Lesson 95: Why the Warnings of Scripture Must Be Taken Seriously
Some parts of Scripture comfort us immediately.
They speak of:
grace;
forgiveness;
God’s faithfulness;
eternal life;
and the love of Jesus Christ.
Other passages disturb us.
They warn about:
unbelief;
hardness of heart;
deliberate sin;
false profession;
falling away;
judgment;
discipline;
and loss.
People respond to these passages in different ways.
Some ignore them.
Some explain them away before allowing the words to search their hearts.
Some use them to frighten tender believers constantly.
Others become so troubled that they lose sight of Jesus Christ and His grace.
None of those responses is right.
God placed warnings in Scripture for a purpose.
They must be read:
carefully;
honestly;
in context;
and with a heart willing to respond.
Scripture says:
“Let us therefore fear,
lest, a promise being left us
of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem
to come short of it.”
— Hebrews 4:1, KJV
That warning was not written so Christians would remove it from consideration.
It was written so hearers would respond with faith.
All Scripture Is Profitable
Paul writes:
“All scripture is given
by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished
unto all good works.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17, KJV
All Scripture includes:
promises;
commands;
encouragements;
examples;
and warnings.
A person who reads only comforting passages is not receiving the whole counsel of God.
A person who reads only warnings is also failing to receive the whole counsel of God.
We need every part God inspired.
Warnings Are an Expression of Mercy
A warning announces danger before the final consequence occurs.
If a bridge has collapsed, a sign that says:
“Bridge Out”
is not cruel.
The sign is merciful.
It does not hate the driver.
It seeks to prevent destruction.
In the same way, God warns because:
sin is deceitful;
judgment is real;
souls are eternal;
and He does not want people to continue blindly toward ruin.
A God Who Never Warned Would Not Be Loving
Imagine a physician who knows that a condition is deadly but says nothing because the truth might upset the patient.
Silence would not be compassion.
Love tells the truth in order to give opportunity for response.
Scripture says:
“Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend…”
— Proverbs 27:5–6, KJV
A faithful warning may hurt.
Its purpose is protection and restoration.
Warnings Reveal the Seriousness of Sin
Sin often presents itself as:
small;
temporary;
private;
or manageable.
God’s warnings expose its true direction.
Sin can:
harden the heart;
damage conscience;
enslave desire;
destroy relationships;
produce death;
and lead people away from God.
Warnings remove the flattering appearance sin gives itself.
Warnings Reveal the Holiness of God
God is:
loving;
merciful;
patient;
and gracious.
He is also holy and just.
He does not treat evil as though it does not matter.
A view of God that includes kindness but removes holiness is not the God revealed in Scripture.
The cross itself shows both:
the terrible seriousness of sin;
and the immeasurable greatness of God’s mercy.
Warnings Do Not Contradict Grace
Some people assume that strong warnings are opposed to grace.
But grace warns.
Grace does not say:
“Destruction is approaching, but mentioning it would be unkind.”
Grace says:
“Turn while mercy is offered.”
The gospel itself contains both:
a warning concerning sin and judgment;
and the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Warnings and Promises Work Together
Scripture promises that God is faithful.
It also warns believers not to become careless.
These truths are not enemies.
The promise encourages faith.
The warning exposes danger.
The promise says:
“God will not fail you.”
The warning says:
“Do not turn away from Him.”
Together they produce:
confidence without presumption;
and vigilance without despair.
God Uses Warnings to Preserve His People
A warning does not necessarily predict that every person who hears it will be destroyed.
It may be one of the means God uses to prevent destruction.
When a believer hears:
“Take heed,”
and takes heed, the warning has accomplished its purpose.
When he hears:
“Flee,”
and flees, he has not disproved the warning.
He has benefited from it.
The Proper Response Is Not to Argue With the Sign
Suppose a person approaches a dangerous cliff and sees a warning sign.
He can:
debate whether the fall would truly be fatal;
accuse the sign-maker of negativity;
or step away from the edge.
