Hebrews 10:26 – No Sacrifice for Willful Sin
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Heb 10:26)
Have you ever sinned willfully? Ever done something wrong knowing full well it was wrong? I have. I’m sure everyone has – many times. Does committing a willful sin mean we are eternally lost? That would make it seem like God is trying His best to keep people out of heaven and I really don’t think that is the case. Let’s take a careful look at this verse and its context. Here are the preceding verses:
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:23-25)
It mentions believers who are wavering in their faith, telling them to “hold fast” and to not forsake assembling together to receive needed exhortation and encouragement. The advice was given because (or “for” – verse 26) if they were to continue in their sinful attitude (in the Greek, the form of the verb indicates not a single act of sin but an ongoing attitude) they were in danger of ultimately being lost.
It is not talking of a single act of sin as any act of sin can be forgiven. God is “ever merciful” (Psa 37:26). Rather, this is talking about a persistent, defiant attitude of sin. The passage goes on to further describe what will happen to such people:
“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?” (Heb 10:29)
There remains no more sacrifice for sins for the people who have done what?
- “trodden under foot the Son of God”
- “counted the blood of the covenant … an unholy thing”
- “done despite unto the Spirit of grace”
- continued willfully in that sinful attitude
The most obvious way to do despite to (or insult) the spirit of grace would be to not accept the freely-offered mercy and forgiveness. “No more sacrifice for sins” refers to the sacrifice being ineffectual for them because of their rejection of it – they disregarded even that the Son of God would shed His blood on their behalf. It was offered but never received due to their rejection.
This corresponds to the truth about forgiveness, that it is a two-part transaction – it is both given and received and there are even separate words for each used in the original Greek. See my booklet Biblical Forgiveness.
Of course, after Jesus died (to Whose death all the sacrifices pointed) people could look to His death, His sacrifice and that had power to draw them (John 12:32) in repentance to God. But to people who would reject that, there was no saving benefit to them from His sacrifice – effectively “no more sacrifice for sins.”
Still Hope?
Many versions of Hebrews 10:26 reflect the original meaning of not a single willful sin but continued sin, such as:
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Heb 10:26, English Standard Version)
A person could have a change of attitude, discontinue the deliberate sin and rebellious attitude and still receive forgiveness in which case, for them, the sacrifice would then be of benefit. Certainly, a person engaged in willful sin still has a will which they can change to separate from the willful sin, gain victory over it (through God’s grace) and receive the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice for them.
This page https://characterofgod.org/hebrews-10-28-notes/ will give further understanding.
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November 20, 2018 @ 5:11 pm
This text can be terrifying to those struggling with addictions. For people may receive the truth, accept Christ, at least in theory, and not find the will to put away the addiction, returning to it over and over, though they know it is sin.
August 23, 2022 @ 12:55 pm
I can imagine so, but they can take heart as that is where God looks. He will know their struggle, and if they continue with Him, He is faithful to bring witnesses that can help them connect with the Holy Spirit. My testimony reflects God’s faithfulness despite our unfaithfulness. The short story is, I made a profession of faith when I was ten, and by the time I was a teen, I was a practicing atheist. I am not sure what turned me against God, but I lived a life that was, to put it politely, hedonistic and fully licentious; I was in the middle of the sexual revolution (the mid to late 60s). My self-imposed exile persisted well into my mid-30s. I was not into drugs, but I got drunk regularly. I made the prodigal son seem like a choirboy. I had a vocabulary so vile as to make a sailor blush.
During this period, I flew over 200 combat missions over N Viet Nam; I had more than one instance of sheer stupidity, any one of which could have, but for the grace of God, killed me. I survived a bout with Cancer. Then in 1977, I was 33, and God sent one more witness to me. It was my friend Gary that led me back to Christ. I am now 78 and loving the Lord more than ever. I have examined this more and more. What if I had died during my period of apostasy? This verse might lead one to believe that I would have perished. Did God save me from my own stupid actions until He could bring me back to Him? Remembering that, at ten years old, I did not know one thing of theology, I remember that “Jesus Loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.” In my case, either I was lucky, or God charged His angels to keep me alive. I believe God was faithful to that boy of 10, who came as a child and professed his love for the Son of God. I tell this story to encourage anyone who thinks they are beyond redemption and the forgiveness of God. I believe God’s grace is sufficient for them too. Perhaps someone can add insight to this situation.
August 24, 2022 @ 6:31 am
Hi John
God and His angels are working hard to save everyone from their “stupid actions” and dangers of all sorts. However, being a God Who honors our free will so highly, He allows us to freely choice our words and actions and the natural consequences of those.
That verse is saying that the judgments that seem to come from God are Him allowing natural consequences to occur. God also honors free will to the point that He will not force anyone to be with Him if they do not want that relationship. Unfortunately for them, that would mean missing heaven.
In your case, if you are truly loving Him more than ever (and He certainly loves you) then He will want you in heaven and you will want to be there with Him. The key to loving Him more is to know His true character more fully. Sharing what He is really like is the goal of this website.
God will not be less than faithful to anyone in His efforts to save them.
September 11, 2023 @ 12:36 pm
Wow! what a testimony. “He sent one more witness” – that’s testimony in itself. It made me think how many times He had/has sent a witness to me. You wrote this over a year ago. It shows that the word of God never expires, is never outdated. Thank you!