Does this mean I cannot be reconciled with God if I have sinned purposefully?

[faceofbear]

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment... Hebrews 10:26-27

I am saved, and I sinned deliberately because I was weak and enticed by my own desires... does this mean that I am going to hell?

I am new to christianity sorry.

 

[RobertZ]

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment... Hebrews 10:26-27

I am saved, and I sinned deliberately because I was weak and enticed by my own desires... does this mean that I am going to hell?

I am new to christianity sorry.

Keep in mind that Hebrews was written to the Jews who were facing major persecution for placing their faith in Christ and leaving the Law Of Moses. I have read a million different interpretations for this scripture because I too worried about it greatly and from what I understand this scripture is warning the Jews that after they recieve the knowledge of the truth (The truth about Christ sacrafice) if they keep sacraficing animals then their no longer remains a sacrafice for their sins because Christ is the only one and true sacrafice.

To continue living by the law and depending on animal sacrafices would be considered willfull sinning and trampling over the blood of Jesus and counting the Blood of the Covenant as nothing more than common blood.

Any sin that can be repented of can be forgiven, your sins are not too great or too many for Christ Blood to cover. You are concerned and that is a good thing.

 

[Vince53]

Farther along, the passage states that we are persuaded better things of you, and things that concern salvation. Falling away is proof that a person was never really saved to begin with. Various Scriptures teach that you cannot lose your salvation.

As far as your sinning because you are weak, God's grace is sufficient for all of us. Take it as a warning, and continue in God's grace.

 

[faceofbear]

Farther along, the passage states that we are persuaded better things of you, and things that concern salvation. Falling away is proof that a person was never really saved to begin with. Various Scriptures teach that you cannot lose your salvation.

As far as your sinning because you are weak, God's grace is sufficient for all of us. Take it as a warning, and continue in God's grace.

I just fear some times that my repentance was not genuine and because of that I may be living a false profession of faith so then I will sin purposefully (I struggle with a previous addiction to pornography) thinking that perhaps all hope is lost and I give up and then after sinning I feel stupid for even thinking the way I did and seek forgiveness but I am not sure if I genuinely am seeking forgiveness or not.

 

[RobertZ]

I just fear some times that my repentance was not genuine and because of that I may be living a false profession of faith so then I will sin purposefully (I struggle with a previous addiction to pornography) thinking that perhaps all hope is lost and I give up and then after sinning I feel stupid for even thinking the way I did and seek forgiveness but I am not sure if I genuinely am seeking forgiveness or not.

Do you have OCD?

 

[Vince53]

Faceofbear, spend some time carefully reading the first epistle of John. God wants you in Heaven, and if you're not really saved, He'll work on you.

It sounds to me as if you really did accept Christ, and then you started messing with your former sins. Then God really convicted you, because you are a child of God, and your sins are now dealt with more strictly, because you're part of God's family. Remember that once you're born again, you're a new creation. You can't act the way that you used to act.

I haven't checked it out, but there is a thread for pornography addiction on this forum. You might want to look at it.

 

[Hammster]

Just for the record, all of our sins are willful and purposefully. Also read Romans 7. Paul struggled with doing what he knew he shouldn't do, and not doing what he should. He called himself a wretched man. But he then transitions to 8:1, my life verse. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus."

Focus on the cross, on the Gospel, and let the same grace that saved you also transform you.

 

[TimRout]

Just for the record, all of our sins are willful and purposefully. Also read Romans 7. Paul struggled with doing what he knew he shouldn't do, and not doing what he should. He called himself a wretched man. But he then transitions to 8:1, my life verse. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus."

Focus on the cross, on the Gospel, and let the same grace that saved you also transform you.

Indeed.

The issue is not one of willful sin per se, but the directionality of one's lifestyle. The Christian lifestyle is characterized by repentance, faith, and a desire to be conformed to Christ. While all believers stumble into sin on a fairly regular basis, we are nevertheless heaven bound. Over time, a genuinely saved person will grow in his love for God and his hatred of sin.

faceofbear: Nevertheless, I am encouraged to see you asking these vital questions, even as the Word instructs [2 Cor. 13:5].

 

[Webers_Home]

.
The Hebrews letter was written, and sent, to a group of the author's fellow Jewish countrymen. I know that from the introduction.