The wisest response is to respect the danger.
When Scripture warns against:
unbelief;
sexual sin;
idolatry;
hardness;
false doctrine;
or deliberate rebellion,
do not first search for a way to make the warning harmless.
Respond to God.
Warnings Must Be Read in Context
Taking warnings seriously does not mean treating every passage as though it says the same thing.
Different passages address different dangers.
Some warn:
unbelievers;
false professors;
churches;
or genuine believers.
Some concern:
temporal discipline;
physical consequences;
loss of usefulness;
loss of reward;
or eternal judgment.
Some address:
a moment of temptation;
a continuing sinful pattern;
or deliberate rejection of Christ.
Context determines meaning.
Ask Who Is Being Addressed
Before applying a warning, ask:
“Who is speaking?”
“To whom?”
“What has happened?”
“What danger is being addressed?”
“What response is commanded?”
A warning given to Israel in a particular historical setting may contain a lasting principle, but it should not be removed carelessly from its context.
A warning to a church should not automatically be treated as though it were addressed only to unbelievers outside the church.
Read honestly.
Do Not Weaken a Passage Because It Is Difficult
Some warnings make readers uncomfortable.
The temptation is to explain them so completely that no real warning remains.
But an interpretation that empties a warning of its ability to warn should be questioned.
God did not inspire frightening language accidentally.
Allow the passage to retain the seriousness God placed within it.
Do Not Make a Passage Say More Than It Says
The opposite error is also dangerous.
A teacher may use one warning to declare that any believer who experiences:
doubt;
temptation;
emotional numbness;
or one serious failure
has no hope of restoration.
That may go beyond the text.
Warning passages must be strong enough to awaken.
They must also be interpreted accurately enough not to crush people God is calling to return.
Israel’s History Was Written as a Warning
Paul reminds the Corinthian church that Israel experienced great privileges.
They passed through the sea.
They received spiritual provision.
Yet many fell under judgment because of:
idolatry;
sexual sin;
tempting God;
and complaining.
Paul writes:
“Now these things were our examples,
to the intent we should not lust
after evil things,
as they also lusted.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:6, KJV
Then:
“Now all these things happened unto them
for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:11, KJV
They were written:
“for our admonition.”
The church is supposed to learn from them.
Spiritual Privilege Does Not Justify Presumption
Israel had seen extraordinary works of God.
Those privileges did not make rebellion safe.
Likewise, a person should not reason:
“I was baptized.”
“I attend church.”
“I know doctrine.”
“I have served in ministry.”
“Therefore, deliberate sin cannot endanger me.”
Spiritual privilege should produce gratitude and obedience, not presumption.
Take Heed When You Think You Stand
Paul concludes:
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:12, KJV
The warning is directed particularly toward the person who feels secure in himself.
He does not think he needs caution.
He cannot imagine falling.
Self-confidence makes him careless.
Biblical assurance rests in Christ.
Presumption rests in an exaggerated view of oneself.
Assurance and Presumption Are Different
Assurance says:
“My hope is Jesus Christ.”
“I believe His promise.”
“I am trusting and following Him.”
Presumption says:
“My conduct does not matter.”
“I can preserve rebellion and remain unconcerned.”
“Warnings apply only to other people.”
Assurance produces:
love;
gratitude;
obedience;
and continued dependence.
Presumption produces carelessness.
Christ Warned About False Profession
Jesus said:
“Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven.”
— Matthew 7:21, KJV
These people used religious language.
They claimed works performed in Christ’s name.
Yet Jesus said:
“I never knew you:
depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.”
— Matthew 7:23, KJV
The warning is not that Christ knew them and forgot them.
He says:
“I never knew you.”
Religious activity cannot replace genuinely knowing Jesus Christ.
Examine the Foundation, Not Merely the Appearance
A person may perform public ministry while:
loving sin;
seeking praise;
or trusting religious works.
The question is not simply:
“Did I do Christian things?”
