If We Sin Willfully Hebrews 10:26

According to the writer of Hebrews, we are not to “forsake the assembling of ourselves together” but rather “exhort one another, and so much the more, as we see the day approaching”. In chapter ten and verse twenty-six of Hebrews the writer shares what happens “if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth” where we read:

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,

The verse begins, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,...”. The writer began with the words, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “if we sin” or “whether the writer and his readers trespass, offend, miss the mark, are mistaken or wander from the path of unrighteousness and honor” “willfully” which means “voluntarily, willingly and of one' own accord” “after” or “afterward and behind” “that we have received” which means “we have taken with the hand, laid hold of, carried, claimed and procured” “the knowledge” or “the precise, correct and full discernment and acknowledgement” “of the truth” which refers to “what is true in any matter under consideration”. The writer gave warning to he and his readers that they not “willingly” “sin” once they have the “full discernment” of God's “truth”.

The verse continues, “...there remains no more sacrifice for sins”. The writer added the words, “there remains” or “there is left behind, deserted and forsaken” “no more sacrifice” which means “no longer, more or further a victim of offering” “for sins” which means “on behalf of trespasses, offenses, missing of the marks, mistakes and wandering from the path of unrighteousness and honor”. The writer's conclusion is that there is no longer a “sacrifice” for the “sins” of those who “willfully sin” after they have knowledge of the truth of God.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we should bow in awe of our great and awesome God. Though He sent Jesus Christ as a “sacrifice and offering” for our “sins”, the writer's warning was that “sacrifice” does not “remain” for those who “willingly sin” after knowing about God's truth. God desires to have a relationship with us, and our “sin” has separated us from Him. Jesus came to remove that barrier by offering Himself as a “sacrifice” for our “sins”, and once we know and receive this knowledge, we must not “willfully sin” against God. May God through His Holy Spirit and by His Son Jesus bring this truth to our minds and hearts, and may we always find ourselves in obedience to Him.

Next time the writer asks “looking for of judgment and fiery indignation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.