It has come to my attention that "christians" think it is ok to sin because Jesus Christ atoned for all sin and so will forgive them no matter what.
If this is the mindset of "christians" then that explains why there is so much sin in the churches.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," - Hebrews 10:26
This is speaking about Jesus' sacrifice for sins... and not the sacrificial animal system as some supposed.
I definitely do not believe that Christs Atonement has given me a license for sin. I can not speak for others, but I know what has happened to me since I have been saved. My sin has become more and more abominable the longer and closer I walk with Christ. The more I mature in Him the more other Sin that I wasnt as aware of begins to be shown to me for what it is, and the harm it is causing and the blessing and freedom I will walk in once I repent of them.
Do I Sin? Yes indeed I do, and I believe that ALL Sin is willful, would someone like to tell me that they have not lied once since they were Born Again? Lying is an outright willful act, you MUST think and know the Truth and then actively choose against it. I believe if you told me that you havent lied since being Born Again whether that is a few days or years, then I would say, thats a lie.
How about Lusting? Would you like to tell me you havent Lusted at all since you were Born Again? According to Christ to Lust is equal to Adultery in our hearts, therefore we all are Adulterers, even after we have been Born Again. I make these statements in no way to justify Sin, I can never and will never justify Sin, Sin is awful, horrible, terrible and an Abomination to God. I make these statements to frame the above Scriptures. If we sin willingly after receiving the knowledge of Truth then there remains no more sacrifice for Sin, if we take that statement alone in the merit it seems to be offered here atm, then we must all state that we have no more sacrifice for Sin. If you are honest with us here and honest with yourselves you will admit that you have WILLFULLY Sinned since coming to Christ. So how then does this verses apply to us? Does it apply to Born Again Christians? What is the meaning behind it?
In my view this can be referenced to both believers and the Lost, however I believe that there is a marked difference between the two ends, as I believe those who are Born Again can not lose Salvation so its speaking to a degree of what could or would happen but does not speak as to whether these things have ever actually happened. I think it is wise to quote the proceeding passages to Contextualize what is being spoken of here:
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I will speak concerning the Lost first because its not as complicated to understand. I believe that when the Gospel goes out to the Lost and they come under conviction, and the Holy Spirit moves upon them, and they KNOW without a doubt that Christ is the Truth and they are Sinners before God, then from that moment on, if they were to willingly choose to continue in their Lost state, they are proclaiming that the Blood of the Covenant of Christ is an Unholy thing and rejected the Spirit of Grace. I believe on this site there are prime examples of those whom the Gospel has gone out to over and over, they know they are Lost but they have chosen to harden their hearts, to continue in their Sins, trample over the Blood of Christ, and to them, there will not remain a Sacrifice for Sin. They will fall into the hands of the Living God and judgement shall be upon them in full. That is a terrifying thing and if they understood this they would run to Christ.
I believe in a hope of Salvation for all even until the end of their life however we know full well that God has come to some people and that they have rejected Him to a point where God knows they will never Repent and Accept Him and thus He will give them over to their reprobate minds. What does Scripture say concerning this?
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, therefore God gave them up to their Sinful Ways becoming reprobate in mind and who KNOWING the judgement of God not only Sin, but Sin WILLINGLY and even take pleasure in doing these Sins.
That I believe is the Truest Context of the above passage in Hebrews, to Sin willingly after hearing the Gospel to a point where God gives one over to a reprobate mind and you even take pleasure in their Sins, to them there remains no more Sacrifice because they rejected it.