Ask:
“Do I know Jesus Christ?”
“Is my trust in Him?”
“Is my life honestly submitted to His lordship?”
No ministry achievement can substitute for reconciliation to God.
Hebrews Gives Severe Warnings
The book of Hebrews contains some of Scripture’s strongest warnings.
It repeatedly calls hearers to:
give earnest heed;
hold fast;
fear unbelief;
continue in faith;
and refuse to turn from Jesus Christ.
These passages should not be ignored merely because they are difficult.
They were written to produce endurance.
Hearing Without Faith Does Not Profit
Hebrews says:
“For unto us was the gospel preached,
as well as unto them:
but the word preached did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith
in them that heard it.”
— Hebrews 4:2, KJV
Hearing truth is a privilege.
Hearing alone is insufficient.
The Word must be received with faith.
A person may sit beneath biblical preaching for years and still resist what he hears.
Exposure is not the same as believing response.
Hebrews 6 Must Not Be Treated Lightly
Hebrews describes people who experienced extraordinary spiritual privilege and then fell away.
It says:
“For it is impossible for those
who were once enlightened,
and have tasted of the heavenly gift,
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away,
to renew them again unto repentance…”
— Hebrews 6:4–6, KJV
Christians have debated aspects of this passage.
Its warning remains unmistakably serious.
It does not describe an ordinary believer who hates his sin, desires Christ, and returns in repentance after stumbling.
It describes an extreme and dreadful departure after extraordinary exposure to God’s truth and work.
Do not make the passage harmless.
Do not use it to tell every repentant sinner that return is impossible.
The Passage Also Contains Encouragement
After warning severely, Hebrews says:
“But, beloved, we are persuaded
better things of you,
and things that accompany salvation,
though we thus speak.”
— Hebrews 6:9, KJV
The writer warns because he desires:
better things;
diligence;
full assurance of hope;
and faithful continuation.
The warning and encouragement belong together.
Severe Warning Can Serve Loving Confidence
The writer does not say:
“Because I expect better things, there was no reason to warn you.”
He warns them precisely because he wants them to continue faithfully.
Pastoral love does not remove necessary warning.
Pastoral warning should also not remove hope where there is responsive faith.
Hebrews 10 Warns Against Deliberate Repudiation
Hebrews says:
“For if we sin wilfully
after that we have received
the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for
of judgment and fiery indignation…”
— Hebrews 10:26–27, KJV
This passage has terrified many tender believers.
The surrounding description is important.
It speaks of one who has:
trodden under foot the Son of God;
counted Christ’s covenant blood unholy;
and done despite unto the Spirit of grace.
This is not describing every conscious act of sin committed by a struggling Christian.
All sin contains will.
The passage concerns deliberate, defiant rejection of Christ and His only sacrifice.
Do Not Use Hebrews 10 to Excuse Deliberate Sin
Although the passage should not be misapplied to every failure, neither should its seriousness be weakened.
A person should never reason:
“I am not yet guilty of complete apostasy, so deliberate rebellion is safe.”
Sin moves toward hardness.
The warning calls hearers away from despising Christ.
Respond before rebellion becomes more hardened.
Hebrews Calls Hearers to Confidence and Continuance
The same chapter says:
“Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward.”
— Hebrews 10:35, KJV
And:
“Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
— Hebrews 10:38, KJV
Then the writer expresses confidence:
“But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe
to the saving of the soul.”
— Hebrews 10:39, KJV
The response is not despair.
It is continuing faith.
The Tender Conscience and the Hardened Heart Need Different Words
A person who is terrified, grieving over sin, and seeking Jesus Christ is not displaying the same posture as someone who mocks Christ and deliberately rejects His sacrifice.
The tender person may need to hear:
“Come boldly to the throne of grace.”
The hardened person needs to hear:
“Do not continue despising God’s mercy.”
Wisdom applies the right truth to the right condition.
