For If We Go On Sinning Deliberately

[Christsfreeservant]

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV)​

When we believe in Jesus Christ with God-honoring faith in him, which comes from him, which is persuaded of God, and which is gifted to us by God, and is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin. We are then buried with Christ in baptism (a spiritual baptism) into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Our old self is, thus, crucified with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin, but to God and to his righteousness.

Therefore, we are not to let sin reign (have control) any longer in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to our Lord and to his commands are what we obey, that leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ, our Lord. For the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For if we walk according to the flesh, its end is death, not life eternal, regardless of what our lips profess.

Jesus Christ and his NT apostles did not teach the gospel of salvation in the way that is most popularized within the gatherings of the church (or in the false church) in America today. They did not teach “Once Saved Always Saved” which is the message largely permeating the church here in America. They did not teach that you can pray a prayer and invite Jesus into your heart and now all your sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but with no mention of us dying with Christ to sin, and with no mention of the critical importance that we now obey his commands.

For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, in practice, then we have the hope of eternal life. For he also said that not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING his will. And many will hear him say, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” for they did not obey God.

So, Jesus Christ, Paul, and the other apostles all taught progressive salvation. If our faith in our Lord is of God, and if it is persuaded of God, and gifted to us by God, then it is going to submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives. God will have persuaded us as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of our sins, i.e. to die with him to sin and to now follow him in walks of obedience to his commands. Thus, we are saved (past), we are being saved (present), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus returns and our salvation is now complete.

[Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14,24; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 3:23; Acts 26:18; John 6:44; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 24:9-14; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5]

All throughout the New Testament, not only are we taught what Jesus Christ did for us in putting our sins to death with him on that cross so that we can be forgiven our sins and have eternal life with God, but we are taught that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. We are taught that he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now surrender our lives to Christ to do his will and to walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. But if we continue living in sin, and not obedience, we will die in our sins.

The apostle John made that quite clear in what he wrote. For he said that if we claim that we are in fellowship with God, but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we say that we know God, but we do not obey his (New Covenant) commands, in practice, we are liars. The truth is not in us. For whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, but whoever makes righteousness his practice is righteous, as God is righteous. So, if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, we are not born of God, we don’t know God, and thus we will not have eternal life with God.

[1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; cf. Galatians 5:16-21]

Therefore, we cannot write off Hebrews 10:26-31 as though what it teaches is not taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. For Jesus definitely taught that genuine faith in him results in us denying self, dying with him to sin daily, and following him in obedience to his commands. And he taught that if we do not die to sin and follow him in obedience that we will not have eternal life in him. Paul and the other apostles taught the same. But somewhere along the line some people began to distort the gospel message, so those who are still teaching what Jesus fully taught appear to be in the minority.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 24:9-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:35-58; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:1-11; Acts 26:18]

The Prayer

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,
Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When the stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.

Caution: This link may contain ads

 

[AlexB23]

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV)​

When we believe in Jesus Christ with God-honoring faith in him, which comes from him, which is persuaded of God, and which is gifted to us by God, and is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin. We are then buried with Christ in baptism (a spiritual baptism) into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Our old self is, thus, crucified with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin, but to God and to his righteousness.

Therefore, we are not to let sin reign (have control) any longer in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to our Lord and to his commands are what we obey, that leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ, our Lord. For the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For if we walk according to the flesh, its end is death, not life eternal, regardless of what our lips profess.

Jesus Christ and his NT apostles did not teach the gospel of salvation in the way that is most popularized within the gatherings of the church (or in the false church) in America today. They did not teach “Once Saved Always Saved” which is the message largely permeating the church here in America. They did not teach that you can pray a prayer and invite Jesus into your heart and now all your sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but with no mention of us dying with Christ to sin, and with no mention of the critical importance that we now obey his commands.

For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, in practice, then we have the hope of eternal life. For he also said that not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING his will. And many will hear him say, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” for they did not obey God.

So, Jesus Christ, Paul, and the other apostles all taught progressive salvation. If our faith in our Lord is of God, and if it is persuaded of God, and gifted to us by God, then it is going to submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives. God will have persuaded us as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of our sins, i.e. to die with him to sin and to now follow him in walks of obedience to his commands. Thus, we are saved (past), we are being saved (present), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus returns and our salvation is now complete.

[Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14,24; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 3:23; Acts 26:18; John 6:44; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 24:9-14; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5]

All throughout the New Testament, not only are we taught what Jesus Christ did for us in putting our sins to death with him on that cross so that we can be forgiven our sins and have eternal life with God, but we are taught that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. We are taught that he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now surrender our lives to Christ to do his will and to walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. But if we continue living in sin, and not obedience, we will die in our sins.

