Is Sin Still A Thing?

 

Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God….

This is a much needed study; an article laying out the various teachings about sin is long overdue. A simple survey of our friends and associates would quickly confirm the fact that people have lost their sense of right and wrong. These days matters like good and bad are difficult to distinguish and definitions of morality seem to be up to the individual. Furthermore, many post-modernist see no need for a moral framework. It is tragic…but the subject of sin is hardly dealt with from a theological perspective anymore. Certainly our society does not cherish any idea of clarity regarding sin, but it seems God’s people have little appreciation for the subject also. Perhaps this is why we do not value the cross of our Lord as we should. In this study my goal is to define and express these timeless Bible teachings with forthright clarity.

Though it is often difficult in this post-modern age to tackle the subject of sin, still we really need to understand this topic. So, “What is sin? Where did it come from? Do we inherit a sinful nature from Adam? Do we inherit guilt from Adam?” Grudem gives the following definition for sin, “Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”  Clearly sin includes acts of adultery, stealing, and lying. It also includes sinful attitudes like anger (Matt. 5:22) and lust (Matt. 5:28). Then sin involves the very nature of humanity—we are sinners according to God’s Word (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:3). Some have erroneously concluded that sin is merely selfishness, but this is misleading because not all self-interests are wrong. It is better to define sin in terms of God’s Law and moral character (1Jn. 3:4; Rom. 2:15, 17-29).

To the question where did sin come from? It is vitally important to first affirm that God is in no way responsible for sin—He cannot be blamed for sin. He always does what is just and right (Deut. 32:4; Gen. 18:25; Job. 34:10). It is also correct to say that God permitted the entrance of sin through the voluntary choices of moral creatures. Was the origin of sin something “ordained” by God? Again I have great difficulty embracing this idea of God ordaining sin to come about. Again a better way of understanding this is that a sovereign God permitted sin (Gen. 50:20). As a holy God he cannot produce or promote sin (Hab. 1:13). He is absolutely perfect (Deut. 32:4; 2Sam. 22:31; Ps. 18:30). But it is true that God can produce greater good by allowing sin in the universe (Rom. 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). This fact alone demonstrates that sin is not His equal and refutes any idea of dualism. This is perhaps why He continues to tolerate sin in the universe.   

Before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin had already invaded the angelic realm with the result of the fall of Satan and a third of the angelic host (Gen. 3:1-19). Satan introduced sin to the human race through the temptation in the Garden. In the fall of man sin struck at the basis for knowledge by questioning God’s Word (Gen. 3:4). Then sin struck at the very foundation of moral standards (Gen. 2:17). In addition, sin also loosed human identity from its God-provided moorings (Gen. 3:5). Lastly, sin proved to be completely irrational; it never makes sense to rebel against our Creator-God (Prov. 10:23; 12:15; 14:7).

We should also explore two realities regarding the doctrine of inherited sin. In these two observations we discover how Adam’s sin affected the rest of humanity. First is inherited guilt: we are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. This truth is relayed to us in Romans 5:12-21. Even though there was no Law from Adam’s time to Moses’, people were still guilty of sin because they died. Physical, spiritual and eternal death are direct consequences of sin. By Adam’s disobedience we all were made sinners.

Some reject this idea believing it to be unfair. There are three things; however, that should always be remembered in this connection. First everyone has voluntarily committed many actual sins themselves and are indeed guilty (Rom. 2:6; Col. 3:25). Secondly, if we were in Adam’s place, we would have sinned also and our subsequent behavior demonstrates this. Then thirdly, if we think it is unfair to be represented by Adam in the Fall, then it is equally unfair to be represented by Christ in justification and righteousness (Rom. 5:19).

The second reality related to the doctrine of inherited sin is inherited corruption: we have a sinful nature because of Adam’s sin. The concept is freely expressed in numerous passages of the Bible (Ps. 51:1-5; Eph. 2:3).  A result of Adam’s sin is a disposition and a propensity to sin in him and all his descendants. Two particulars in this connection should be kept in mind. First, in our natures we totally lack good before God. Every part of our being is affected by sin—our intellect, emotions, desires, heart, goals, motives, and physical bodies (Titus 1:15; Rom. 7:18; Jer. 17:9).  Secondly, in our actions we are totally unable to do spiritual good before God. We lack the ability to do anything that will in itself be pleasing to God (Rom. 8:8). Without Jesus Christ we can do absolutely nothing to be fruitful (Jn. 15:5; Heb. 11:6). It is not that we cannot do things that are good and pleasing in the eyes of people. Certainly we all can, but people are not God.

At this juncture it is vital that we turn our attention to actual sins in our lives. There are about six areas where this is important to explore. First all people are sinful before God (Ps. 14:3; 143:2; 1Kings 8:46).  Secondly, we are responsible before God for each of our sins. Not according to our ability, but the absolute perfection of God’s moral law and His own holy character (Matt. 5:48). Thirdly, infants are guilty before they commit an act of sin because sin is welded to their nature. However, God in mercy and grace keeps them safe from wrath until they can exercise faith in Him (Ps. 51:5; 58:3; 1Sam 12:23). Fourthly, is the issue of degrees of sin. With regard to legal guilt before God, one single sin is worthy of eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire (Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10; James 2:10-11). With regards to the results in life and our relationship with God there are varying degrees of sin.  The consequences of some actions are weightier than others. The Bible even speaks of greater sins (John 19:11; Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; Matt. 5:19; 23:23; Lev. 4:2, 13, 22; 5:17; James 3:1; Luke 12:48).

