I've heard several TV preachers in the past either say or imply that it means if we commit a sin while KNOWING it's sin, there is NO sacrifice that will cover this particular sin... which would leave us hell bound w/no hope, of course, since sin cannot enter heaven, and we would still have that sin upon us, unforgiven forever and ever.
I, personally, have always thought it meant that if we sin, and know that it is sin when we commit it, no "further" sacrifice is needed by Christ to cover that sin, b/c His sacrifice on the cross was was a one-time for ALL sin ( Hebrews 10:10-14, plus another scripture of which I cannot recall at the moment). But if I am wrong about this, I want to know it!
I hope you are blessed on this Saturday/Sabbath Day!
There are many pastors out there, including TV pastors confusing many regarding "their interpretation" of the scriptures. My best advice: Don't believe anyone until you can read the scripture yourself, and pray for understanding.
Based on my reading of scripture we can strive to be sin free....and follow God's commandments. If/when we fail as we are not perfect, we can pray for forgiveness....and per Jesus he will forgive.....as He states in these scriptures:
Matthew 18:21
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
Matthew 18:22
"Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
If we pray for forgiveness Jesus will forgive us....
Read the scriptures yourself, pray for understanding and guidance from God's Holy Spirt......and believe!
When considering Hebrews 10:26,27 & its sister portion in Hebrews 6:4-6, we find that the same matter is being addressed. In both references, the warning of "sinning wilfully" & "falling away" are given. And these are mentioned because some of them were teetering into apostasy (i.e. turning from Christ back into Judaism). Just as Hebrews was for the teaching & guidance to the 'Messianic Jews", it was also a stern warning to the others.
So the "wilful sin" in Hebrews 10:26, wasn't a voluntary act of sin or being found living in such state, but one of apostasy. And as we read that passage through to verse 29, we note the writer's lesson: 'if those who sinned under Moses' Law were condemned to death without mercy, how much more will these others suffer who have trodden over God's Son, despising His Sacrifice, doing despite to the Spirit of Grace'. These were those who may have been converted, or appeared to be, but had determined in their hearts that Jesus' Sacrifice was insufficient or had little appeal in the light of the old Judaistic beliefs & teachings. To these, the writer says, that there remains "no more (no other) sacrifice for their sins" - the Law could never save them, nor can any other saviour. But "we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (v 39): there were still those who held onto Christ as their only Saviour & Hope.
So we can delight that even if we, as believers, slip up & sin, Christ's Sacrifice & the Spirit's Work in us, will ever alert us, draw us & bring us to repentance. If a person has none of this blessed Work going on in him, then the Spirit is not in residence & he may be deceiving himself ( Romans 8:9). But the warnings there in those portions in Hebrews were for those desiring to turn back into Judaism, for which there was no forgiveness & no further sacrifice available ( Hebrews 6:4-6).
Dear Joyce. Thank you for your enquiry into this great Book in the NT. Of course, I can only share my understanding & perspective of this Book & these passages in particular, which means that I'm not in agreement with those 'TV preachers'. And as much as I agree with you that Christ's one & only Sacrifice is all that is needed to cover 'that sin', indeed all sin, I also believe that the message of Hebrews is directed in another way.
The Book was written primarily to those of Israel (Hebrews) that embraced Christ. Most were truly converted, Spirit-baptized, but some (whether saved or not) were in danger of apostatizing, turning back to Judaism. Even though we today can learn much from the Book, I always believe we must read Scripture in the way it was meant to be read: written to whom, the background, the problems, etc. As we see in the entire Book, the strong references to the superiority of Christ to angels, Moses, prophets & the earthly priesthood all spoke volumes to the Jew who pinned his hope in the strict observance of the Torah, the Prophets & the Writings. To all these, says the Hebrews writer, Jesus is far superior & preeminent as the one & only Sacrifice for mankind's sins.
I've heard several TV preachers in the past either say or imply that it means if we commit a sin while KNOWING it's sin, there is NO sacrifice that will cover this particular sin... which would leave us hell bound w/no hope, of course, since sin cannot enter heaven, and we would still have that sin upon us, unforgiven forever and ever.
I, personally, have always thought it meant that if we sin, and know that it is sin when we commit it, no "further" sacrifice is needed by Christ to cover that sin, b/c His sacrifice on the cross was was a one-time for ALL sin ( Hebrews 10:10-14, plus another scripture of which I cannot recall at the moment). But if I am wrong about this, I want to know it!
Thank you so much.
I hope you are blessed on this Saturday/Sabbath Day!
There are many pastors out there, including TV pastors confusing many regarding "their interpretation" of the scriptures. My best advice: Don't believe anyone until you can read the scripture yourself, and pray for understanding.
Based on my reading of scripture we can strive to be sin free....and follow God's commandments. If/when we fail as we are not perfect, we can pray for forgiveness....and per Jesus he will forgive.....as He states in these scriptures:
Matthew 18:21
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
Matthew 18:22
"Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
If we pray for forgiveness Jesus will forgive us....
Read the scriptures yourself, pray for understanding and guidance from God's Holy Spirt......and believe!
God Bless
When considering Hebrews 10:26,27 & its sister portion in Hebrews 6:4-6, we find that the same matter is being addressed. In both references, the warning of "sinning wilfully" & "falling away" are given. And these are mentioned because some of them were teetering into apostasy (i.e. turning from Christ back into Judaism). Just as Hebrews was for the teaching & guidance to the 'Messianic Jews", it was also a stern warning to the others.
So the "wilful sin" in Hebrews 10:26, wasn't a voluntary act of sin or being found living in such state, but one of apostasy. And as we read that passage through to verse 29, we note the writer's lesson: 'if those who sinned under Moses' Law were condemned to death without mercy, how much more will these others suffer who have trodden over God's Son, despising His Sacrifice, doing despite to the Spirit of Grace'. These were those who may have been converted, or appeared to be, but had determined in their hearts that Jesus' Sacrifice was insufficient or had little appeal in the light of the old Judaistic beliefs & teachings. To these, the writer says, that there remains "no more (no other) sacrifice for their sins" - the Law could never save them, nor can any other saviour. But "we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (v 39): there were still those who held onto Christ as their only Saviour & Hope.
So we can delight that even if we, as believers, slip up & sin, Christ's Sacrifice & the Spirit's Work in us, will ever alert us, draw us & bring us to repentance. If a person has none of this blessed Work going on in him, then the Spirit is not in residence & he may be deceiving himself ( Romans 8:9). But the warnings there in those portions in Hebrews were for those desiring to turn back into Judaism, for which there was no forgiveness & no further sacrifice available ( Hebrews 6:4-6).
Dear Joyce. Thank you for your enquiry into this great Book in the NT. Of course, I can only share my understanding & perspective of this Book & these passages in particular, which means that I'm not in agreement with those 'TV preachers'. And as much as I agree with you that Christ's one & only Sacrifice is all that is needed to cover 'that sin', indeed all sin, I also believe that the message of Hebrews is directed in another way.
The Book was written primarily to those of Israel (Hebrews) that embraced Christ. Most were truly converted, Spirit-baptized, but some (whether saved or not) were in danger of apostatizing, turning back to Judaism. Even though we today can learn much from the Book, I always believe we must read Scripture in the way it was meant to be read: written to whom, the background, the problems, etc. As we see in the entire Book, the strong references to the superiority of Christ to angels, Moses, prophets & the earthly priesthood all spoke volumes to the Jew who pinned his hope in the strict observance of the Torah, the Prophets & the Writings. To all these, says the Hebrews writer, Jesus is far superior & preeminent as the one & only Sacrifice for mankind's sins.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?