The apostle John made that quite clear in what he wrote. For he said that if we claim that we are in fellowship with God, but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we say that we know God, but we do not obey his (New Covenant) commands, in practice, we are liars. The truth is not in us. For whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, but whoever makes righteousness his practice is righteous, as God is righteous. So, if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, we are not born of God, we don’t know God, and thus we will not have eternal life with God.

[1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; cf. Galatians 5:16-21]

Therefore, we cannot write off Hebrews 10:26-31 as though what it teaches is not taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. For Jesus definitely taught that genuine faith in him results in us denying self, dying with him to sin daily, and following him in obedience to his commands. And he taught that if we do not die to sin and follow him in obedience that we will not have eternal life in him. Paul and the other apostles taught the same. But somewhere along the line some people began to distort the gospel message, so those who are still teaching what Jesus fully taught appear to be in the minority.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 24:9-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:35-58; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:1-11; Acts 26:18]

The Prayer

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,
Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When the stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.

Caution: This link may contain ads

This is a good one, and reminds me of a devotional which I made about how forgiveness is not a license to sin, based on Romans 6, John 8, and 1 John 3. Regarding forgiveness and avoiding a license to sin, these verses teach that God's grace is not an excuse to continue living in sin. Instead, it is a call to live a new life in Christ, transformed by His love and power. Christians are to strive for holiness and obedience, but they are not saved by their own effort or perfection. They are saved by God's grace and mercy, and that same grace empowers them to live a life worthy of their calling.

Romans 6:1-4 (NIV): "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin (contains sensitive topic):

Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin

Hello folks. Today's study is on how Jesus forgives us of our sins, but does not condone our sins. Habitual sins will also be covered in this devotional. Date June 30, 2024 | Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin Verse Romans 6:1-4 (NIV): "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that...

www.christianforums.com

 

[HarleyER]

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV)​

When we believe in Jesus Christ with God-honoring faith in him, which comes from him, which is persuaded of God, and which is gifted to us by God, and is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin. We are then buried with Christ in baptism (a spiritual baptism) into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Our old self is, thus, crucified with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin, but to God and to his righteousness.

Therefore, we are not to let sin reign (have control) any longer in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to our Lord and to his commands are what we obey, that leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ, our Lord. For the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For if we walk according to the flesh, its end is death, not life eternal, regardless of what our lips profess.

Jesus Christ and his NT apostles did not teach the gospel of salvation in the way that is most popularized within the gatherings of the church (or in the false church) in America today. They did not teach “Once Saved Always Saved” which is the message largely permeating the church here in America. They did not teach that you can pray a prayer and invite Jesus into your heart and now all your sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but with no mention of us dying with Christ to sin, and with no mention of the critical importance that we now obey his commands.

For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, in practice, then we have the hope of eternal life. For he also said that not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING his will. And many will hear him say, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” for they did not obey God.

So, Jesus Christ, Paul, and the other apostles all taught progressive salvation. If our faith in our Lord is of God, and if it is persuaded of God, and gifted to us by God, then it is going to submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives. God will have persuaded us as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of our sins, i.e. to die with him to sin and to now follow him in walks of obedience to his commands. Thus, we are saved (past), we are being saved (present), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus returns and our salvation is now complete.

[Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14,24; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 3:23; Acts 26:18; John 6:44; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 24:9-14; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5]

All throughout the New Testament, not only are we taught what Jesus Christ did for us in putting our sins to death with him on that cross so that we can be forgiven our sins and have eternal life with God, but we are taught that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. We are taught that he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now surrender our lives to Christ to do his will and to walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. But if we continue living in sin, and not obedience, we will die in our sins.

The apostle John made that quite clear in what he wrote. For he said that if we claim that we are in fellowship with God, but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we say that we know God, but we do not obey his (New Covenant) commands, in practice, we are liars. The truth is not in us. For whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, but whoever makes righteousness his practice is righteous, as God is righteous. So, if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, we are not born of God, we don’t know God, and thus we will not have eternal life with God.

[1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; cf. Galatians 5:16-21]

Therefore, we cannot write off Hebrews 10:26-31 as though what it teaches is not taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. For Jesus definitely taught that genuine faith in him results in us denying self, dying with him to sin daily, and following him in obedience to his commands. And he taught that if we do not die to sin and follow him in obedience that we will not have eternal life in him. Paul and the other apostles taught the same. But somewhere along the line some people began to distort the gospel message, so those who are still teaching what Jesus fully taught appear to be in the minority.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 24:9-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:35-58; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:1-11; Acts 26:18]

The Prayer

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,
Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When the stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.