The other aspect would be the idea that a Born Again Christian who comes to know Christ as Lord and Savior were to apostate, to him then they would only have judgement to be found at the end. They were to accept Christ then willfully turn from Him all together, to them it stands that His Sacrifice would no longer remain, for they trampled on it and rejected Grace. However I do not believe this is truly possible for a Born Again Christian to lose their Salvation. Some believe you can have Salvation, then lose it, then gain it then lose it ect. I reject this ideology 100% if we have a role in our own Salvation then it becomes a Works Based Salvation, essentially saying to Jesus well you did your part, but its not quite good enough, so let me add to your Work on the Cross to make sure I get myself into Heaven. I also believe Paul concludes that we are NOT able to lose Salvation either specifically in the instance of the verses in Hebrews for he says:
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
If one draws back we have no pleasure in it, but we are NOT of them who draw back unto perdition (aka Apostasy) but we ARE of them that believe unto the saving of the soul! So I believe we need to take a fuller context to the passage rather than trying to say that if one Sins Willfully in the idea of one, two or even a multitude of Sins, that there is no Sacrifice left. If that was the case then all Humanity is doomed to Hell.
Christianity never gives license to Sin, and I believe that ideology is posted by those who cant understand Redemption who have no way to recognize what Salvation actually does to those who are saved. They cant wrap their head around it because its not something that is possible for the Carnal and Lost mind to comprehend. However to all that are Saved, its easy to grasp, we see what Sin did to our Savior therefore we no longer want to participate in that which He had to die for. Not only that, there is a massive Spiritual Change in those who are Born Again, Sin is no longer a desire or has a pull as it once did. Moreover unlike to the Lost, once you are Born Again you actually now have the capacity to overcome and conquer Sin in your life.
If you are Lost then you will never ever in your life no matter what other Religions, Philosophies, Ideologies you try and follow, have the power to conquer and overcome your Sin in your Flesh. You will forever be a slave to them, always falling no matter how hard it is you try, they will always win because the Flesh desires Sin and Sin is found in the Flesh. Those who are Born Again have been made dead to Sin in our Flesh by Faith, when we walk in the Spirit that is given to us we can fully overcome all types of Sins. Some people conquer their Sins overnight, going from Drug Addicts and Alcoholics to Preachers and Pastors. Some Sins are completely taken away, while others take many years to overcome, but from the minute you are truly Born Again, the war starts and victories come.
What I can say is that I do not believe one can be Truly Born Again and come to a place where they are able to justify and be comfortable in their Sins. If you are Born Again then you would have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and when you are in Sin He WILL grieve, you WILL feel it and it WILL make you miserable. I know this from experience, I have fully stepped back into the World after being Born Again and I spent many years being at best a "luke warm" Christian and the whole time I was utterly miserable. I could literally FEEL the Holy Spirit in my Soul being grieved, I would hear Him speak to my heart asking why on earth I am continuing to live this way and CONSTANTLY be trying to pull me out of my Sin and back to Christ. He ALWAYS was there ALWAYS trying to bring me back to Repentance, and the more I tried to ignore Him the worse I felt, the worse my life became. He caused me to finally Repent and cry out to the Lord and Praise His name He was waiting their with open arms to welcome me back and immediately the Sin I found myself in, began to be conquered once again.
I can not believe that I could ever have found comfort or happiness in that state or any state where I just accept my Sinful Lifestyle. I have struggled with Lust as I believe definitely all Men and I believe all people do, but there is no way I can justify acting on my Lust over and over. Its not okay for me to watch Pornography, I could sit here and say well I cant help that I am attracted to women, I cant help I need to desire Sex, its okay for me to watch Porn but that would be a lie. I needed to REPENT of watching Porn, I needed to REPENT of my Lust and ask God to help me with it, and praise the Lord He has!!! I could not watch Porn and be okay with it, I WILL feel the Holy Spirit grieve, I will feel God speak to my heart about it and I KNOW for a fact that if I continue to justify it to myself and reject what I know is True, I will become miserable.
Christianity doesnt give a license to Sin, if you think that, get Born Again and you will see that your desires change, that the Holy Spirit of God moves in and it CONVICTS you of your Sins and there is no possible way to continue to live a Sinful Lifestyle wholly against the Word of God and Christ and be okay. You will be miserable and you will constantly feel the draw of the Holy Spirit towards repentance. If you tell me you are Saved but can sit here and live a lifestyle that is clearly in violation of the Word of God and NOT feel the Holy Spirit constantly being grieved and pushing you towards Repentance, then I would say you need to truly check on your Salvation...