†. Heb 1:1-2 . . God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son

The fathers to whom the prophets spoke were Jews; and the pronoun us connects the author of Hebrews to the Jews of his own day whose ancestors were the prophets' audiences. The same goes for the passage below.

†. Heb 2:1-2 . . For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away.

The epistle of Hebrews contains some of the teachings of Old Testament Judaism because a good number of Jews are not all that well schooled in Moses' teachings; which is probably why you'll see the author taking the time and ink to actually teach key portions of Judaism first before he attempts to teach Christianity; and his method is pertinent to modern Jews too.

Orthodox Jews today number approximately 800,000 in ratio to an approximate total population of 5.5 million in the modern State of Israel. Which means that a meager 14½ percent of modern Israelis are Orthodox. More than half of all modern Israelis describe themselves as hiloni (secular) viz: they are committed to no religion at all; let alone the faith of Abraham and/or the beliefs and practices of modern Judaism.

So then, Heb 10:26 is not a Christian doctrine; but rather, directly related to Moses' covenanted law; which reads:

†. Num 15:27-31 . . And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before Yhvh, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

. . But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on Yhvh, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised Yhvh's word, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.

What Yhvh is saying, is that if somebody knows full well in advance that something is a violation of Moses' covenanted law, and proceeds to do it anyway, then there is neither pardon, atonement, nor forgiveness available for that person— they are a dead man walking, and severed from Abraham; which implies disconnection from the promises Yhvh made to Abraham regarding ownership, and occupation, of Palestine.

How then can God justify His pardoning David for the sins of premeditated murder and adultery when, at the time, David was doubtless well-catechized in Moses' covenanted law and knew full well in advance that what he did with Bathsheba and her husband was wrong?

Had God been limited to the resources of the Aaronic qorbanot system, David would have been lost because there are no atonements for deliberate sin in Aaron's bag of tricks and David knew it too.

†. Ps 51:16 . . For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Is that saying that David didn’t believe in the Aaronic atonement system? No, not at all because further down in that very same Psalm David stated that God is pleased with sacrifices.

†. Ps 51:18-19 . . Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

The trick is, God is pleased with sacrifices offered in righteousness (cf. Isa 1:1-20). So then, the sacrifices of a deliberate sinner like David are ineffective so far as atoning for sin; which is precisely why it's essential for deliberate sinners to abandon Aaron's priesthood and sign on to a priesthood like Melchizedek's.

Mel was a priest of the Most High God in Abraham's day (Gen 14:18-20) several centuries prior to the enactment of Moses' covenanted law. So then, since law does not have ex post facto jurisdiction (Gal 3:17) then Melchizedek's constituents (which included Mr. Abraham) were not subject to the terms and conditions of Moses' covenanted law; viz: all sins in a Melchizedekian jurisdiction are forgivable; both the unintentional sins and the intentional.

The New Testament's Christ is a priest of the Melchizedekian variety. (Ps 110:1-4, Heb 5:5-7:28). Therefore, none of his constituents are subject to Moses' covenanted law; ergo: they're at liberty to be pardoned for all manner of sins, even the deliberate ones.

†. Acts 13:38-41 . .Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by him everyone who believes is rendered innocent from all the things from which you could not be innocent by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

. . Behold, you scoffers, be perplexed; and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though somebody were to explain it to you.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

 

[PrincetonGuy]

Heb. 10:19. Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20. by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21. and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22. let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
24. and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25. not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
26. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27. but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
28. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30. For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."
31. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32. But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,
33. partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.
34. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
35. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
36. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
37. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
38. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
39. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Verses 19-25 eliminate any possibility whatsoever that this passage is written to Jews who were not Christians; and the only sacrifice mentioned in this passage is the sacrifice on the cross, the shedding of the blood of Jesus for our sin (vv. 19 & 29). Verses 28-29 contrast the fate of Jews who sinned under the Law of Moses with the fate of Christians who sin, thereby effectively regarding as unclean the blood of the covenant (New Testament covenant) by which they were sanctified. Compare:

1 Cor. 6:9. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10. nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


Hebrews 10:19-39 is a warning to Christians of the danger of willful sin. My dear Christian readers, if you are still entangled in the bonds of sin, you must place your faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross and in His promise to each of us,

John 8:31. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
32. and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
33. They answered Him, “We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
35. “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

(All quotations from the Scriptures are from the NASB, 1995)

 

[JusSumguy]

Allow me to say this in simple terms.