Caution: This link may contain ads

You left out 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

The message to the Hebrews is just that, a message to the Hebrews (believers and unbelievers). It is a message just like any other church service message in which you have devoted believers, people who say they are believers, and those who are not believers. The passage above (Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 6) should be read just this way. If someone hears about Christ and understand the gospel message, and still reject Christ, there is no way you will ever convince them of the truth. Just can't happen. They didn't lose their salvation. As John points out, they never had it to begin with. If someone professes to be a believer and does all sorts of good works, and then at some point simply walks away from Christ, according to John they were never a true believer. I've seen cases of this.

I will agree that the apostles never taught "Once saved, always saved." What they did teach was Perseverance of the Saints; if you are truly in Christ you will continue to persevere to the end-not because of your actions but because Christ will keep you. We are given to Christ by the Father and Christ will keep us. A true believer will remain a true believer. Why? It is like Christ asking his apostles, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" and the apostles answering "Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life". (John 6: 67-68) When you truly know and believe that your salvation rest upon Christ, there is nowhere else to turn.

But it would be foolishness for believers not to take the warnings of Hebrews seriously, if for no other reason then to strength those in the church who might not yet understand the full gospel. We should be fearful for our weaker brethern who might not yet fully believe falling away from the message of Christ. Like Ezekiel, we who are true believers are watchmen (Ezekiel 3) and have a duty and responsiblity to strengthen those in the church.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

This is a good one, and reminds me of a devotional which I made about how forgiveness is not a license to sin, based on Romans 6, John 8, and 1 John 3. Regarding forgiveness and avoiding a license to sin, these verses teach that God's grace is not an excuse to continue living in sin. Instead, it is a call to live a new life in Christ, transformed by His love and power. Christians are to strive for holiness and obedience, but they are not saved by their own effort or perfection. They are saved by God's grace and mercy, and that same grace empowers them to live a life worthy of their calling.

Romans 6:1-4 (NIV): "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin (contains sensitive topic):

Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin

Hello folks. Today's study is on how Jesus forgives us of our sins, but does not condone our sins. Habitual sins will also be covered in this devotional. Date June 30, 2024 | Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin Verse Romans 6:1-4 (NIV): "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that...

www.christianforums.com

Thank you, Alex, for reading and for responding and for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

You left out 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

The message to the Hebrews is just that, a message to the Hebrews (believers and unbelievers). It is a message just like any other church service message in which you have devoted believers, people who say they are believers, and those who are not believers. The passage above (Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 6) should be read just this way. If someone hears about Christ and understand the gospel message, and still reject Christ, there is no way you will ever convince them of the truth. Just can't happen. They didn't lose their salvation. As John points out, they never had it to begin with. If someone professes to be a believer and do all sorts of niffy things, and then at some point simply reject it all, according to John they were never a true believer. I've seen cases of this.

I will agree that the apostles never taught "Once saved, always saved." What they did teach was Perseverance of the Saints; if you are truly in Christ you will continue to persevere to the end-not because of your actions but because Christ will keep you. We are given to Christ by the Father and Christ will keep us. A true believer will remain a true believer. Why? It is like Christ asking his apostles, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" and them answering "Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life". (John 6: 67-68) When you truly know and believe that your salvation rest upon Christ, there is nowhere else to turn.

But it would be foolishness for believers not to take the warnings of Hebrews seriously, if for no other reason then to strength those in the church who might not yet understand the full gospel. We should be fearful for our weaker brethern who might not yet fully believe falling away from the message of Christ.

Thank you, Harley, for reading and for responding and for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

 

[Danthemailman]

You left out 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

The message to the Hebrews is just that, a message to the Hebrews (believers and unbelievers). It is a message just like any other church service message in which you have devoted believers, people who say they are believers, and those who are not believers. The passage above (Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 6) should be read just this way. If someone hears about Christ and understand the gospel message, and still reject Christ, there is no way you will ever convince them of the truth. Just can't happen. They didn't lose their salvation. As John points out, they never had it to begin with. If someone professes to be a believer and does all sorts of good works, and then at some point simply walks away from Christ, according to John they were never a true believer. I've seen cases of this.

I will agree that the apostles never taught "Once saved, always saved." What they did teach was Perseverance of the Saints; if you are truly in Christ you will continue to persevere to the end-not because of your actions but because Christ will keep you. We are given to Christ by the Father and Christ will keep us. A true believer will remain a true believer. Why? It is like Christ asking his apostles, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" and the apostles answering "Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life". (John 6: 67-68) When you truly know and believe that your salvation rest upon Christ, there is nowhere else to turn.

But it would be foolishness for believers not to take the warnings of Hebrews seriously, if for no other reason then to strength those in the church who might not yet understand the full gospel. We should be fearful for our weaker brethern who might not yet fully believe falling away from the message of Christ. Like Ezekiel, we who are true believers are watchmen (Ezekiel 3) and have a duty and responsiblity to strengthen those in the church.

