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Spring 1996
By: Michael Tao
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and had counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Holy Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." - Hebrews 10:26-31
Here is another interesting passage in the Bible, it appears that Paul was teaching on the loss of believer's salvation. To clarify the situation, we have to question - Whom was this message directed to - believers or unbelievers?
This is a message clearly directed to the believers, firstly because it says in v22ff that "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 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".
Paul encouraged these people to have the "full assurance of faith" and to "provoke unto love and good works", as they can see the day of Christ's second coming is approaching. Secondly, the word "knowledge" in v.26 is a strong word, which indicates "a living believing knowledge of it, which has laid hold of a man and fused him into union with itself". A person can have false knowledge, but he cannot have a false "living believing knowledge". It is no doubt that in this part of the Book of Hebrews, Apostle Paul was speaking to the believers.
Then the question followed right after should be : what is "sin wilfully"?
The word "wilfully" means "voluntarily and of one's own accord", it is not a sin committed out of one's weakness, ignorance or carelessness. Paul did not mean this to Christians who have been battling with sins and spiritual problems in their life. If this is the case, all of us are wilfully sinning against God, because no Christian is perfect, though some are more Christ-like. Paul talked about a specific group of Jews; they possessed a full knowledge of God, had accepted Christ as their Saviour, each of them "was sanctified" (v.29), and they were Christians. However they gradually drifted away from the Grace of God and went back to the temple worship. They wilfully ignored the sacrifice of the Son of God, and intentionally chose the sacrifice of animals. They despised Christ and the covenant established through His blood and His death. They forsook the assembling which is the NT church, and returned to the OT priesthood and temple worship. They obstinately and maliciously renounced the gospel that they had once received. Our Lord God "shall judge his people"(v.30), and "recompense". However they were still God's people, and did not lose their salvation.
This is to put the scripture into its historical prospect, a safe and accurate approach to the Word of God.
