Willful Sin? Explaining Hebrews Chapter 10.

Willful Sin? You cannot Sin Accidently. Read Hebrews Chapter 10.

Think about yourself. Your Sins. Many Sins we commit we have to work up to doing them. We dream about Sinning. We do not accidently Sin. All Sin is Willful Sin. A well known Truth. “Shelly accidently got Pregnant.” The Dad and Mom say, “Son Shelly is Pregnant because she had Sex. Sex is an intentional act, not an accident.”

Willful Sin? Salvation Explained.

Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 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,

Ephesians 1:12,13 clearly explains how to be Saved. Salvation = Eternal Life. Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise is Eternal Security.

(“…who first trusted in Christ.”) Trust = Faith

Salvation happens as soon as a person Trusts, puts their Faith in Jesus only to Save them. Willful Sin Does Not Take Away Your Salvation.

Faith / Trust / Belief in the Gospel = Saved from Hell. The Book of Romans has the most Salvation verses in it. Romans does not Say you will Go to Hell for Willful Sin. Romans Chapters 3, 5, and 10 are very Powerful. It is Essential for the Soul Winner to Memorize these Chapters.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Sealed = Eternal Life = Eternal Security = You can never Lose your Salvation.

Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Salvation is Eternal, Never Ending. Eternal Life Means Willful Sin will Not Take Away Your Salvation.

Numerous False Teachers: Pastor’s, Evangelists, Writers, and people in general. Teach that a Christian can lose their Salvation. They Claim they do not commit Willful Sin. They are Liars. Every Sin we commit is Willful Sin. These Counterfeit Christians, Mock OSAS, Once Saved Always Saved. They Deny Eternal Security.

Believe what the Bible teaches. Not people who twist the Scriptures. The Bible does not contradict itself.

Hebrews 10:26 is a popular verse False Teachers use. It is their Willful Sin Text verse. To Falsely teach that a Christian can Lose their Salvation.

Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”

This verse, this passage Does Not say a Saved person has Lost, or can Lose their Salvation. By committing Willful Sin.

Paul is saying: I have told you it is a Sin to continue with Temple sacrifices. If we wilfully Sin. (Keep going to the Temple. For animal sacrifices. After I have told you not to.) There remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sins.  The continued Temple sacrifices Mocked Jesus one time Blood Atonement for Sins. There is No More Sacrifices for Sin. Because Jesus Already made the One and Only Needed Blood Sacrifice. For All of the Sins of the World.

Hebrews 10: “12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

Hebrews Chapter 10 teaches Jesus is the only Sacrifice for Sins. His Sacrifice was a One time Only Sacrifice. To Eternally Pay for All of the Sins of the World. Thus the Temple Sacrifices for Sin, is Not an Actual Sacrifice for Sins.

To continue with the Temple sacrifices was willfully Sinning against God. This Act was Denying Jesus Blood Atonement.

Never base any doctrine on only one verse. Willful Sin is not unforgivable. The only way to understand the Bible is by understanding the context of the verse(s) you are studying.

The purpose of Hebrews Chapter 10 is to Stop Believing Jews from continuing in the temple ritual. Jesus Fulfilled this already. In his Incarnation, his Life, and his Blood Atonement. It is Wrong to continue with an elaborate system of rituals. Which spoke of the coming Savior. Foretold his future Death on the Cross, His Burial, and His Resurrection to Save mankind. After Jesus already Fulfilled this.

Still performing these rituals is saying, that Jesus was not the Messiah. And His Death was Not Valid. Doing so was WILLFUL SIN. There is no more Sacrifice for Sin. Jesus already made the Only Eternal Life Saving Sacrifice for Sin.

Continuing with the Foreshadowing Temple Sacrifices after Jesus Blood Atonement was WILLFUL SIN. This practice Denied and Disowned Jesus. It Destroyed the Faith of Those who Persisted in it.  

Further Explanation of Hebrews Chapter 10 and of Willful Sin.

Hebrews 10 is teaching that the Law Foreshadowed Jesus coming Salvation. His coming Sacrifice for Sin, for all Sin. It teaches Jesus one sacrifice for Sin was enough to pay for the Sins of the Whole World. That to Continue with Temple sacrifices was to deny Jesus Saving Blood Atonement.  

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

By continuing in the Jewish temple ritual, these Jews were committing Sin. Every time they participated in an animal sacrifice. They were saying that Jesus Died in Vain. This really is “Trampling” Him under foot. Regarding His Blood, His Death on the Cross, as “Unclean”. This is “Violently Insulting” the Spirit who testifies to Him and to the Validity of His Atonement.

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
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?
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.

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

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
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.
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.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Paul was dealing with Jewish believers who wanted to return to the Law to avoid persecution. The passage then is two-fold.

First to deal with Apostasy (10:19-25). Second to provide Encouragement to Grow Spiritually (10:32-39).

It is not Apostasy towards Judaism, it is Apostasy from Jesus Christ. Apostasy away from The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Final and only Saving Sacrifice.

Paul warns: Willful Sin, is a Presumptuous Sin Like in:

Numbers 15:30 But the soul that doeth [ought] presumptuously, [whether he be] born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity [shall be] upon him.

Understanding that presumptuous sins had no sacrifice is critical to understanding the text at hand.

The Law of Moses had sacrifices for any number of Sins outlined in Leviticus. 

If the sin was presumptuous, done intentionally, there was no sacrifice. The individual was now under the direct judgment of God Almighty.

“…but a fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” – Heb. 10:27.  Jews and Gentile would have been well acquainted with the Levitical law stated. They would have known that Physical Death not Eternal Damnation was the punishment.

Judgment, Fiery indignation, is a picture of a Jealous God. God was forced, because of His Holiness, to deal with his children severely (Heb. 12:6).

We are held secure by the power and promises of God (John 10:28). The judgment in view cannot be Hell / the Lake of Fire.

The judgment is physical death not Eternal Damnation. The promises of the Law were never Eternal Salvation. Keeping the Law was to assure God’s continued Blessing in their Life. Law Keeping was not a Contract to Heaven.

In fact, noticeably absent in all the warnings is Hell / the Lake of Fire. There is a thought among Christians that God’s Love will override his justice. That his Love will override his holiness in dealing with His people. However, there are many examples where God dealt with His people severely.

Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.

Ananias and Sapphira were put to death for their Sin. (Acts 5:1-11).

Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

These are examples of physical death as the Judgment of God.

An example from the Old Testament and an example from the New Testament. Notice the Judgment against them was only physical Death. There was no sentence of Eternal Damnation.

All too often, Christians immediately think of Fire and / or udgment in anger as speaking of Hell. This would be akin to believing that every time blood was spoken of in scripture, it was Christ’s blood.

Christians Judged: (see Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5;10) This may or may not be a time of rejoicing for that individual at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It will not be a Judgment that ends in Eternal Damnation. Jesus Judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a Judgment on Sins. It is a judgment on Christian Service. Again all Judgment by God in the Bible is not for Eternal Damnation.

The indignation spoken of in Hebrews Chapter 10 is Not for Eternal Condemnation. It is to cause a Saved Sinner to change their conduct. This is an expression of God’s Love.

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

In Conclusion.

Hebrews 10:26-27 is not a warning against Loss of Salvation. Neither is it discussing Unbelievers, Hellfire, and Persistent Sin.

This passage is to believers that were leaving Jesus for Judaism to avoid persecution. While they thought persecution from man was bad. Paul makes them aware that God dealing with them could be just as bad or even more severe.

Paul is imploring them to recognize the significance and the power of Jesus in their lives. He is attempting to motivate them to grow to maturity.