Hebrews 10 26 - 31

[ab75]

For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged 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 fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews has always been a very difficult letter for me. There is so much symbolism and I’m not yet familiar enough with Old Testiment theology, but what do people believe the general meaning of this is. I’ve always been taught/believe that any sin could be forgiven with true repentence. On first look, this verse doesn’t look as charitable.

 

[rcjones]

Yeah it can be a tough one to read by itself, which is why the context of the rest of the Bible is important.

There are two types of sin. One of the flesh, and one of the spirit. Sin of the spirit is rebellion.

God judges the heart, not the action. The same action may be a sin of flesh to one and of rebellion for another. If one is rebellious, how can there be forgiveness? If one is not rebellious, how can you sin in the spirit?

So an act is only the outward representation of the heart.

Now read it in context, not of a sin wherein you wash yourself and are unclean until the evening, but as a sin of rebellion unto death and see if it makes better sense.

 

[ab75]

Yeah it can be a tough one to read by itself, which is why the context of the rest of the Bible is important.

There are two types of sin. One of the flesh, and one of the spirit. Sin of the spirit is rebellion.

God judges the heart, not the action. The same action may be a sin of flesh to one and of rebellion for another. If one is rebellious, how can there be forgiveness? If one is not rebellious, how can you sin in the spirit?

So an act is only the outward representation of the heart.

Now read it in context, not of a sin wherein you wash yourself and are unclean until the evening, but as a sin of rebellion unto death and see if it makes better sense.

Understandable, but I still remember a time when I sinned in spirit. I knew what I was doing was wrong and I just didn’t care at that point. I no longer commit that sin and have repented, but this still ses to say that rebellion can’t be forgiven.

 

[rcjones]

Understandable, but I still remember a time when I sinned in spirit. I knew what I was doing was wrong and I just didn’t care at that point. I no longer commit that sin and have repented, but this still ses to say that rebellion can’t be forgiven.

Now you’re asking for counseling rather than theology.

Is your heart now in rebellion? Is your heart in a condition of confessing sin?

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The confessing is no more a single act than the sin of the previous verse. It is a heart condition of confessing. If your heart is confessing, don’t let the feelings of guilt overrun the fact of God’s mercy.

There are six ways to know God. When you have known him in all six ways, let’s talk again about sinning in rebellion. You hear his voice when you instinctively know there is a God. You see him when you understand that the scriptures are his word. You walk with him when you use your mind to control the flesh. You hear in the spirit when you instinctively know that Christ is hidden in his word. You see in the spirit when you understand the details of how Uzziah, Cain, etc are pictures of Christ. You walk in the spirit when you see God forming a picture of Christ in the world around you and you actively participate in it.

Rebellion is always dangerous, but Jesus says to you, “Go and sin no more”. Ask him for the heart that no longer desires to rebel.

 

[awatkins69]

I’ll do my best to help you understand the Word. Let me re-post the whole thing to make it easier. I’m using RSV-CE. Let’s go verse by verse.

Verse 26: For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
That is, if we sin deliberately by reverting to the Law after having received the New Covenant then there is no sacrifice for sins. This is because the animal sacrifices of the old Law cannot take away sin (look at Psalm 40:6 and Heb 10:1-4). Only the pure and infinite sacrifice of Jesus Christ can.
Verse 27: but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.
Since this animal sacrifice cannot take away sin, we are doomed, along with those who “resist the Holy Spirit”, to terrible punishment and God’s wrath.
Verse 28: A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses.
This is the way it was in the old Law, and how punishment was. Several witnesses were required to testify in the old Law for somebody to be put to death. See Deuteronomy 17:6.
Verse 29: How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?
If you deny Christ’s sacrifice by going back to the old Law then you basically reject and profane the Son of God, His precious blood, the new covenant, the Holy Spirit, and by doing so place yourself out of the system of God’s grace needed for forgiveness, and thus merit the punishment of God.
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
The author proves that we will be punished, because it is even so in the old Law. Since not an iota of the old Law will pass away, and since God does not change, we will face punishment just as before, except our punishment will be worse because our crime is worse.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Indeed, God is all powerful, and if we reject Him our punishment is terrible.

Any sin can be forgiven, by true repentance. Psalm 51:16-17 says it perfectly: “For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” But for this to be efficacious, Hebrews says right here that we must accept Christ and not revert to the old Law, because Christ has fulfilled the promises of God. To go back to the old Law would be to reject Him who is the only path to forgiveness and eternal life. Hope that helps. God bless.

 

[ab75]

Thanks, makes sense.

 

[PAboy57]

Now that you are feeling much better continue to pray daily and build your treasure in Heaven. Offer your prayers and good works to the Lord or through the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. She will present your works better than you can yourself and bring you closer to Jesus.

Try reading the Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montford. He explains the wonderful scenario how having a devotion to the Mother of Jesus will please Jesus and make your works even better.

Good Luck on your journey and God Bless.

 

[awatkins69]

Now that you are feeling much better continue to pray daily and build your treasure in Heaven. Offer your prayers and good works to the Lord or through the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. She will present your works better than you can yourself and bring you closer to Jesus.

Try reading the Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montford. He explains the wonderful scenario how having a devotion to the Mother of Jesus will please Jesus and make your works even better.

Good Luck on your journey and God Bless.

Mary, refuge of sinners, pray for us! Also, the Divine Mercy devotion is very beautiful. Look it up if you aren’t familiar. Remember that Jesus wants to gives us His mercy and love. He loves you so much that he died for you, and only begs of you that you will accept eternal happiness! Imagine Him being whipped and suffering for you, covered in blood, and he looks up at you begging you to just accept the gifts He offers, even though you brush Him aside and offend Him constantly. Well, He is God, He sees all, and He did think of you individually while He was being tortured and killed. You needn’t worry if you will repent and accept His love, like it seems you have. Be not afraid. I’m glad it helped ab75. Anything else you need help with and I’ll do my best! God bless.