Now entertain the question “What happens when a Christian sins?” the answer is that our legal standing before God remains unchanged (Rom. 6:23; 8:1; 1Cor. 15:3; 1Jn. 1:8; 3:2).  It is true that our fellowship with God is disrupted and our Christian life is damaged (Eph. 4:30; Heb. 12:6, 9, 10; Prov. 3:11-12; Rev. 3:19). When we bring God displeasure because of our non-compliance with His will He will correct and chasten us because He loves us and desires that we share in His holiness.

Finally, it must be observed that God will deal with and punish sin. Those who refuse God and die in their sin can expect to be dealt with in severe wrath. This is not merely a deterrent to sinning, but the realization of the primary reason God punishes sin. His righteous nature demands punishment! God is righteous and just (Jer. 9:24), and Christ is the propitiation for all sin (Rom. 3:25). This means that the Lord Jesus was the Sacrifice that bore the wrath of God against sin and thereby turned God’s wrath away that He might deal with humanity in grace (Rom. 3:25, 26). However, if an individual refused that grace, God will confront them in the full force of His righteous wrath and eternal condemnation.

I realize that many people feel they are 'good people,' but the problem with that is we cannot do only good. We do not even live up to our own expectations on a daily basis. Can we manipulate ourselves into believing we have lived up to the PERFECT requirements of a holy God? We have a sin nature that is anti-God. It is not so much the individual sins that we commit, (though these are awful!) but the fact that we have a sinful orientation that drives us to indulge in the wrongs that so violently offend a holy God! 

In short we cannot embrace an eternal relationship with a righteous and perfect God in our natural fallen and sinful condition because our sin mars everything about us. Unless God undertakes to change us, we are condemned forever to the Lake of Fire without any other recourse or hope for all eternity. This is why the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ is so vital to our spiritual welfare. Again, the Lord Jesus insisted that we must be born again.

How may we experience the spiritual birth? The answer is by consciously opting to place our faith/trust in Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection as the full payment for our sins. We acknowledge that God indicated His acceptance of Christ’s redemptive work by raising Him from the dead. Therefore, we accept what God accepts as the fair and complete payment for our sins.

We must believe on Christ Jesus with a heart of repentance! This is exactly what Paul outlines in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus, we must believe that the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before the Father. It is crucial that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us (Rom. 1:14-17).

Christ’s suffering at Calvary was God providing payment for our sins. This is what Calvary was about—justice was served and sin was paid for in full. Now sinners can be saved—born again to enter a relationship with God. It is the Spirit who regenerates us and gives us new life when we trust Christ. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are. Being born again means we become a part of a new family, God is our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature. All of this is realized the moment we humble ourselves before God acknowledging our sins while trusting Christ and His payment for them. We must accept this payment personally. Beloved, we must exercise faith in the Person and Work of Christ to experience the spiritual birth. What about you? Have you been born again?

God Sent a Great Wind

Jonah 1:4, 11-16

SUBJECT:  God’s Chastisement and Jonah

THEME:  Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters and great wind storms in an attempt to persuade his people to repent and obey his will.

RELEVANCE: Chastening is any instruction, correction, teaching, rebuke or circumstances God uses to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. In this account God sovereignly uses the natural element of the wind, which is related to Jonah’s circumstances to get this wayward prophet back on track. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Clearly, one goal of chastening is to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. A person who repents turns from his old ways to wholeheartedly commit himself to doing the will of God.  

INTRODUCTION:

No matter how you look at it, Jonah had rebelled against the Lord in a most flagrant manner. He had utterly refused to accept the missionary ministry to Nineveh; instead he elected a cruise in the opposite direction to Tarshish, a Pheonician colony on the southwestern coast of Spain about two thousand miles west of Israel. The last thing the wayward prophet wanted for the city of Nineveh was the mercy of Jehovah, so he rebelled rejecting God’s directive.  

Accordingly, the Lord has a way of dealing with wayward believers who insist on their way thus negating His will. God “sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4). No doubt someone will insist that the Lord only “allowed” the great wind to come…in an attempt to vindicate or defend the notion that God is a “good” God. However, the statement of this Scripture is transparently clear. “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea…!” God is directly responsible for these developments in the light of His servant’s rebellion and willfulness. Yes, God “sent out” the great wind, which means he threw it down or hurled it far out there. Beloved, this was a deliberate and calculated attempt to turn this rebel, Jonah, around and set him back on track to reach a wicked people! God does not need to be defended on this point; His character is good, His actions are good and His motives are good. Why do we feel the need to defend Him concerning such passages?

MESSAGE:

God uses Great Winds to Chasten His Rebellious People (Jonah 1:11-16).

Beloved, it may not be an actual wind storm at sea for you and me, but God in his sovereignty over all things uses whatever means necessary to turn our hearts from rebellion back to Him. Obviously, he can use great winds and great fish, but he can use anything else he deems fitting to get our attention and redirect us in his will. So, God used a great wind, but why?

A.    To show Jonah how his rebellion negatively impacted innocent people (Vs. 11-13).

1.     I have heard people say in defense of their substandard Christian living, “I am not hurting anybody but myself” or “I am minding my own business, and what I do is no one else’s concern.”

