Hebrews 10:26-27 - is there no sacrifice post-repentance or is it a lifestyle thing?

[WandererAtHeart]

Hebrews 10:26-27 says "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."

I know that after we become believers, we will still sin from time to time and when we do, there is forgiveness. But what if someone becomes a Chrsitian, then falls into a way of deliberate sin (such as sexual sin, addiction, etc) and backslides for a while - does that mean there is no sacrifice left for them, even if they repent and turn from it? I have generally thought this meant a deliberate lifestyle of sin without any obvious change post-salvation, as in the person just wants the benefits without the change. But I have always wondered if it means something more than that.

Also to note the context is a passage about assurance of faith, part of which is not forsaking the gathering together as seen in 10:25. Does that indicate that those who don't go to church are walking in a way of sin?

 

[Lamb]

The Gospel will trump the Law for the repentant person. If you deliberately sin, you are in danger of falling away from God, but if you turn back to Him in repentance, that sin was covered at the cross and He will forgive you. Rejecting forgiveness and rejecting the Savior is what damns us. The Holy Spirit is at work in the believer to keep turning him back to Himself.

Those who don't go to church...I'm not so sure it's a sin because people have their reasons why they cannot (physical/mental health). The question would be why don't they want to go receive God's gifts in the worship service in word and sacrament?

 

[BruceLeiter]

Hebrews 10:26-27 says "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."

I know that after we become believers, we will still sin from time to time and when we do, there is forgiveness. But what if someone becomes a Chrsitian, then falls into a way of deliberate sin (such as sexual sin, addiction, etc) and backslides for a while - does that mean there is no sacrifice left for them, even if they repent and turn from it? I have generally thought this meant a deliberate lifestyle of sin without any obvious change post-salvation, as in the person just wants the benefits without the change. But I have always wondered if it means something more than that.

Also to note the context is a passage about assurance of faith, part of which is not forsaking the gathering together as seen in 10:25. Does that indicate that those who don't go to church are walking in a way of sin?

@WandererAtHeart, I think the key to understanding the verses is "knowledge of the truth." Knowing the truth about God, Jesus, and the Bible doesn't make a person a true Christian. Only God knows people's hearts, but being a Christian involves knowing God personally with a commitment to follow his will. If a person only knows a lot about God falls away from that knowledge and persists in his rebellion, the author says that there comes a point that they are liable for God's verdict of guilty at the final judgment when Jesus returns or when they die.

 

[jswauto]

Here's the NLT; Heb 10


26Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

Saying if you've turned away from your Salvation, there isn't anything greater to turn to. It's also saying you are blinded by your sins from the gift of Salvation. But look what the Bible says here:

KJV Mathew 12:

The Unpardonable Sin

(Mark 3:28-30)

31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.


So we can see clearly that just like Lamb said: If you deliberately sin, you are in danger of falling away from God, but if you turn back to Him in repentance, that sin was covered at the cross and He will forgive you.

Concerning Hebrews 10:27:
And yes, even when you reject the Lord, you will still know in your heart: the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

So to answer your question: the lifestyle of purposeful sinning and that sin will blind you from the righteousness and possibly the repentance required to return to the Lord.

 

[Him]

The Gospel will trump the Law for the repentant person.

Hi Lamb, what is the truth that we received that is mentioned in verse 26?

If you deliberately sin, you are in danger of falling away from God, but if you turn back to Him in repentance, that sin was covered at the cross and He will forgive you. Rejecting forgiveness and rejecting the Savior is what damns us. The Holy Spirit is at work in the believer to keep turning him back to Himself.

Amen

Those who don't go to church...I'm not so sure it's a sin because people have their reasons why they cannot (physical/mental health). The question would be why don't they want to go receive God's gifts in the worship service in word and sacrament?

Forsaking the assembly of ourselves is not just speaking of going to church.

 

[BruceLeiter]

Here's the NLT; Heb 10


26Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

Saying if you've turned away from your Salvation, there isn't anything greater to turn to. It's also saying you are blinded by your sins from the gift of Salvation. But look what the Bible says here:

KJV Mathew 12:

The Unpardonable Sin

(Mark 3:28-30)

31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.


So we can see clearly that just like Lamb said: If you deliberately sin, you are in danger of falling away from God, but if you turn back to Him in repentance, that sin was covered at the cross and He will forgive you.

Concerning Hebrews 10:27:
And yes, even when you reject the Lord, you will still know in your heart: the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

So to answer your question: the lifestyle of purposeful sinning and that sin will blind you from the righteousness and repentance required to return to the Lord.

In verse 26, what does having "knowledge of the truth" mean? Does it really mean, as many people assume, that those people are saved but have become unsaved? No, many people have "knowledge of the truth," perhaps because they were raised going to church; but they don't know God--the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as the one, true God--personally. Just knowing the Bible's truth does not at all mean they're saved. The unforgiveable sin is a lifelong passive or active rebellion against the true God of the Bible.

 

[jswauto]

In verse 26, what does having "knowledge of the truth" mean? Does it really mean, as many people assume, that those people are saved but have become unsaved? No, many people have "knowledge of the truth," perhaps because they were raised going to church; but they don't know God--the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as the one, true God--personally. Just knowing the Bible's truth does not at all mean they're saved. The unforgiveable sin is a lifelong passive or active rebellion against the true God of the Bible.

There are two unforgivable sins or 2 categories of them:

1,) Unrepentant sins: Refusing to repent governs it as unforgivable. Luke 13:

3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

2.) Eternal sins: Sins against the Spirit are not forgivable. Mathew 12:

31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Everything else under the sun is forgivable through the Blood of Jesus!

 

[Can't think of a name]

The turning away probably refers to apostasy which means completely giving up your faith and becoming an atheist or something like that. That such persons have had some experience of God and been given the Holy Spirit is implied in the text in Hebrews which means if that person turns away from God they cannot be saved again. But I suspect that would only consummate when they are near to or at death's door in which case they still have an opportunity to repent and turn back to God.

 

[BruceLeiter]

There are two unforgivable sins or 2 categories of them:

1,) Unrepentant: Refusing to repent governs it as unforgivable.

2.) Eternal sins: Sins against the Spirit are not forgivable.

Everything else under the sun is forgivable through the Blood of Jesus!

@jswauto, where in the Bible do you find such a separation of the two kinds? I think that they are one; a whole unrepentant life leads to eternal sins into the future. I completely agree with your last sentence!

 

[BruceLeiter]

The turning away probably refers to apostasy which means completely giving up your faith and becoming an atheist or something like that. That such persons have had some experience of God and been given the Holy Spirit is implied in the text in Hebrews which means if that person turns away from God they cannot be saved again. But I suspect that would only consummate when they are near to or at death's door in which case they still have an opportunity to repent and turn back to God.

@Can't think of a name, as I explain in my post, "knowledge of the truth" never equates with genuine salvation (we need to know God personally); therefore, such wandering doesn't involve losing faith or salvation, which the person never had in the first place.