Bible Truth 11: Hebrews 10:26-27 {585 words}

BT11: Hebrews 10:26-27 states: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." A person comes to you extremely depressed. A week ago she willfully and deliberately stole some merchandise from a local store, and now on the basis of the above verses believes that there is no possibility of repentance and forgiveness. How would you counsel her?

Hebrews 10:1-18 talks about Jesus as the final Sacrifice. Before He died on the cross, priests had to offer sacrifices for their own sins and for the sins of the people day after day and year after year. Because the offering of bulls and goats could not take away sin forever (Hebrews 10:4), a better sacrifice was required. Jesus became that better sacrifice, and now, according to Hebrews 10:12-13, He sits at the right hand of His Father waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool.

Concerning the sins of the lady who stole merchandise from the store, her eternal position with God has not been lost by virtue of her unlawful action. Hebrews 10:10 says, "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." The Greek word translated "holy" is "hagiazo", and this word means "to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow", "to separate from profane things and dedicate to God", or "to purify internally by renewing of the soul." The Greek word used for "once" is "ephapax", and it means "all at once" or "once for all".

Therefore, according to Hebrews 10:10, we were purified internally, separated from profane things, and dedicated to God when we got saved, either all at once or once for all. The passage in Hebrews 10:26-27 does not teach that a person is returned to their former unholy, lost state when they sin. It says that the purification process was completed the first time, when the individual placed saving faith in Christ, and that no further purification is needed.

Hebrews 10:17-18 says, "Then he adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.' And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." These verses say that God will not remember our sins any longer and that a person, once saved, will not need a new sacrifice whenever they sin. Another key to understanding Hebrews 10:26-27 is Hebrews 10:28, which says, "Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses." In Hebrews 10:26-27, the writer is referring to those that have rejected or never accepted the one, perfect, and complete Sacrifice, Jesus the Christ, and he is saying that, for them, no sacrifice for sins is left.

This woman did not lose her salvation when she stole from the store. She did, however, do the wrong thing and should now try to do the right thing. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. " She should return to the store where she stole the merchandise and make restitution for her actions. She should, then, in accordance with I John 1:9, confess her sin and ask the Lord for forgiveness.

Tom of Bethany

Back To TLEE's Home Page

Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews

Bible Truth 14: Opening the Bible to a Particular Page

Send email to: tlee6040@aol.com