2.     But this is not at all what God’s Word reveals; Jonah’s rebellion affected this captain and his entire crew and literally put their lives in mortal danger (1:11-17). 

3.     Often our sin does negatively impact others.

                                          i.     The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”^[1] (1Cor. 5:6-8)

                                        ii.     Leaven here is a picture of moral sin. The apostle is saying that if they tolerate a little moral sin in the church, it will soon grow and expand until the whole fellowship is seriously affected. Righteous, godly discipline is necessary in order to maintain the character of the church.^[2]

                                      iii.     Our failures to confront our sinfulness will certainly impact others in negative ways.

4.     Lot’s worldliness compelled him to move to Sodom where he eventually lost his spiritual credibility (Gen. 19:24-38), his two daughters were corrupted by that society, and he lost his wife to worldliness well before she turned to look back on Sodom. The Lord Jesus warned, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

                                          i.     Although Lot’s wife was taken almost by force out of Sodom, her heart remained in the city. This was indicated by the fact that she turned back. She was out of Sodom, but Sodom was not out of her. As a result, God destroyed her by turning her into a pillar of salt.^[3]

                                        ii.     We cannot afford to be so attached to possessions, luxuries and earthly comforts when commitment to Christ demands prioritizing eternal and spiritual realities over worldly things. Beloved, our worldliness will impact others. Often what we parents practice in moderation, our children will practice in excess!

5.     Acchan’s sinful greedy heart compelled him to take the gold and silver, but his entire family died with him as punishment for his sin (Josh 7:16-26). Clearly, our sins impact others!

                                          i.     Romans 14: 7-8, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.^[4]

                                        ii.     The lordship of Christ enters into every aspect of a believer’s life. We don’t live to ourselves but to the Lord. We don’t die to ourselves but to the Lord. It is true that what we do and say affects others, but that is not the thought here. Paul is emphasizing that the Lord should be the goal and object of the lives of His people.^[5]

B.    To show Jonah how God could still witness to His power, nature, and character (vs. 14-15).

1.     God did not leave Himself without a witness because the natural world responded to His will and evidenced His awesome strength.

2.     God wanted to show these mariners their need to fear the Lord (16), therefore He taught these pagans something about the “fear of the Lord” (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 14:26, 27; 15:33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4).

C.    To correct Jonah’s rebellious attitude…. (Vs. 11-17).

1.     Jonah’s resentment and rebellion broke fellowship with the Lord. He brought these developments on himself when he departed from God’s will for his life. While we cannot live free of all troubles and challenges, some of the “winds” and storms we face are self-inflicted. That is correct, we invite the Lord’s correction through our carelessness and rebellion. In addition, the natural consequences of sin are a punishment in and of themselves.

2.     Tragically, the great winds did not produce the repentance God desired. Though the ship’s crew suggested something had to be done concerning Jonah in order for them to survive, Jonah’s response in verse 1:12 is absolutely shocking. He intimated that the only means of the sailors surviving was to cast him into the sea…since it was his fault they were in jeopardy. Though the sailors had suggested this, they were not ready to act on this notion of sacrificing the prophet. So, they worked even harder against the winds to bring the ship to safety, but they failed utterly. The great winds prevailed! Finally, accepting the apparent inevitable, they begged God to not hold them accountable for the death of Jonah, and they cast him into the sea. Instantly, the storm ceased from her ragging! What’s so tragic about that? Though Jonah had experienced all this trouble, fear and anxiety at sea, he still was not willing to go to Nineveh and preach God’s warning to them. He had not repented…he would rather have died first than to obey God!

                                          i.     What frightful bitterness and resentment is this! How stubborn can a human heart be to persist in such rebellion? What awful lying intoxication sin holds? Will we dare God kill us because we refuse to get right? Rational behavior is completely abandoned here.

                                        ii.     Beloved, this is jaw-dropping off the charts ridiculous! No wonder God had to turn up the heat and prepare a “great fish to swallow up Jonah.” There is zero repentance in this prophet’s heart at this time!

3.     But God initiated the process of restoration. In chapter 1:17, God prepared the great fish to swallow Jonah. This was an act of loving mercy on God’s part. He provided a means of Jonah’s safety, a means that brought him to repentance, confession, and to prayer. 

4.     God purpose for chastening His people is to produce righteousness in our lives: “... but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” “...nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:10-11)

5.     Many times we resent what God places in our pathway, but we need to see and consider His mercy, for He is working towards restoration. How far would Jonah have gone had it not been for the storm and the great fish?  How far would you and I have gone if it hadn’t been for the storms and the great fish (or whatever it was that God sent) into our lives?

6.     All things God bring to us, directly or indirectly, come for our good.  What kind of fruit did the chastisement of God produce in Jonah's life? It eventually produced repentance, and from a heart of repentance, Jonah sought the Lord in prayer.

CONCLUSION:

Clearly, Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters like this great wind storm at sea in an attempt to persuade us to repent and obey his will.

What does all this mean for you and me? Honestly, we need God’s chastening—his instructions, corrections, teachings, rebukes or circumstances as he seeks to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. We should appreciate His initiatives to convict us and bring about a godly sorrow. To our shame, we tend to persist in sinful attitudes and behaviors. We truly need the Spirit of God to deal with us fervently at times.

