Willful Sin

[Xenia]

These verses are haunting to me at times. I know that I have sinned when I knew better... now what? Do these verses mean..."too bad so sad?" On the cross Jesus said "forgive them for they know NOT what they do". And... even when we think we KNOW what we do.. do we really? Is He not "faithful and just to forgive us if we repent?" Do these verses insinuate an exception?

Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

[Ransom v. Unman]

Well, understand this... If we repent and stay faithful to God, He will always be faithful to meet us and spare us with His mercy and love.

He is forgiving and gracious to bounds that we do not understand. One thing we have to contextualise Hebrews with is the words of Jesus – and Jesus Himself taught lessons of unremitting forgiveness and a Lord who would go to the ends of the Earth and beyond to redeem. I think Hebrews teaches (and this is opening a can of worms here) that people who fall away from the Way of the Lord are just as eligible for condemnation as anyone who has never even chosen to follow Him – and is in fact even more eligible than otherwise.

Hardlines Calvinists certainly don't like that kind of thinking, but after studying Hebrews and many of the passages embedded in the teaching, this is what I believe is being taught here.

[ProfessorAlan]

Something about Pharoah hardening his heart, and then God hardening Pharaoh's heart.

If you harden your own heart, God can soften it again. But if God hardens it?????

[Tommie Lyn]

I think Hebrews teaches (and this is opening a can of worms here) that people who fall away from the Way of the Lord are just as eligible for condemnation as anyone who has never even chosen to follow Him – and is in fact even more eligible than otherwise.

Hardlines Calvinists certainly don't like that kind of thinking, but after studying Hebrews and many of the passages embedded in the teaching, this is what I believe is being taught here.
And also here:

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

"For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

"It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." -- 2 Peter 2:20-22 NASB

And, Xenia, I think this goes along with what Ransom said. The key is when a person willfully turns his back on Jesus and returns to his former life and is overcome by it, when he purposely, willfully turns away, there's nothing Jesus can do for him. But when he repents.....

[Xenia]

I am blessed by your wonderful responses :)

[jacks girl]

I know how Xenia feels. I mean if we over eat and we know what we are doing and we do it anyway. Does that mean we willfully sinned. later after it is over we feel it was wrong and repent.

May be we let our mind wander down the wrong path and know its wrong but still we do it. Have we willfully sinned but later we wonder why do i do this i don't want so sin.

i've always worried about these things.

jacks

[writegirl1949]

I think the key here is your personal relationship with God. Look at David -- I think he committed every sin on the list yet he was "a man after God's own heart." And that's the point ... God knew David's heart. David was sinful. Just like we are.

The more intimate relationship with have with God, the more He knows us and speaks to us. Jacks, the best thing you can do is just get closer to the Father. No, He doesn't force us into perfect behaviors, but He speaks to our hearts and the Holy Spirit strengthens us to change our behaviors to be more like His son.

Blessings, Francine

[srussell]

You need to balance verses like Heb 10:26 with verses like this:

[QUOTE]1 John 1:8-10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our
If you think about it, all sin is willful. I don't think we accidentally lie or lust or gossip or envy. 1 John was written to Christians, not to nonbelievers.

Sam.

[MADAGLENE]

Iam not sure where thi verse is found but it kind of go like this : we must forgive our brother and sister and may I say neighbor to, whom we have seen in order to ask God to forgive us our daily sin.We must forgive in order to be forgiven.