Amen! In regard to Hebrews 10:26, to "sin willfully" carries the idea of deliberate intention that is habitual, which stems from rejecting Christ deliberately. This is continuous action, a matter of practice. Now we don't walk along our daily life and "accidentally" fall into a pit called sin. We exercise our will but, the use of the participle clearly shows ongoing, willful, continuous action. Lifestyle or bent of life. The unrighteous practice sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21) not the righteous, who are born of God. (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 3:9)

 

[Fearful]

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV)​

When we believe in Jesus Christ with God-honoring faith in him, which comes from him, which is persuaded of God, and which is gifted to us by God, and is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin. We are then buried with Christ in baptism (a spiritual baptism) into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Our old self is, thus, crucified with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin, but to God and to his righteousness.

Therefore, we are not to let sin reign (have control) any longer in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to our Lord and to his commands are what we obey, that leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ, our Lord. For the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For if we walk according to the flesh, its end is death, not life eternal, regardless of what our lips profess.

Jesus Christ and his NT apostles did not teach the gospel of salvation in the way that is most popularized within the gatherings of the church (or in the false church) in America today. They did not teach “Once Saved Always Saved” which is the message largely permeating the church here in America. They did not teach that you can pray a prayer and invite Jesus into your heart and now all your sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but with no mention of us dying with Christ to sin, and with no mention of the critical importance that we now obey his commands.

For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, in practice, then we have the hope of eternal life. For he also said that not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING his will. And many will hear him say, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” for they did not obey God.

So, Jesus Christ, Paul, and the other apostles all taught progressive salvation. If our faith in our Lord is of God, and if it is persuaded of God, and gifted to us by God, then it is going to submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives. God will have persuaded us as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of our sins, i.e. to die with him to sin and to now follow him in walks of obedience to his commands. Thus, we are saved (past), we are being saved (present), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus returns and our salvation is now complete.

[Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14,24; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 3:23; Acts 26:18; John 6:44; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 24:9-14; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5]

All throughout the New Testament, not only are we taught what Jesus Christ did for us in putting our sins to death with him on that cross so that we can be forgiven our sins and have eternal life with God, but we are taught that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. We are taught that he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now surrender our lives to Christ to do his will and to walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. But if we continue living in sin, and not obedience, we will die in our sins.

The apostle John made that quite clear in what he wrote. For he said that if we claim that we are in fellowship with God, but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we say that we know God, but we do not obey his (New Covenant) commands, in practice, we are liars. The truth is not in us. For whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, but whoever makes righteousness his practice is righteous, as God is righteous. So, if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, we are not born of God, we don’t know God, and thus we will not have eternal life with God.

[1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; cf. Galatians 5:16-21]

Therefore, we cannot write off Hebrews 10:26-31 as though what it teaches is not taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. For Jesus definitely taught that genuine faith in him results in us denying self, dying with him to sin daily, and following him in obedience to his commands. And he taught that if we do not die to sin and follow him in obedience that we will not have eternal life in him. Paul and the other apostles taught the same. But somewhere along the line some people began to distort the gospel message, so those who are still teaching what Jesus fully taught appear to be in the minority.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 24:9-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:35-58; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:1-11; Acts 26:18]

The Prayer

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,
Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When the stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.

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Based on what you have said, can one repent?

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Based on what you have said, can one repent?

I don't understand your question. Based on what are you asking this question? And what do you mean by repent?

 

[Fearful]

Your post of September 9 about if we go on sinning deliberately. I have sinned deliberately, many times. I want to repent, but I fear I have crossed the line and Christ will not forgive.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Your post of September 9 about if we go on sinning deliberately. I have sinned deliberately, many times. I want to repent, but I fear I have crossed the line and Christ will not forgive.

To repent means to die with Christ to sin, to forsake your sinful lifestyle, and to now commit your life to following Jesus in a walk of obedience to his commands. It is of the Spirit of God, empowered by God, but it requires our submission to God and our cooperation with his work of grace in our lives.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Your post of September 9 about if we go on sinning deliberately. I have sinned deliberately, many times. I want to repent, but I fear I have crossed the line and Christ will not forgive.

That's not yours to decide.

 

[Hoping2]

Your post of September 9 about if we go on sinning deliberately. I have sinned deliberately, many times. I want to repent, but I fear I have crossed the line and Christ will not forgive.

God will forgive anyone who wants to be forgiven.
With that want, however, there must be an intent not to sin ever again.
Peter put it together nicely in Acts 2:38..."Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
First, a turn from sinning.
Second, the washing by the blood of Christ of all past sins.
Third, the equipping, by God, to prevail over future temptations.

Don't waste another minute thinking God will not have mercy on you !