In our experiences, God will sovereignly use natural elements like the wind, or some other natural element related to our circumstances to get us back on track. He has used sickness, disease, financial straits, stock market crashes and even the death of loved ones to help us reconsider the course we have chosen. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Please do not miss this point: God’s corrective measures are acts of love towards his children. It is not because he hates us that he corrects us, but because he loves us. Clearly, chastening is designed to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. We have truly repented when we turn from our old ways to wholeheartedly commit ourselves to doing the will of God.  

A believer pursuing sin will experience God’s chastening. Although not all pain and suffering are related to chastening, certainly chastening can include pain, suffering, loss, and trouble. A believer who refuses the prompting of the Holy Spirit to repent and be transformed in character and behavior will experience a few semesters in “Whale University.” Jonah provides us with a great case study of how God in his sovereign love will use a number of means to steer us back to a lifestyle of obedience, submission, and conformity to His plan for our lives.

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 5:6–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1760). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1437). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 14:7–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1736). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Willful Sin is a Fearful Thing 2

Hebrews 10:26-31

Theme:

Confidence in the Sacrifice of Christ enables us to respond to God in joyful obedience issuing into a holy life of faith. But God also warns against the fearful consequences of sinning willfully; that is drawing back and forsaking faith in Christ. Such behavior will be met with God 's fiery anger. 

Introduction:

Much is made of God’s blessings upon His people and rightly so; the Lord is gracious and kind to us. He daily visits us with benefits and opportunities that move us to marvel at His generosity. Like you, I have had occasions when God was so gracious to me that all I could do was weep in response. My mind and heart literally overflowed with thanksgiving, praise, and appreciation for His unmerited favor in my life and ministry. Yet, I was unable to articulate it in words...my gratitude issued in the form of tears racing down my cheeks. I could not help but weep in joy. His goodness was far beyond human words.... His love, mercy, assurance, forgiveness, and blessings dwarfed my ability to celebrate His awesome goodness. Our Lord God, our heavenly Father, truly is so good to every one of us. 

The modern emphasis on God’s nature and character highlight His gracious qualities. These endearing attributes seem to be far more pronounced in the average Christian book I read or the typical sermon I may listen to on the radio from time to time. The fact that our Father is kind, loving, merciful, patient, and forgiving are prominent themes. He is definitely depicted as such in holy writ. No doubt, much of what I have read, heard, written and preached in these regards are Bible truths. I love and enjoy highlighting the loving nature of our Lord God. However, it is important to be balanced and to observe here a well warranted caution. To only communicate these positive qualities while neglecting His other traits is to mislead our audiences and obscure the biblical portrait of the Almighty. In such a case we would have inadvertently created a god of our own imaginations…in our own image; idolatry is what we would be guilty of because the portrayal of God is incomplete. It is better to know God as He truly is than to relate to Him according to our mere thoughts! In doing so we set ourselves up for disillusionment and those we minister to will experience similar frustrations with God. Ultimately God is misrepresented by His representatives!

In the Book of Hebrews, we find a portrayal of the Almighty that is loving and severe. He is both gracious and just. His grace is seen in His suffering, sacrifice, salvation, and intercession. Hebrews also informs us of His righteousness, holiness, justice, wrath, and anger. He is Creator and Judge, Savior and Corrector, and He is the Sacrifice and consuming Fire. The same great heart that issued the rigid and binding OT Law also evidences immeasurable and extravagant grace without any conflict or contradiction. Throughout the Book of Hebrews, God instructs and inspires, but He also warns and chastens. This is a more comprehensive characterization of the Almighty.

We all cherish deeply the good news, hope filled accounts, and inspiring stories, but we must equally cling to the warnings, cautions, and rebukes from our Lord. I am aware that apparently negative ideas are unpopular and unwanted. We yearn more for affirmations and that which boosts our estimations of ourselves and our prospects. Subjects like divine anger and severe chastening are not particularly welcome; we struggle with appreciating these…it is difficult for us to value them. In fact, to say anything negative these days is automatically regarded as unhelpful and untrue. After all…only positive affirming messages are true…right?  Beloved, please beware. In this short passage, God takes our thoughts to some the sternest and strongest language in the New Testament—a warning of serious judgment and vengeance from the Almighty. Forsaking the Lord for whatever reason is no small issue with our heavenly Father; He takes such matters exceedingly serious!

Study:

What warnings does this passage give to people who turn away from their faith in Jesus?  What is the worst part of the judgment God has for an apostate member of His people? (Heb. 10:30, 31)

These verses warn against the chastening of God upon those who defect from the New Covenant of Christ. God, who holds the prerogative to discipline His people, will follow through to vindicate the blood of Christ and stir defectors to reconsider their decision. Certainly, the worse thing any Christian could face is an angry God with reasons and rights to deal severely with us. Please note the following three observations; they convey three things we know with certainty. 

A.              We Know Vengeance Is God’s Prerogative (Heb. 10:30).

1.     Willful repudiation of God’s beloved Son is a sin of immense magnitude (10:30).

                                                    i.     God will sit in judgment on all who are guilty of such willful sins.

                                                  ii.     It is a key principle of faith that God judges. He does not just let evil occur without resisting it; He historically upheld righteousness with punishments for violating His holy Law. He irresistibly enforced it when faced with those who despise it. How much more is this true with the newer and higher covenant of grace?

