. Amen!

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence,

“Therefore” means based on all the aforesaid experiences and demonstrations of their own faith.

Define: Cast – shed, throw, discard, get rid of, drop, cast off

What were they not to cast away? Your confidence.

Define: Confidence -- the feeling and belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust; the state of feeling certain about the truth of something

Confidence in what? Jesus Christ and His redeeming blood.

which hath great recompense of reward.

Define: Great – huge, immense, enormous, vast, large, big, grand

Define: Recompense – reward, compensate, repay, reimburse, pay off, balance, make up for

Define: Reward – prize, gift, bonus, payment, incentive,

If they remained steadfast in their confidence, and cast it not away, they would receive a great reward or repayment for their loyalty, trust, and service to God.

1Co_2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

What do we have need of? Patience.

Define: Patience – endurance, staying power, tolerance, lack of complaint, persistence, fortitude, serenity

When do we receive the promise? After ye have done the will of God.

This brings up the question: What is the will of God? Looking at the following verses we find:

Eph 6:5-8  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

The will of God is: with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

1Th_4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

The will of God is: that we remain sanctified and abstain from fornication.

1Th_5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The will of God is: In every thing give thanks.

1Pe_2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

The will of God is: Silence the ignorance of foolish men, not with words, but with well doing.

1Pe_3:17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

The will of God is:  That if we suffer, we do it for well doing, and not for evil doing.

1Pe_4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

The will of God is: No longer living for the lust of the flesh, but to the will of God.

1Pe_4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

The will of God is: We commit the keeping of our souls unto our faithful Creator.

1Jn_2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The will of God is: That we abide forever.

It only makes sense to receive the reward after we have proved ourselves obedient to God. Above we have looked at what is required of us. Now let us look at what God has promised to those who are obedient to His will:

Gal_3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

What shall we receive? 1. The blessing of Abraham, 2. the promise of the Spirit

Through what? through faith in Jesus Christ

Eph 1:13-14  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

What does the holy Spirit of promise do for us? Seals us.

We are sealed until when?  Until the redemption of the purchased possession.

What is “the purchased possession?”  We are!

We are the purchased possession! Christ redeemed (or purchased) us for Himself, when He died for us on the cross!! Hallelujah! We were on the auction block and Jesus stepped up and purchased us for the glory of God!!

Define: Earnest -- G728, ἀῤῥαβών, arrhabōn, ar-hrab-ohn', Of Hebrew origin [H6162]; a pledge, that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest: - earnest. -- down payment – a small advance payment that confirms a contract; a sign, foretaste, or pledge of something to come

Earnest of what?  Of our inheritance in Jesus Christ!

2Ti_1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

What promise is spoken of here? The promise of life.

Which is where? It is in Christ Jesus.

Rev_21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

What is promised in this verse? No more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain -- for the former things are passed away or have come to an end. This is the description of the promised new life in Christ!

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

“For yet a little while” is the author’s way of encouraging patient waiting. It would be like saying, “In only a short time.”

Who is “he that shall come?”  Jesus Christ.

What will he do?  Jesus shall return (come) and will not tarry.

Define: Tarry – linger, remain, or delay, wait, postpone, suspend, shelve

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith:

Who are “the just?”  We are!

Define: Just – G1342, δίκαιος, dikaios, dik'-ah-yos, From G1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just, meet, right (-eous).

“The just” are those who are justified in Christ. The term “the just” is used many times in the Old Testament to refer to the man who walks in the ways of the Lord. The man who has integrity, who lives by his word and loves the Lord.

Mat_13:49  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just

Luk_1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Act_24:15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

1Pe_3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 

“The just shall live by faith.” This is like saying “the righteous shall live by faith,” or “The redeemed shall live by continued faith in Jesus Christ.”

Mic_6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

The just have always been the ones who treated others justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with the God they knew and trusted deeply in their hearts.

but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Notice the word “but.” He is now speaking of the opposite of “the just.” “The unjust” is the man who “draws back” to his old ways. The one who quits on Jesus and becomes His enemy, once more.

How does our author feel about this man?  My soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;

“But” – again he swings back to the opposite: “But we” – and he includes all who are reading his epistle and who have put their faith in Christ.

He says we are not what?  Not of them.

We are not of them. We have no part in them. We are not like them. We do not belong to them.

We are not like who? Those who draw back.

What are they drawing back unto?  Perdition.

Define: Perdition – G684, ἀπώλεια, apōleia, ap-o'-li-a, ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste. -- From a presumed derivative of G622; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

They are drawing back to loss and destruction – or to the state of everlasting punishment in hell. The word “perish” is a good one to remember as it is used in some of our favorite verses. Now we know that to perish means to go to hell.

but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

“But” – again he swings back for his final statement.

Who are we “of”? Them that believe in Jesus Christ.

What does believing cause?  The saving of the soul.

The unjust are “drawing back” and the just are “believing” and “saving” their own souls.  Let us remember this one important point: We are saved by God’s grace. But we receive His grace, His gift, by accepting, believing, and trusting in Him. Those who do not accept God’s grace, or, who believe and then draw back or stop believing, do not receive the blessings of the promise. We are saved by grace… and the just shall live by faith in God’s grace.

BBC: Now the just shall live by faith. This is the life that values God's promises, that sees the unseen, and that perseveres to the end…. With this mention of faith (“believe” and “faith” are the same root word in Greek), the groundwork is laid for a fuller discussion of the life that pleases God. The illustrious eleventh chapter follows quite naturally at this point.

Read our verses again:

Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.