Willful Sins

Hebrews 10:26-27 “ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

I came across an interesting study on the above Bible verse. This is one of the most controversial passages of Scripture because of its apparent conflict with passages that teach salvation by grace entirely apart from the law or any form of works (e.g., Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), and absolute security in salvation to those who belong to Christ (e.g., John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39). But actually, many passages warn against deliberate acts of sin by Christians. “He that say, I know him, and keep not his commandments, is a liar” (1 John 2:4). “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him” (Titus 1:16).

Clearly, there are dozens of “proof texts” on both sides of this question, and it cannot be settled by citing a cliché or two in a brief study like this. There can be no real contradiction in God’s Word, however, so the Lord must have had a good reason for inspiring this apparent paradox in His book. On the one hand, it is vital for every true believer in Christ to know that He is saved and has eternal life. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life”. On the other hand, it is deadly dangerous for a person merely to think he or she is saved when there is no evidence of a changed life. I vividly remember a Board member at my previous church stating that, in that particular Christian denomination, he was saved and could willfully sin against God and man all he desired; a egocentric mockery of God’s mercy and grace.

Romans 5:20-6:7 “(God’s) law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” In Christ we are "freed from sin", not "freed to sin". Sin is slavery and death.

Sin, by definition, is “the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law of God is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. Sinners neither enjoy the pleasures of nor the peace of righteous piety. Among divines, sin is original or actual. Actual sin, above defined, is the act of a moral agent in violating a known rule of duty. Original sin, as generally understood, is native depravity of heart to the divine will, that corruption of nature of deterioration of the moral character of man, which is supposed to be the effect of Adam's apostasy; and which manifests itself in moral agents by positive acts of disobedience to the divine will, or by the voluntary neglect to comply with the express commands of God, which require that we should love God with all the heart and soul and strength and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves. This native depravity or alienation of affections from God and his law, is supposed to be what the apostle calls the carnal mind or mindedness, which is enmity against God, and is therefore denominated sin or sinfulness. Sin is ultimately against God. 

Such Scriptures as Hebrews 10:26-27 give sober warning that professing Christians have no basis for any assurance of salvation if they do not obey God’s words. “Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3). Therefore, “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Love, trust and obey God.