2.     Paul quotes two passages from Deut. 32 to support his claim that judgment belongs to the Lord and that God’s people are not excused from God’s judgment.

                                                    i.     He has said, “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense” (see Deut. 32:35). Vengeance in this sense means full justice. When used of God it has no thought of vindictiveness or of “getting even.”

                                                  ii.     It is simply the meting out of what a person deserves. Knowing the character of God, we can be sure that He will do as He has said by repaying the apostate according to what’s truly fitting.  Again, this is chastening of believers and not punishment in Hell for sinners.

B.              We Know Judgment Is God’s Promise (Heb. 10:30).

1.     No one should regard this warning, “I will recompense,” as an idle threat. God Himself has claimed the right to take vengeance and to judge His people. The passage Paul quoted twice is Deuteronomy 32:35-36; it most vividly rekindles images of God’s people suffering His retributive judgments (see Deut. 32:19-27).

2.     “And again, The Lord shall judge His people.” God will decidedly deal with those who truly belong to Him; he will scrutinize His people and censure according to guilt.

3.     In stating that this exhortation applies to believers today, but that it does not involve loss of salvation, I am not suggesting that chastening is unimportant. On the contrary, it is important that every Christian obey God and please the Father in all things. Dr. William Culbertson, late president of the Moody Bible Institute, used to warn us about “the sad consequences of forgiven sins.” God forgave David’s sins, but David suffered the sad consequences for years afterward (2 Sam. 12:7–15). David had “despised the commandment of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:9) and God dealt with him. –Wiersbe, Warren W.

C.              We Know Reverence Is God’s Portion (Heb. 10:31).

1.     Those familiar with descriptions of God’s wrath against “His people,” agree: it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Every believer should live in holy respect of the living God.

2.     God’s power is awesome, and his punishment terrible. These words give us a glimpse into the awesome holiness of God. He is sovereign; his power is unlimited; he will do as he promises. Those who reject the covenant will be punished. For them, falling into God’s hands will be a dreadful experience. They will have no more excuses. They will discover that they were wrong, but it will be too late.—The Life Application Commentary Series

3.     The lesson for us is this: do not be among those who fall into God’s hands for judgment because it is a fearful thing (10:31). Yes, getting on the wrong side of God is to be feared!

4.     Nothing in this passage of Scripture was ever intended to disturb and unsettle the minds of those who truly belong to Christ. The passage was purposely written in its sharp, searching, challenging style so that all who profess the name of Christ might be warned about the terrible consequences of turning away from Him.—MacDonald, William 

5.     What should a believer do who has drifted away into spiritual doubt and dullness and is deliberately despising God’s Word? He should turn to God for mercy and forgiveness. There is no other sacrifice for sin, but the sacrifice Christ made is sufficient for all our sins. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Lord’s hands for chastening, but it is a wonderful thing to fall into His hands for cleansing and restoration. David said, “Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His mercies” (1 Chron. 21:13). –The Bible Exposition Commentary

Many professing Christians walk away from Christ claiming they no longer believe such fairy tales. Some claim they woke up to the reality that Christianity is not true, some because of social pressures forsake the Lord Jesus believing truth is no longer relevant, and yet others because of a fear that “faith” will cost them professionally or economically forsake the Lord. They all quit, stop believing, and refuse the biblical truth about Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Beloved, this is willful sin against the Lord Jesus and his holy cross! God will deal with His people who fall away.

No doubt someone will object saying, real believers cannot sin willfully. Others may claim that people indwelt by God's Spirit cannot forsake the Lord Jesus. I have a simple question here...to whom is the Book of Hebrews written? To whom is God referring when he says "his people" in Hebrews 10:30?  When the writer of Hebrews says, "we know Him," who are the "we" he readily identifies himself with? Again, in verse 26, he says, "if we sin willfully," including himself in this group to indicate a possibility of real believers committing this willful sin? I believe the writer is addressing real believers. Yes, there could have been lost church members in this group...yes, there may have been false brethren in these congregations, but this warning seems to address believers instead of hypocrites or pretenders. Besides...how can we forsake Christ if we were never with him? Furthermore, how can a person denounce a belief if they never really believed it?

Beloved, these are exceedingly serious matters. They are issues of eternal weight and significance and every one of us desperately needs to be right with God. Certainly, He can save us to the uttermost! We may fluctuate in our feeble minds, but God's saving grace is steadfast and unmovable. Salvation has never been based on our performance; it has always been by grace through faith in Christ's Gospel. In addition, I want you to know God is forgiving and he does restore sinning believers even when we have wandered far from Him into confusion and darkness. It’s time to come back to the God who saves and transforms lives. Remember, He promised believers He would forgive our sins if we confess and forsake them; He will even cleanse us from all forms of unrighteousness (1John 1:7-9). Please understand the consequences of forsaking Jesus Christ are too numerous to delineate and the agony of forgiven sins is something to be dreaded. Forsake your sin; do not forsake the Lord! Beloved, it is high time to get right with God.

