If We Go On Sinning Deliberately

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV)

Because of what Jesus Christ did for us in giving his life up for us on that cross to deliver us out of our slavery to sin, and to give us new lives in him to be lived for his glory, we who believe in Jesus Christ with God-given and God-persuaded faith in him are able to now enter into relationship with Christ, have our sins forgiven, and be given the hope and the promise of eternal life with God. But all of God’s promises have conditions, and these promises also are not without conditions as to who will receive them.

For Jesus Christ died on that cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might live for him and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now honor God with our lives. For by faith in him we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness, and all for the glory of God.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

Therefore, we are to no longer allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies to where we obey its desires (passions, lusts), for sin is to have no more mastery (control, power) over our lives. For if sin is what we obey, it will lead to death. But if obedience is what we obey, it will lead to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God. For Jesus said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING God’s will (Romans 6:1-23; Matthew 7:21-23]

And God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, trains us to renounce (say “NO!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions (lusts), and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return. For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die to sin daily) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of slavery to sin, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and walk in obedience to our Lord, and not in sin, we have eternal life with him (Titus 2:11-14; Luke 9:23-26).

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

Now many people today are quoting part of this out of context in order to attempt to guilt trip professers of faith in Jesus Christ into attending their institutional “church” services on a weekly basis, usually on Sunday mornings, even if what is happening at those services is not what this Scripture teaches is the purpose of our gatherings. Yet we, as the body of Christ, are to get together so that we can encourage one another toward faith and love and good works, which God prepared for us to walk in them.

So this is not a command to gather together on Sunday mornings and to sit through a religious service as spectators who may get to sing some songs selected by someone else but who otherwise do nothing to fulfill what this Scripture is teaching. For this is about Christians getting together regularly to encourage one another in our walks of faith and obedience to our Lord and in holy living. For the day of judgment is drawing nearer and not everyone who says to Jesus, “Lord,” will enter God’s eternal kingdom. Only those for whom obedience to our Lord is their practice.

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV)

So, in this context, what is this saying to us? We cannot just make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and now all our sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed us, and it cannot be taken away from us, but regardless of how we live. We cannot profess Jesus as Lord and Savior but then go right on living in deliberate and habitual sin. For our salvation from sin is not this one time experience we have and then we are good to go for eternity. Our salvation is progressive, and we must walk the walk.

And I find it really interesting that this is the context of Hebrews 10:25 which is often taught out of context and abused and misused to try to get people into institutional “church” (business) gatherings. For what this is talking about is the critical nature of Christians gathering together to encourage one another to not walk in sin but to walk in obedience to our Lord, and then to warn them of the consequences if they choose to keep living in sin and to not walk in obedience to our Lord in holy living.

And this is a lot the reason why God has called me to this ministry, to teach the truth of the gospel message, and to refute the lies, and to warn against taking God’s grace for granted and assuming, thus, that you have eternity guaranteed you on the basis of lip service to the Lord. For if you profess faith in Jesus Christ but you keep on living in sin, making sin your practice, and not obedience to the Lord, you are not in fellowship with Christ, you don’t know God, and you don’t have eternal life with God. Please believe this!

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Broken Cord

An Original Work / August 29, 2018

Your bond is broken with your Lord and Savior

And your testimony is separate from Him.

Your words not matching your actions today.

Repent of your sin and bow down and pray.

Live what you testify in truth always.

Purity’s lacking in your life and witness,

For you profess one thing, but other you do.

Not moral, spiritual. Still of the flesh.

Not living in truth to what you confess.

Lying about it puts you in a mess.

Living a lie is your practice, ‘tis true of you.

Masquerade righteousness – none of it true.

Your heart is not given to your Lord God.

Because of how you live, you are a fraud.

Turn from your sin and give your life to God.

https://vimeo.com/287303934