What does it mean to "willfully sin", and how does this pertain to salvation?

[ericro]

Hello, all. I just started this forum account, mostly so that I could share what spins and cycles through my mind with some other Christians, who will be able to shed wisdom and light on what I am questioning.

I consider myself a Christian, as I was saved as a child and saw fruit in my life. I believed (and still do 100% believe) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and through Him alone (under grace) am I saved. I know that when I get to the pearly gates, it will be by Christ alone that I am allowed in.

However, 8+ months ago, I hit an extremely low point in my faith. I have struggled with sexual desires and struggles since age 15-16, and sexual struggle seems to be the thorn in my flesh. Essentially, my discovery of porn and masturbation evolved into what became, 8 months ago, an addiction that involved me having sexual encounters with people on a daily basis, almost for a sense of worth. I hate to let my diagnosis rule me, but I know I do have OCD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, symptoms of Bipolar 2 disorder, and Major Depression. A lot of these played a part in turning my general struggle with sexual temptation into this sort of compulsion I felt a NEED to do to feel worthy. It ended in a scare that I might have contracted HIV, and I was left feeling HOPELESS. It was here that I literally got on my knees and begged God for forgiveness and repented.

During this time, I remember telling myself "I don't really know what I believe anymore," almost as a means to justify my behavior and distance myself from God. I know this thread isn't really about apostasy, but I sometimes am afraid that my verbal renunciation of Christ here was me apostasizing (spelling?). However, I know Peter denied Christ verbally, but had a HEART of repentance, which differentiated him from someone like Judas. In my heart, I know I KNEW God was there, and that he was the one and only truth, but I willingly sinned. And Hebrews 10:26 spooks me because I feel that I DID deliberately sin during this time.

Moreover, the reason I am posting this now is because even though the past 8 months have been FILLED with tons of new victories and progress, I recently had some struggles with looking at porn, and I remember feeling this aching feeling telling me "NO!" as the videos started to load. I didn't renounce my faith there, but I did push the feelings aside, and told myself "one more time". The idea that I willingly sinned here scares the crud out of me. I have cried out to God in grief and have simply cried "Help me." I know that there is nothing I can do, and it is by grace alone. Verses in Hebrews like 10:26 and 6:4-6 just naturally scare me and make me wonder if I will be beyond the grace I FEEL like I have. It's scary.

But I also know that I have OCD pretttttty bad and I can't let myself cycle through the thoughts, so getting it out on a forum I think is what I need to do. I know I believe and trust in Him, and I truly regret my sin. I think most of us willingly sin every day. We tell ourselves "one more bite" or "one more sip", even though we KNOW it's not what we should be doing morally.

I should also mention that my sexual struggle is pretty complex, in that I am also SSA (Same-Sex Attracted). The idea that I will likely have to live a life of celibacy is very difficult. And I think being SSA makes a sexual struggle 10x harder, because I don't have an outlet for my passions. Paul advises men to marry to have an outlet for their lusts and passions, and I don't have that. It's a daily battle, and I have made a lot of progress. I know it will be a life-long battle, and I can't beat myself up when I make a mistake like I did today. It's just that it was WILLINGLY, and I went against the Holy Spirit's prompting.

So I realize that I kind of spilled out my whole testimony on this post, but this is what I am feeling, and what I think about daily. I LOVE GOD AND REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE WAY but I willingly. sin. and. it. breaks. me. At least I think it does. What if this is all a "feeling" and I have been tricking myself? That's a scary thought, isn't it? I'm just going to dismiss that question.

I don't really want to go through and edit this post, so I am going to post it. I would really appreciate any answers you all can provide to the question of what it means to willingly sin, and how does it pertain to salvation and being beyond God's grace? IDK. SPEAK TRUTH! lol.

 

[HTacianas]

Hello, all. I just started this forum account, mostly so that I could share what spins and cycles through my mind with some other Christians, who will be able to shed wisdom and light on what I am questioning.

I consider myself a Christian, as I was saved as a child and saw fruit in my life. I believed (and still do 100% believe) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and through Him alone (under grace) am I saved. I know that when I get to the pearly gates, it will be by Christ alone that I am allowed in.

However, 8+ months ago, I hit an extremely low point in my faith. I have struggled with sexual desires and struggles since age 15-16, and sexual struggle seems to be the thorn in my flesh. Essentially, my discovery of porn and masturbation evolved into what became, 8 months ago, an addiction that involved me having sexual encounters with people on a daily basis, almost for a sense of worth. I hate to let my diagnosis rule me, but I know I do have OCD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, symptoms of Bipolar 2 disorder, and Major Depression. A lot of these played a part in turning my general struggle with sexual temptation into this sort of compulsion I felt a NEED to do to feel worthy. It ended in a scare that I might have contracted HIV, and I was left feeling HOPELESS. It was here that I literally got on my knees and begged God for forgiveness and repented.