If you were never actually saved, then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your faith right now. Trust Him for the forgiveness of sins today. Jesus died in our place for our sins; He was buried to demonstrate that He literally died. Yes, our sins were paid for entirely! On the third day, Jesus Christ arose from the grave and death. That is correct, Jesus is alive forevermore. This means He is superior to sin, death, hell, Satan, and everything else associated with these. They all represent the greatest threats to humanity and Jesus soundly defeated them all forever on your and my behalf. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and God. Finally, if you are a weak and wavering believer it is time to repent and believe God's stern warning here. Instead of making things worse by continuing in your rebellion, come back home to the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior today. 

Willful Sin is a Fearful Thing 1

Hebrews 10:26-31

Theme:

Confidence in the Sacrifice of Christ enables us to respond to God with joyful obedience issuing into a holy life of faith. But God also warns us against the fearful consequences of sinning willfully—drawing back and forsaking faith in Christ; such behavior will be met with God's fiery anger. 

Introduction:

While we all love good news and long to read positive affirming stories, sometimes we need the unwelcome truth. A wake up call…a reality check. Because Christians can get themselves sideways with God, His corrective and chastening role is so necessary to help us see the error of our ways and get back on track. For some reason subjects like divine anger and chastening never seem to top the best seller lists. In fact, to say anything negative these days is automatically regarded as unhelpful and untrue. After all only positive affirming messages are true…right? Beloved, beware!

There is an alarming trend of young people growing up believing in God who eventually quit the Christian Faith.  Yes, they become ex-Christians! Living for God for a few years and then quitting is a regrettable pattern among young adults of 35 years and under. For whatever reason, they walk away from Christ, the church, and the Bible. Some of these “no longer believe all that stuff about God and Jesus.” They now deem Christ and His gospel to be a lie. 

If you belong to the school of thought that says, 'real believers cannot walk away from God or forsake the Christian Faith, or renounce their previous belief in Jesus,' then I must respectfully disagree with your position. While anyone is free to believe what they want, not every belief is true or lines up squarely with the Scriptures. God in His grace has brought me to the place where I believe real believers, who are indwelt by the Spirit of God, can indeed make serious errors in belief, actions, judgment, and claims. They can sin willfully, commit apostasy, or rebel.

By definition apostasy is the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief. Apostasy in Christianity is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a professing Christian. The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia ("ἀποστασία") literally meaning “to stand away from” according to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. By extension the idea portrayed is defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. Apostasy may involve a general insensitivity to moral purity, departures from doctrinal orthodoxy—embracing deceptions, or the sanctioning of certain unethical practises and behaviors—ultimately forsaking God’s Word. It has been correctly characterized as a “willful falling away” from, or rebellion against, Christ and the true Christian Faith. 

Well, God addressed believers in the book of Hebrews who were tempted to do this very thing to one degree or another. God warns against falling away due to an "evil heart of unbelief" (Heb. 3:12) and how it is impossible to renew these to repentance if they persist in their rebellion (Heb. 6:6). Actually, God issues one of the strongest warnings in the entire New Testament here in Hebrews chapter ten. I think our generation greatly needs this type of strong admonition.

In some ways this warning section is the most pointed and stern of all. It is also climactic. It follows the completion of the epistle’s exposition of the high priestly role and service of Jesus Christ, so it gathers up the implications of these truths and drives them home with full force. But as usual, the writer mingled a solemn warning with his words of consolation and encouragement. —Walvoord, John F.

Outline:

Warnings of Judgment for those Defecting from the Christian Faith (Hebrews 10:26-31).

I.                 There is no Other Sacrifice for Christian Defectors to turn to (10:26)

II.               There is a Fearful Expectation of  God’s Fiery Judgment (10:27)

III.             They Deserve a Worst Punishment for Forsaking a Greater Covenant (10:28-31)

Study:

To “sin willfully” (Heb. 10:26) is a more serious offense even than intentional backsliding. How is the concept of willful sinning expanded in verses 27 through 29?

To sin willfully is the sin of apostasy or renouncing one’s faith, hope, and confidence in Christ as the Son of God, Savior and Lord. Such a serious and deliberate sinful act will be met with the flaming anger and severe chastening of Almighty God. God will confront real believers when they defect or renounce their faith. Remember, God only chastens His children; he does not chasten unbelievers (Hebrews 12:1-11). Wrath and eternal condemnation is for unbelievers and not the children of God; God chastens real believers when we stray and these corrective measure may be severe (1Cor. 11:30-32). While under the Law two or three witnesses could condemn an idolater to death, the writer here identifies solid reasons for God's severe treatment of those who sin willfully by forsaking Christ and the New Covenant.

A.    There is NO Other Sacrifice for Christian Defectors to Turn to (Heb. 10:26). But, why is this true?

1.     Because they sin willfully after receiving the truth.

                                          i.     What is the specific sin of verse 26? “If we sin willfully;” can refer to acting obstinately, maliciously, and with despite as is declared in verse 29; but the word does not necessarily require all of this. It should be understood as “willingly,” or free of compulsion or fear or by choice. The circumstance for this specific sin is, “after that we have received the knowledge of the truth.” The “truth,” is the doctrine of the gospel. The word "we" indicates the writer of Hebrews identifies himself with those he is addressing--they are believers. They had “received” Christ's Gospel upon being convinced it was true and they made an outward profession of faith; they confessed Christ as Savior.

