[Sheep]

Hebrews 10:26-27 says: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."

Does this mean a person will not be forgiven and is doom to hell? Also people say that once saved, always saved it that true? All past, present, and future sins are forgiven? I don't understand it.

[SERay]

The book of Hebrews is primarily directed at Jewish converted Christians who have decided that it is no longer feasible to strive in Christianity any further. They have for whatever reason, decided to go back to Judaism. The writer of the book of Hebrews is exhorting these Christians not to return to Judaism (legalism for our times, or justification by efforts of morality). The book is laid out much like a sermon with several points being made within the sermon. The theme of the book is "The way of Christ is the better way." The main points of the book are as follows: 1) Christ is a better mediator. 2) Christ is a better high priest. 3) Christ offers a better covenant. 4) Christ offers a better sacrifice. 5) Christ's way is the way of faith--a better way.

The Hebrew writer turns in verse 26 to what will happen if we do not heed his exhortation. That is, if we fail to draw near, hold fast, and consider one another--things that we KNOW we should do--the Hebrew writer considers this failure to be sinning willfully. When we sin willfully, there are consequences. These consequences are: 1) There remains no more sacrifice for our sins; 2) we can expect judgment/condemnation from God; 3) we can expect a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. Two good parallel verses to these verses would be Hebrews 6:4-6 and 2 Peter 2:20-22.

Many readers have asked as you have, what does it mean to sin willfully? In essence, this means that a person has learned and obeyed the truth and that now, in spite of knowing the truth, that person has decided not to heed it anymore in their life and they have turned away from it. This could be in regard to a personal habit in someone's life. It could be in regard to disobeying the laws of the land. It could be in regard to sexual immorality. It could be in regard to false worship. In the context, however, it is specifically in regard to those who simply had stopped coming to the regular assembling of the saints when they knew it was the right thing to do.

One now may ask, what does it mean that there does not remain a sacrifice for sins for this person? John comments on this in 1 John 1:6, 7, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." The idea is that the blood that Jesus shed no longer is effectual for us. It will no longer cover our sins if we simply abandon what we know to be true. Therefore, the sacrifice itself is no longer effectual for our sins. Finally, verse 27 simply means that if one continues in this state of rejecting the knowledge of the truth, then one can expect God to punish him just as God would punish those who had never obeyed the truth.