Do Not Comfort Rebellion With Promises Meant for the Repentant
Promises of forgiveness are glorious.
They should be offered freely to those who turn to Christ.
But a person who insists:
“I will keep this sin, refuse repentance, and claim assurance,”
should not be comforted in that condition.
Grace does not assure people that rebellion is safe.
Grace calls them to repent and return.
Do Not Crush the Repentant With Warnings Meant for Defiant Apostasy
A struggling believer may confess:
“I fell.”
“I am afraid.”
“I want Christ.”
“I want to turn from this.”
Do not tell him that his desire to return proves nothing and that hope is gone.
Lead him to:
Jesus Christ;
confession;
repentance;
accountability;
and obedience.
Warnings should lead responsive hearts toward God, not away from Him.
Romans 11 Warns Against Pride
Paul speaks of branches broken off through unbelief and warns Gentile believers:
“Well; because of unbelief
they were broken off,
and thou standest by faith.
Be not highminded, but fear:”
— Romans 11:20, KJV
Standing is:
“by faith.”
Pride is inappropriate.
The proper response is humble, continuing dependence.
Behold Goodness and Severity
Paul continues:
“Behold therefore
the goodness and severity of God:
on them which fell, severity;
but toward thee, goodness,
if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
— Romans 11:22, KJV
Many people prefer to behold only goodness.
Others preach only severity.
Scripture commands us to behold both.
God’s goodness should produce gratitude.
His severity should destroy presumption.
Warning Against Discipline Is Not Always Warning of Eternal Condemnation
Some warning passages concern God’s corrective discipline of His people.
The Corinthian church treated the Lord’s supper sinfully.
Paul said some were:
weak;
sick;
and some had died.
Then he explained:
“But when we are judged,
we are chastened of the Lord,
that we should not be condemned
with the world.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:32, KJV
The discipline was serious.
Its purpose was distinct from condemnation with the world.
Context matters.
Loss of Reward Is Not Always Loss of Salvation
Paul describes a believer’s work being tested by fire.
Some work remains and receives reward.
Other work is burned.
He writes:
“If any man’s work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:15, KJV
This passage concerns tested work and loss of reward.
It should not be made to teach that every warning concerns eternal loss.
Lesson 97 will examine the believer’s accountability before Christ more fully.
Not Every Consequence Is the Same
Scripture may warn of:
damaged fellowship;
a hardened conscience;
church discipline;
physical consequences;
loss of usefulness;
loss of reward;
temporal judgment;
or eternal destruction.
Do not flatten those consequences into one category.
Determine what the passage actually says.
Then allow the real consequence to remain serious.
Christ Warned Churches
In Revelation, Jesus warned actual churches.
One had a reputation for being alive but was dead.
Another was lukewarm.
Some tolerated:
false doctrine;
immorality;
or spiritual complacency.
Jesus called them to:
remember;
repent;
watch;
hold fast;
and overcome.
Church membership does not make every condition safe.
Christ searches churches and individuals truthfully.
A Good Reputation Cannot Replace Spiritual Life
Jesus told Sardis:
“I know thy works,
that thou hast a name
that thou livest,
and art dead.”
— Revelation 3:1, KJV
People thought the church was alive.
Christ saw differently.
A ministry’s reputation, size, history, or activity cannot replace actual spiritual life.
The warning calls us to care more about Christ’s judgment than public opinion.
Lukewarmness Must Not Be Renamed Maturity
The Laodicean church said:
“I am rich, and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing.”
Christ said they did not understand their true condition.
Self-satisfaction can blind believers.
A person may mistake:
comfort for peace;
indifference for balance;
and lack of conviction for maturity.
Christ’s warning calls for zeal and repentance.
Warnings Should Produce Self-Examination
Paul says:
“Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith;
prove your own selves.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV
Self-examination is not endless self-absorption.
It means testing one’s profession and conduct beneath Scripture.
Ask:
“What am I trusting?”
“What presently rules my life?”
“Am I defending known rebellion?”