                                        ii.     This word "received" is not used anywhere to express the mere conceptions of truth, but instead it denotes an acknowledgment of truth based on some sense of its power and excellency. Thus the description of the willful sinners--they should know better, yet they are a defector. The gospel had been preached to them; they were under conviction of its truth, and they sensed its power, had publicly professed faith. Therefore to sin willfully is to repudiate Christ or to commit apostasy. It is the sin of renouncing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after having been convinced of its veracity and power previously.

                                      iii.     “If we sin willfully,” as verse 23 shows, a concern with the danger of defection from the faith. Most sin is deliberate, but the writer was here influenced by the Old Testament’s teaching about sins of presumption (Num. 15:29-31) which lay outside the sacrificial provisions of the Law. There was no sacrifice for these type sins; the death sentence was the only provision.  

                                      iv.     Note they had “received the knowledge of the truth.” The word “knowledge” refers to a precise and correct knowledge and not merely a shallow historical notion about the Truth (Rom. 1:28; 1Tim. 2:4). This is a living believing knowledge that lays hold of a person and brings him into union—experiential knowledge. Thus to commit this deliberate sin and reject this knowledge after being fully informed by the Holy Spirit about the New Covenant and its implications is to sin with your eyes wide open.

                                        v.     Apostasy from the faith is such a “willful” act and for those who commit it no more sacrifice for sins is left (Heb. 10:18). Only the expectation of divine judgment. Such a position demands divine chastening of the severest nature; that is the point we must not overlook here. 

2.     Because Christ’s sacrifice is the only effective sacrifice the defector needs.

                                          i.     Under the Old Covenant, there were no sacrifices for deliberate and willful sins (Ex. 21:12–14; Num. 15:27–31). Presumptuous sinners who despised Moses’ Law and broke it were executed (Deut. 17:1–7). This explains why David prayed as he did in Psalm 51. Because he deliberately sinned “with a high hand,” he should have been slain; but he cried out for God’s mercy. David knew that even a multitude of sacrifices could not save him. All he could offer was the sacrifice of a broken heart (Ps. 51:16–17).—Warren W. Wiersbe 

                                        ii.     If the efficacious sacrifice of Christ was renounced, there remains no other available or effective sacrifice which could shield an apostate from God’s judgment and red-hot fiery anger. A Christian who turns his back on the Lord Jesus has no other hope—no, nothing but the guarantee of terror and horror! While a real believer can never finally end up in Hell, the severe corrective measures of God upon His rebellious children are nothing to be easily dismissed. 

                                      iii.     For such a person, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. If the defector decisively rejects the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, he has no other options. As God dealt with OT defectors, he will likewise confront NT defectors. The death penalty was God's strategy in the OT and physical death is His prerogative in the NT era also. Therefore God reserves this option for dealing with those who sin willfully. Apostasy, a willful sin, is an extraordinarily serious sin against God.

B.    There is a Fearful Expectation of God’s Anger and Fiery Judgment (Heb. 10:27-29).

1.     God’s judgment will consume His adversaries (Heb. 10:27).

                                          i.     A Christian who abandons his confidence in Christ (Heb. 3:14) puts himself on the side of God’s enemies. The writer has already said they were in effect crucifying the Son of God all over again and exposing Him to public disgrace (Heb. 6:6). Such reprehensible conduct can scarcely be worthy of anything but God’s flaming indignation and chastening.

                                        ii.     Nothing remains but a certain fearful expectation of judgment; there is no hope of escape. Beloved, this is pure horror! Such individuals have no reason to feel safe and secure. It is one thing to have an incredible warrior or known killer hounding your every step, but it must be extremely terrifying facing each day wondering what horrors will befall you and those you love. How will God visit such persons with judgment? God will confront and deal severely with defectors, quitters, and apostates. They will literally greet each day with extreme dread. Remember, they willingly chose this course of action, and now they must live with the consequences of this wrong decision. Their lives would be drained completely of all prospects of happiness and the most hopeless form of despair would become their daily bread. 

2.     God’s judgment under the Law was without mercy (Heb. 10:28).

                                          i.     Because they “despised Moses’ Law” (28).

1.     Under the Old Covenant, if an Israelite spurned the Mosaic Law he was put to death. 

2.     Such Law-breakers were considered idolaters and died without mercy.   

                                        ii.     Because their sin was confirmed (28).

1.     When one’s guilt was proven by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deut. 17:2–6), he was put to death by stoning.

2.     At least two or three witnesses were required to verify his actions of deliberate sin.

3.     This being true, the writer then is arguing from the lesser to the greater.

                                      iii.     Because despising Christ is a greater sin!

1.     It is confirmed that certain destruction will befall apostates who have repudiated Christ and His sacrifice.

2.     “Under the Old Covenant, if an Israelite spurned the Mosaic Law and at least two or three witnesses verified his actions, he was put to death. This being true, the author then argued from the lesser to the greater. If defiance of an inferior covenant could bring such retribution, what about defiance of the New Covenant which, as he had made clear, is far superior? The answer can only be that the punishment would be substantially greater in such a case.”—Walvoord and Zuck

3.     God’s judgment under Christ’s Grace is even more severe (Heb. 10:29). But Why?

                                          i.     Because defection from a greater covenant demands greater punishment (29).

1.     If defiance of an inferior covenant could bring such retribution, what about defiance of the far superior New Covenant? The answer can only be that the punishment would be substantially greater in such a case.