You may struggle with sin. Ask for forgiveness and recommit that sin in a vicious circle for the rest of your life. As long as you're sincere in your repentance and effort, God is on your side. He knows what's in your heart, and it's not the unforgivable sin.

If your son were doing bad things, and you knew his heart was really trying to change, would you give up on him? Or hang in there with him?


-

 

[PrincetonGuy]

Just for the record, all of our sins are willful and purposefully. Also read Romans 7. Paul struggled with doing what he knew he shouldn't do, and not doing what he should. He called himself a wretched man. But he then transitions to 8:1, my life verse. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus."

Focus on the cross, on the Gospel, and let the same grace that saved you also transform you.

My dear Christian readers,

I have studied Romans chapter 7 in literally hundreds of commentaries on Romans (I have over 230 of them in my home library), including whole volumes devoted exclusively to Romans chapter 7, and very many papers upon that chapter, and it never ceases to amaze how very many writers have made a shipwreck of their hermeneutics when studying and teaching that chapter.

In the fifth chapter of Romans Paul wrote,

Rom. 5:20. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

This verse gives rise to a question that is asked in the sixth chapter of Romans,

Rom. 6:1. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

The rest of the sixth chapter of Romans is Paul’s answer to that question, and the answer continues through the first 6 verses of chapter 7,

Rom. 7:1. Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
2. For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
3. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
4. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
5. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
6. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Notice that Paul wrote in verse 4 that we were made to die to the Law (the covenant of Law found in the Old Testament). This verse gives rise to two new questions that are asked in the following verse,

Rom. 7:7. What shall we say then? Is the Law sin?

The rest of verse 7 through verse 12 answers that question but gives rise to another question,

Rom. 7:13a. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me?

The rest of verse 13 answers that question by saying,

Rom. 7:13b. May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

In Rom. 7:14-25, Paul elaborates upon that answer. The real cause of death is not the Law; it is sin, but death is effected through the Law. Paul explains this through an illustration using the Greek rhetorical first person singular in which a Jew who loves the Law attempts to keep it but finds that he is not able to do so because he is made of natural flesh and the Law is spiritual. That is why a man must die to the Law as taught in Romans 6 and be born again.

In Rom. 8:1-4 Paul summarizes what he has been writing,

Rom. 8:1. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
3. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4. so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


Many people, including some very well educated people, have read into Romans 7 their own condition and imagined that Paul was writing about his experience in that condition, but we know from other things that Paul wrote that his condition was never like that,

Rom. 5:8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Cor. 4:1. Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
3. But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
4. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
5. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

Phil. 3:6. as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Phil. 4:9. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The key to the correct understanding of Romans 7:14-25 is that the man being described is striving to keep the Law but failing to do so. Christians have died to the Law and therefore do not strive to keep it.

Christians have NOT been “sold into bondage to sin” as was the Jew in Romans 7, we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.

1 Pet. 1:17. If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
18. knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19. but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.


(All quotations from Scripture are from the NASB, 1995, with my occasional emphasis using underlined type.)


The language and Biblical scholar Adam Clarke wrote on this passage from Romans 7,

It is difficult to conceive how the opinion could have crept into the Church, or prevailed there, that “the apostle speaks here of his regenerate state; and that what was, in such a state, true of himself, must be true of all others in the same state.” This opinion has, most pitifully and most shamefully, not only lowered the standard of Christianity, but destroyed its influence and disgraced its character. It requires but little knowledge of the spirit of the Gospel, and of the scope of this epistle, to see that the apostle is, here, either personating a Jew under the law and without the Gospel, or showing what his own state was when he was deeply convinced that by the deeds of the law no man could be justified, and had not as yet heard those blessed words: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, Act 9:17.
​

 

[Ave Maria]

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment... Hebrews 10:26-27

I am saved, and I sinned deliberately because I was weak and enticed by my own desires... does this mean that I am going to hell?

I am new to christianity sorry.

Nope, that's not what it means. I just read a chapter in Charles Stanley's book, "Eternal Security: Can you be sure?" and it was about this verse. Basically what it means is that there is no sacrifice for sins left because the sacrifice has already been made. Think about this: The context does not indicate a sinful lifestyle. It says if we deliberately keep on sinning, this means that one deliberate sin could send you to Hell if the interpretation made by those who don't believe in eternal security is correct. However, we all know that one deliberate sin will not send us to Hell. That's about the best way that I know how to explain it. That said, I highly recommend Charles Stanley's book.

