When reading the book of Hebrews, one comes across a verse that perplexes many souls. This section of Scripture cases many Christians to worry, agonize, and even reject Christ because of its biting words and definite swipe of the sword of God's holy word. This passage from the Bible, located in Hebrews 10:26-27, states clearly, 'For if we sin willfully after that we have received knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.' This verse speaks plainly about someone who hears the word of God, receives the word of God, but who after sinning willfully and knowingly is rejected by God and receives the same punishment as the heathen, which is eternity in a burning lake of fire.

Some Christians believe this verse speaks concerning one who hears the word of God, but doesn't receive the word, but the words 'after that we have received knowledge' may speak of something different than these teachers claim the verse says; chiefly, knowledge received must be knowledge believed and reinforced by action, which some Christians vehemently deny this passage speaks of such Bible exegesis. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum of Calvin and Armenius, some Christians believe it is possible for a Christian, who turns away from the faith, to lose their salvation and be tossed into the lake of fire burning with brimstone to suffer torment and pain for the rest of eternity in their resurrected body of everlasting punishment of fiery damnation. Is it possible these types of 'believers' truly never gave their hearts over to the will of God through faith in Jesus Christ? Is it possible they never received the new birth in the first place? There are multiple Scriptures that speak of the faithfulness of God to lose none whom He has put in the hands of His Son, Jesus Christ, except the son of perdition, who is Judas Iscariot. There are also many Scriptures that suffix eternal life with such pithy words as 'if' and phrases with the notions of persevering and enduring the race until the finish line in hopes of receiving eternal life based upon our effort to keep hold of the great salvation given to the hopeless sinner begging the Lord for divine mercy. Which of these viewpoints hold the attention of the Lord? Which of these sides of the spectrum of emphasis between God's sovereignty and man's will must we place our allegiance?

The answer may be stated in such a way that may seem cowardly, easy, and also very tempered by the most outspoken critics and apologists of both sides of this argument: perhaps it is both sides which are correct. As a born-again Christian, we must bear the responsibility given to us by our Lord, Jesus Christ, when He lays upon our shoulders the cross which we must bear during our sojourn on earth. When the cross is placed upon us, our reaction and patience while enduring such suffering will be the 'fiery trial' we must persevere through in order to come out like gold tried in the fire. However, it is God who supplies us with the mechanisms of His Spirit, accessed through our faith in God's ability to sustain us during these times, that gives us the power to carry the cross which the Lord gives us, thus placing the burden upon both issues: God's sovereignty in giving Christians exactly what God knows they can handle with the purpose of turning their faith into gold, while allowing the Christian to endure the pain and suffering of carrying the cross for the sake of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.