2.     What can this kind of a Christian expect from God? He can expect severe discipline. (Chastening is the theme of Heb. 12.) There is no need to “water down” words such as “judgment and fiery indignation” (Heb. 10:27), or “sorer punishment” (Heb. 10:29). We have already seen from the history of Israel that hardly anybody who was saved out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb entered into the promised inheritance. Nearly all of them died in the wilderness. “There is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:16). Some of the Corinthian believers were disciplined and their lives taken because of their presumptuous sins (1 Cor. 11:30, where “sleep” means “died”). –W. W. Wiersbe

                                        ii.     Because they have renounced Jesus as the Son of God, Savior and Lord (29).

1.     The writer now places defection from the faith in the harshest possible light. An apostate from the New Covenant hath trodden [trampled] underfoot the Son of God.

2.     The defector brazenly asserts that he wants nothing more to do with Christ. He denies any need for Christ as Savior and positively rejects Him as the Son of God.

3.     In Japan there is a crucifix which was used by the government in days of persecution. It was placed on the ground, and everybody had to tread on the face of the Crucified. The non-Christians did not hesitate to tread on His face; the real Christians refused and were killed. The story goes that the face of Jesus was worn down and marred by people trampling on it.—MacDonald 

                                      iii.     Because they regard Christ blood-sacrifice and the New Covenant as of no holy value or ultimate spiritual significance (29).

1.     An apostate has treated the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing (“blood of the everlasting [eternal] covenant,” 13:20). Christ blood which sanctified him is regarded as common blood. The words “sanctified” refer to true Christians. Already Paul has described them as “sanctified [made holy] through the offering [sacrifice] of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10) and as “perfected [made perfect] forever” through this sanctifying work (v. 14).

2.     The writer of Hebrews essential point lies in the seriousness of the act of apostasy. To treat “the blood of the covenant” (which actually sanctifies believers) as though it were an “unholy” (“common”) thing and to renounce its efficacy, is to commit a sin so heinous that it dwarfs the death sentence of the Old Covenant.

                                      iv.     Because they insult the Spirit of grace who pointed them to Christ (29).

1.     Then the apostate adds the offense of doing despite unto the Spirit of grace who originally wooed him to faith in Christ.

2.     The Spirit of God had illuminated him concerning the good news, convicted him of sin, and pointed him to Christ as the only Refuge of the soul. But he now insults the gracious Spirit by utterly despising Him and the truth He offered.

This kind of spiritual rebellion clearly calls for a much worse punishment than the capital penalty that was inflicted under the Mosaic Law. But again Paul was not referring to hell. Many forms of divine chastening can fall on a human life which is worse than immediate death. In fact, Jeremiah made just such a complaint about the punishment inflicted on Jerusalem (Lam. 4:6, 9). One might think also of King Saul, whose last days were burdened with such mental and emotional turmoil that death itself was a kind of release. This is just the opposite of the exhortation given in Hebrews 10:19–25! Instead of having a bold profession of faith, hope, and love, a backslidden believer so lives that his actions and attitudes bring disgrace to the name of Christ and the church.—Warren W.  Wiersbe

Many supposed Christians walk away from Christ claiming they no longer believe such fairy tales. Some claim they woke up to the reality that Christianity is not true, some because of social pressures forsake the Lord Jesus believing truth is no longer relevant, and yet others because of a fear that “faith” will cost them professionally or economically forsake the Lord. They all quit, stop believing, and refuse the biblical truth about Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. They use to pray; they once attended church regularly; they read the Bible frequently; they use to gather with other Christians for fellowship; they were once among those who shared their faith with others…but not anymore.

Perhaps they believed a few lies along the way also….Maybe they thought being a Christian shields us from pain and suffering. Perhaps they expected perfect health, plenty of wealth, and happy days for the remainder of their lives. It could be they assumed persecution was a thing of the past and not for today. You know it could also be they simply allowed themselves to drift farther and farther from God that they do not now know what they believe anymore…and they don’t care either. Maybe…perhaps…it could be they are angry with God and in their pain chose to deny Him as an intellectual impossibility. Whatever the reason…whatever the cause…people who said they believe the Gospel have walked away from Christ.

My question is not so much why…my question is how…. Yes, how will you now deal with the reality of God’s fiery anger against your apostasy and defection? Can you ever really feel safe and secure again? Where will you turn now that you have firmly planted your feet on air? How will you decide what is real, right, wrong, meaningful, and good? Are you ready to assume the responsibility of being god? How will you create or guarantee hope for your future? What about those you love? What about the utter guilt haunting your soul…you cannot escape the throbbing ache of unrelenting indictments within…how will you silence so many voices? What will you do to halt the torture and torment of your own agitated mind and strained emotions?

I want you to know God is forgiving, and he does restore sinning believers when we have wandered far from Him and His plan for us. It’s time to come back my friend (1John 1:7-9). The consequences of forsaking Jesus Christ are too numerous to delineate and the agony of forgiven sins is something to be dreaded. Forgiveness from God is great, but you still must live with the problems your backslidding created. He will graciously help you work through those painful developments, but you need to return to Him acknowledging your sin, embracing the truth, and submitting to His will. Forsake your sin and get right with God. If you were never actually saved, then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your faith. Trust Him for the forgiveness of sins. Instead of making things worse by continuing in your rebellion, come back home to Jesus Christ the Savior today.