Confused about verse in Scripture

[Monica4316]

I saw this verse… “if we sin willfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).

Does anyone know, what does this mean?? Because - if we sin willfully and knowingly, isn’t that mortal sin, but isn’t mortal sin forgiveable through Christ’s Sacrifice? What does it mean that there is no longer a sacrifice for sins? isn’t the sacrifice the Cross?

thank you!

 

[Bookcat]

I saw this verse… “if we sin willfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).

Does anyone know, what does this mean?? Because - if we sin willfully and knowingly, isn’t that mortal sin, but isn’t mortal sin forgiveable through Christ’s Sacrifice? What does it mean that there is no longer a sacrifice for sins? isn’t the sacrifice the Cross?

thank you!

No worries…all mortal sin can be forgiven

The verse is more in terms of apostates who are then not willing to turn back to God …they will not turn back to Christ. He is the way there is no new sacrifice …

 

[CEM5]

I saw this verse… “if we sin willfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).

Does anyone know, what does this mean?? Because - if we sin willfully and knowingly, isn’t that mortal sin, but isn’t mortal sin forgiveable through Christ’s Sacrifice? What does it mean that there is no longer a sacrifice for sins? isn’t the sacrifice the Cross?

thank you!

hi Monica,

The reference is to the sin of apostacy. Once someone has been shown the truth and accepted it, (become a Christian), then turns their back on the truth, and returns to their pagan ways and practices and unbelief, there is no forgiveness for this.

The following verses warn of this:

29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. 35** Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. **36 **For you need 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, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back." 39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

The cross is not the sacrifice in the sense that all sins are forgiven automatically. Jesus dying on the cross redeemed mankind and became the bearer of all sins: past, present and future, so that by our repenting of our sins, we have forgiveness. Through baptism we have the “cleansing” of original sin as well, which Christ’s sacrifice made possible. God doesn’t automatically forgive our sins: we have to first repent of those sins and seek that forgiveness. The blood of animals (sacrifices spoken of in the earlier verses) is not what God wants.

All sins are forgiveable except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Once you have known the truth, then turned your back (apostacy) there is no returning and no forgiveness.

blessings,
CEM

 

[Bookcat]

Once you have known the truth, then turned your back (apostacy) there is no returning and no forgiveness.

blessings,
CEM

Even such is “forgivable”. One can return …one can be forgiven…up to the point of death.

The problem with one who sins mortally and then turns their back on God “til death”…is that they willfully turn away from the possibility of forgiveness…they refuse the mercy of God to the end.

(though we should not judge by appearances…for God can get to them in ways we do not see…)

 

[kamaan]

From Challoner:

He speaks of the sin of wilful apostasy from the known truth; after which, as we cannot be baptized again, we cannot expect to have that abundant remission of sins, which Christ purchased by his death, applied to our souls in that ample manner as it is in baptism; but we have rather all manner of reason to look for a dreadful judgment; the more, because apostates from the know truth seldom or never have the grace to return to it.

 

[jgs777]

This verse in my opinion is just a reiteration of what Jesus said, whoever blasphemes againts the holy spirit will not be forgiven.

Christ forgives ALL sins nomatter how grave. The only sin he will not forgive is if someone who knows better, dies deliberatly rejecting Christ’s love and forgiveness. This is my understanding from Priests and a deacon.

God Bless You!!! Do not worry you seem to be constantly wanting to find the truth and want to be pure.

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks for the replies!

I find it interesting how it was said that those who commit apostasy usually don’t return… are there some who do? Does anyone know someone who has returned later on? I do believe that God would then forgive them… because they would believe in His Sacrifice again, ask for forgiveness, and repent

God bless

 

[patrick457]

This verse in my opinion is just a reiteration of what Jesus said, whoever blasphemes againts the holy spirit will not be forgiven.

Christ forgives ALL sins nomatter how grave. The only sin he will not forgive is if someone who knows better, dies deliberatly rejecting Christ’s love and forgiveness. This is my understanding from Priests and a deacon.

That sin is ‘unforgivable’ because the person does not want forgivenss. Am I right?

 

[Big_Dummy]

I read somewhere that the Greek verb has the meaning of willful continious sin — Hebrews 6:4-6 is a similiar situation.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

That sin is ‘unforgivable’ because the person does not want forgivenss. Am I right?

Big Dummy actually has it right; The Greek of the “unforgivable” sin is in the present (continuous) sense; they can’t be forgiven because they continuously sin. By definition, it is an eternal sin because they won’t stop doing it.

I don’t recall Jesus saying “willful” – but I suppose it is implied by the fact that eventually someone is going to point out what they are doing wrong; (as Jesus did to certain Pharisees) but they, none the less, continued to accuse him of evil for doing good.

In the Catholic Tradition, we understand from the passage on the Sin against the Holy Spirit – that it is possible for some sins to be forgiven even after a person dies; but Jesus can’t forgive someone a sin while they are committing it; the sin itself has to end first.

Even if the person wants forgiveness, if they don’t ever stop the sin – there is something reprobate and disordered about their desire that is perverted…

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Thanks for the replies!

I find it interesting how it was said that those who commit apostasy usually don’t return… are there some who do?

Yes. When the apostacy is motivated by anger at a particular family or church member – it sometimes happens that when that person is dying; that the anger of the apostate becomes of secondary importance.

Does anyone know someone who has returned later on? I do believe that God would then forgive them… because they would believe in His Sacrifice again, ask for forgiveness, and repent

God bless

Yes, I know of a family that has. The analogous scene sometimes plays out in family life between brothers and sisters, or father and son, such that they won’t even talk to each other for years, and will perpetually do spiteful things to each other over some fight they had; but then, on the death bed of one or the other – something happens and the malice ends. Sometimes that is what it takes to bring someone out of their emotions and back to their senses.