“Am I abiding in Jesus Christ?”
Self-Examination Must Lead Back to Christ
The purpose is not to stare at yourself until you feel certain enough.
Assurance ultimately rests in God’s testimony concerning His Son.
John writes:
“And this is the record,
that God hath given to us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.”
— 1 John 5:11, KJV
Examine honestly.
Then look to Jesus Christ.
Do not make your emotional condition the saviour.
Scripture Also Gives Assurance
John writes:
“These things have I written unto you
that believe on the name
of the Son of God;
that ye may know
that ye have eternal life…”
— 1 John 5:13, KJV
Warnings do not mean assurance is impossible.
God wants believers to know the life found in His Son.
But biblical assurance should never be separated from:
faith in Christ;
love for truth;
and a life responding to His Word.
Assurance Should Make Us Grateful, Not Careless
The person who understands the greatness of grace should say:
“How can I honor the One who saved me?”
Not:
“How much rebellion can I preserve without consequence?”
Assurance that encourages deliberate sin has been distorted.
True assurance produces worship and dependence.
Biblical Fear Is Not Hopeless Terror
Scripture sometimes commands believers to fear.
This fear includes:
reverence;
sobriety;
and recognition that God’s warnings are real.
It is not the despairing conclusion:
“God is unwilling to receive anyone who comes through Christ.”
The fear of God makes sin serious.
Faith in Christ makes mercy certain for those who come to Him.
Presumption and Despair Are Opposite Errors
Presumption says:
“I have nothing to fear, regardless of how I live.”
Despair says:
“There is no mercy for me, regardless of how I turn to Christ.”
Scripture rejects both.
To the presumptuous it says:
“Take heed lest he fall.”
To the repentant it says:
“Come boldly unto the throne of grace.”
Persistent Religious Fear May Need Wise Help
Some people repeatedly fear that they have committed an unforgivable sin despite desiring Christ, confessing sin, and seeking obedience.
They may reread warning passages compulsively and never receive comfort.
Such a person should seek help from:
a mature, biblically balanced pastor;
trusted Christian support;
and, where persistent anxiety or obsessive fear is present, a qualified mental-health professional.
Seeking wise help is not unbelief.
Warnings should not be used to keep a tender conscience trapped in endless terror.
Teachers Must Preach Warnings Faithfully
A teacher should not avoid warning passages because they may be unpopular.
People need the whole counsel of God.
But teachers must also avoid using warnings to:
control;
threaten;
or create dependence upon themselves.
A warning should direct people toward:
Christ;
truth;
repentance;
and faithfulness.
It should not make the human teacher appear to control salvation.
Do Not Threaten People for Questioning Human Authority
A leader may say:
“If you leave this church, you are leaving God.”
“If you question me, you are in rebellion.”
“If you disagree with my interpretation, you are falling away.”
Those claims can be spiritually abusive.
Loyalty belongs first to Jesus Christ and Scripture.
Leaving an unfaithful, unsafe, or controlling leader is not the same as abandoning Christ.
Warnings Should Be Delivered With Tears, Not Enjoyment
Biblical warning is not an opportunity to appear severe.
The person giving the warning should desire:
repentance;
restoration;
and life.
There is something wrong when a preacher seems to enjoy describing people’s destruction.
Truth should be spoken with:
gravity;
love;
humility;
and hope.
The Purpose Is Response
A warning that produces only theological debate has not yet completed its work.
Ask:
“What is God calling me to do?”
The response may be:
believe;
repent;
hold fast;
flee;
watch;
continue;
return;
or seek help.
The goal is not merely to classify the passage.
The goal is to hear and obey.
A Biblical Pattern for Receiving Warning Passages
1. Read the Entire Context
Do not build fear or doctrine from one isolated sentence.
2. Identify the Audience
Determine who is being addressed and what privileges or profession they possess.
3. Identify the Danger
Is the passage addressing unbelief, hypocrisy, neglect, deliberate rebellion, discipline, loss, or another danger?