 

[JustAsIam77]

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment... Hebrews 10:26-27

I am saved, and I sinned deliberately because I was weak and enticed by my own desires... does this mean that I am going to hell?

I am new to christianity sorry.

Unless Christ died on the cross in vain, all current and future sin is absolved, (for believers).

 

[JusSumguy]

the forgiveness He earned for us needs to be applied to us somehow, and one of the ways this happens is through repentance. God bless

Yep...

And faith.


-

 

[Lemmiwinks]

Just for the record, all of our sins are willful and purposefully.

I agree!!

The word "struggle" comes up when talking about sins. Like I "struggle" with pornography, but what does "struggle" mean? If I fall, its because I choose to give in to it. I become tired of struggling and making an effort, and so I decide that I'm not going to try to be pure any more -- that's a choice I make.

Why can't people please God by their own power? Because everyone will eventually commit the sin of choosing not to care about their particular struggle any more.

Is that the unforgiveable sin? Not caring?

 

[JusSumguy]

Is that the unforgiveable sin? Not caring?

No...

But this is very serious.

Not caring means that your repentance can't be pure, and your efforts aren't there at all.

It is for caring that we reach these goals. We repent because we care. We try because we care. We care for the Lord. We care for our soul. We care for our comfort. We care for others.

Without caring, how would we know what the goal is? It would seem to me that caring is the gun sight of our repentance and efforts. Through caring, we get our direction.

I have no idea what's in your soul. Nor am I the judge of it. But, speaking from a completely generic point of view, I would think that repentance without caring, would be rejected by Jesus. Making this an unforgiven sin. As opposed to unforgivable.

More like shooting oneself in the foot, if you ask me.


-

 

[Lemmiwinks]

No...

But this is very serious.

Not caring means that your repentance can't be pure, and your efforts aren't there at all.

It is for caring that we reach these goals. We repent because we care. We try because we care. We care for the Lord. We care for our soul. We care for our comfort. We care for others.

Without caring, how would we know what the goal is? It would seem to me that caring is the gun sight of our repentance and efforts. Through caring, we get our direction.

I have no idea what's in your soul. Nor am I the judge of it. But, speaking from a completely generic point of view, I would think that repentance without caring, would be rejected by Jesus. Making this an unforgiven sin. As opposed to unforgivable.

More like shooting oneself in the foot, if you ask me.


-

I used to try not to sin, now I just go right ahead; I don't care.

My effort never yielded any results anyway.

When I cared, I'd feel terrible about myself all the time. By not caring, I don't feel so bad about myself.

For me, there is no "struggle." Life is hard enough. I'm not going to struggle against something that I'm never going to have victory over, it just makes life even harder.

I'm not a perfectionist, being a perfectionist is unhealthy.

Also it is not good to be too hard on yourself. Therefore, it is good not to care about sinning, since I will just do it any way.

I can't not sin, I have no power over it! So I see no point in making an effort in areas that have proved impossible to master in the past.

If God puts me in Hell, that's okay with me because his judgments are perfect.

 

[oneofchrists]

Lemmiwinks!!! Because You have Given Up caring about Your own sins does this mean that You don't care about any ones Sins and How they May affect You in some way not to even mention of how it hurts God??? You Need to get it together, I have heard You post before but You are continually becoming more and more blatant and uncaring . What has happened in Your life to cause You to be so indifferant??? We are here for You Brother ... God bless You...Dave

 

[JohnDB]

Lets look at it in another light...

Lets say you had the same attitude about money as you do sin.

You don't care about money any longer...you never get to keep any of it anyway...it all comes in as earnings from your job and it all goes out every month...none of it ever seems to make it into savings or purchase you the things that you really want.

So why bother trying to earn it?

All of it is going to be gone anyway so why bother? You can't seem to save any...there is always something that takes what little you manage to successfully save...You always feel guilty about not saving...all that self imposed guilt isn't good...So you are going to be happier by not earning any more money.

It isn't apples and oranges this comparison between sin and money.

God is your creator...He owns you. Your proper recognition of that fact is partially what brings peace between God and you.