Deliberate Sin - Hebrews 10:26-27

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Today we will read Hebrews 10:26-27 which says, “For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.”

Well this one is scary isn’t it? And to be clear, this affects us all. There is no one free of intentional sin. We’re all guilty, including the great apostle Paul himself. So is this passage teaching that we’re all doomed if/when we intentionally sin after receiving Jesus as our Savior? You could interpret it that way. It’s bleak and hopeless but an interpretation.

Perhaps a better way is through the lens of the Old Testament sacrificial system - something we’re sadly distanced from in Christianity.

In Leviticus, the first offering is the Burnt Offering. This is an all-purpose, thorough atoning sacrifice. It’s offered when a baby is born. It’s a pleasing aroma to God. It’s a sacrifice that seems to cover literally anything and everything and is offered regularly. None of the animal is spared. None is eaten. It is completely consumed by fire.

And while there are other sacrifices to be eaten and enjoyed as a family, or just given out of gratitude, the Sin Offering is the other serious big one. The Sin Offering, also a burnt offering, is offered case by case when someone sins unintentionally and becomes aware, or sins intentionally and repents. Either way, it requires the individual to take responsibility, repent, and offer the sacrifice. There is however the sin of defiance, or “High Handedness” in Numbers 15:30 and seems to describe an ongoing obstinance and resistance to repentance that no offering could cover.

Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice fulfills these requirements and also informs the New Testament Jewish understanding of His work. So back to our passage. Jesus serves as the thorough Burnt Offering. He’s covered it all. And when we go on to sin, which we do, He is also the Sin Offering covering each and every misstep. If we sin quote “intentionally,” I take this to mean an attitude of resistance - the opposite of repentance - the sin of “High Handedness.”

Imagine a husband in a room with his wife, and he just willy nilly flips on porn. No shame, no remorse, nothing. What would happen? He has knowledge of the truth - his wife is in the room. And yet he’s obstinate. In that moment, the intimacy of the marriage hits a brick wall and all that remains is her consuming wrath and judgement. It’s either destruction of the relationship that could have been, or repentance and sacrifice. Those are the only options.

It’s no different with God. All provision has been made but you will not find intimacy with Him while in defiant intentional sin. You are right for feeling the impending weight of His wrath. The Sin Offering is however available whenever you repent. You can play that card a million times and never exhaust God’s grace. But it will always require a turning from your resistance and repenting. Destruction or repentance. Those are the only options. And the more time goes by, the clearer those destinies become in each of us.

God, I know my own heart. There are times I do sin intentionally, and I’m hard hearted. Forgive me. I repent again. I want You.