4. Identify the Consequence
Do not assume every warning describes the same judgment.
5. Identify the Commanded Response
Look for words such as repent, believe, fear, hold fast, flee, continue, or remember.
6. Keep the Gospel Central
Warnings do not create another saviour. Jesus Christ remains the only refuge.
7. Reject Presumption
Do not use grace, past experience, or religious activity to make rebellion seem safe.
8. Reject Despair
Do not tell a responsive, repentant person to remain away from Christ.
9. Receive Help Where Needed
Use faithful pastors, mature believers, contextual study, and appropriate professional support.
10. Obey Today
A warning is most useful when it produces timely faith and obedience.
A Warning-Passage Examination
The warning passage I need to study is:
The original audience is:
The specific danger is:
The consequence described is:
The response commanded is:
The promise or encouragement within the context is:
The presumption I must reject is:
The fear or despair I must bring to Christ is:
My act of obedience today is:
Discipleship Questions
- Why are the warnings of Scripture an expression of God’s mercy rather than evidence that He delights in frightening people?
- Why must warning passages concerning false profession, church discipline, lost reward, apostasy, and eternal judgment not be treated as though they all describe the same situation?
- What is the difference between biblical assurance and spiritual presumption?
- Why should Hebrews 10 not be reduced either to every conscious sin or to a harmless warning with no real danger?
- Which warning of Scripture are you most tempted either to explain away or to apply to yourself without proper context?
Closing Exhortation
Take the warnings of Scripture seriously.
Do not remove them because they disturb you.
Do not twist them to support fear.
Do not flatten every warning into the same consequence.
Read the context.
Hear the danger.
Receive the correction.
Behold the goodness and severity of God.
Do not trust religious activity.
Do not presume upon past experiences.
Do not make peace with deliberate rebellion.
Do not tell a repentant person there is no mercy.
Do not comfort a hardened person as though sin were safe.
Let warnings drive you away from:
unbelief;
hypocrisy;
worldliness;
and rebellion.
Let them drive you toward:
Jesus Christ;
faith;
repentance;
obedience;
and endurance.
God’s warnings are not given to keep you from the refuge.
They are given to keep you from walking away from it.
A Prayer for a Heart That Hears God’s Warnings
Father,
Thank You for every promise, command, encouragement, correction, and warning You have given in Scripture.
Forgive me for reading only the passages I find comfortable.
Forgive me for explaining away warnings that expose my sin or presumption.
Keep me also from misusing severe passages, taking them out of context, or allowing fear to hide the grace of Jesus Christ.
Teach me to behold both Your goodness and Your severity.
Give me reverence without hopeless terror.
Give me assurance without carelessness.
Help me distinguish false profession, discipline, loss of reward, deliberate rebellion, and eternal judgment according to what each passage actually teaches.
Search my heart.
Expose every place where I am trusting:
religious activity;
past experience;
human approval;
or outward appearance
instead of Jesus Christ.
Show me any known sin I have begun to treat casually.
Help me respond today.
When I am presumptuous, awaken me.
When I am repentant and afraid, lead me boldly to the throne of grace.
Protect pastors and teachers from softening Your Word or using warnings to control people.
Make us faithful to preach the whole counsel of God with truth, tears, humility, and hope.
Keep me believing, abiding, repenting, holding fast, and continuing in Jesus Christ.
In His name, amen.
Next Step
Choose one warning passage that has either troubled you or that you have tended to avoid.
Read:
the entire chapter;
the preceding section;
and the section that follows.
Then complete these statements:
God Is Warning About
The Warning Is Addressed To
The Response God Requires Is
The Hope or Promise in the Context Is
I Have Been Tempted Toward Presumption By
Or I Have Been Tempted Toward Despair By
Today I Will Respond By
Do not stop with interpretation.
Take the response the passage requires.
Believe.
Repent.
Hold fast.
Flee.
Return.
Or seek faithful help.
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