During this time, I remember telling myself "I don't really know what I believe anymore," almost as a means to justify my behavior and distance myself from God. I know this thread isn't really about apostasy, but I sometimes am afraid that my verbal renunciation of Christ here was me apostasizing (spelling?). However, I know Peter denied Christ verbally, but had a HEART of repentance, which differentiated him from someone like Judas. In my heart, I know I KNEW God was there, and that he was the one and only truth, but I willingly sinned. And Hebrews 10:26 spooks me because I feel that I DID deliberately sin during this time.

Moreover, the reason I am posting this now is because even though the past 8 months have been FILLED with tons of new victories and progress, I recently had some struggles with looking at porn, and I remember feeling this aching feeling telling me "NO!" as the videos started to load. I didn't renounce my faith there, but I did push the feelings aside, and told myself "one more time". The idea that I willingly sinned here scares the crud out of me. I have cried out to God in grief and have simply cried "Help me." I know that there is nothing I can do, and it is by grace alone. Verses in Hebrews like 10:26 and 6:4-6 just naturally scare me and make me wonder if I will be beyond the grace I FEEL like I have. It's scary.

But I also know that I have OCD pretttttty bad and I can't let myself cycle through the thoughts, so getting it out on a forum I think is what I need to do. I know I believe and trust in Him, and I truly regret my sin. I think most of us willingly sin every day. We tell ourselves "one more bite" or "one more sip", even though we KNOW it's not what we should be doing morally.

I should also mention that my sexual struggle is pretty complex, in that I am also SSA (Same-Sex Attracted). The idea that I will likely have to live a life of celibacy is very difficult. And I think being SSA makes a sexual struggle 10x harder, because I don't have an outlet for my passions. Paul advises men to marry to have an outlet for their lusts and passions, and I don't have that. It's a daily battle, and I have made a lot of progress. I know it will be a life-long battle, and I can't beat myself up when I make a mistake like I did today. It's just that it was WILLINGLY, and I went against the Holy Spirit's prompting.

So I realize that I kind of spilled out my whole testimony on this post, but this is what I am feeling, and what I think about daily. I LOVE GOD AND REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE WAY but I willingly. sin. and. it. breaks. me. At least I think it does. What if this is all a "feeling" and I have been tricking myself? That's a scary thought, isn't it? I'm just going to dismiss that question.

I don't really want to go through and edit this post, so I am going to post it. I would really appreciate any answers you all can provide to the question of what it means to willingly sin, and how does it pertain to salvation and being beyond God's grace? IDK. SPEAK TRUTH! lol.

To answer your first question, to "willfully sin" means just that. To know full well that some act or another is sinful, yet choosing to engage in it anyway. And you are correct in quoting Hebrews and its admonition against willful sin. Hebrews illustrates the belief of the first Christians that even a single willful sin after baptism was sufficient to result in condemnation. Eternal condemnation. Even for a baptized Christian.

That belief was so strongly held that the Church did not claim for itself the authority to absolve a person of some types of sins, including murder, adultery, and fornication. In fact the Church was even forbidden to pray for a person guilty of those things, see 1 John 5:16. A person guilty of those was immediately excommunicated from the Church until death.

It was only later that Pope Calixtus pronounced that the Church could in fact absolve a person of adultery, and it nearly caused a schism. Still later, the "lapsed", those who denied the faith under persecution, were forbidden from reentry to the Church, based also on the language of Hebrews 6, "for it is impossible...". Impossible means impossible. There is no other reading.

The Church then looked at the language of Hebrews 6, and set it aside. Annulled it. Chose willingly to ignore it in favor of mercy.

Today, a person who finds themself in your condition is offered the sacraments of confession and reconciliation. Reconciliation is "the plank of salvation after the shipwreck of faith".

I recommend that you speak with a priest about your condition. He will be able to help you.

 

[Sabertooth]

Hello & welcome @ericro .

May I ask your church background?

 

[JIMINZ]

Hello, all. I just started this forum account, mostly so that I could share what spins and cycles through my mind with some other Christians, who will be able to shed wisdom and light on what I am questioning.

I consider myself a Christian, as I was saved as a child and saw fruit in my life. I believed (and still do 100% believe) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and through Him alone (under grace) am I saved. I know that when I get to the pearly gates, it will be by Christ alone that I am allowed in.

However, 8+ months ago, I hit an extremely low point in my faith. I have struggled with sexual desires and struggles since age 15-16, and sexual struggle seems to be the thorn in my flesh. Essentially, my discovery of porn and masturbation evolved into what became, 8 months ago, an addiction that involved me having sexual encounters with people on a daily basis, almost for a sense of worth. I hate to let my diagnosis rule me, but I know I do have OCD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, symptoms of Bipolar 2 disorder, and Major Depression. A lot of these played a part in turning my general struggle with sexual temptation into this sort of compulsion I felt a NEED to do to feel worthy. It ended in a scare that I might have contracted HIV, and I was left feeling HOPELESS. It was here that I literally got on my knees and begged God for forgiveness and repented.

During this time, I remember telling myself "I don't really know what I believe anymore," almost as a means to justify my behavior and distance myself from God. I know this thread isn't really about apostasy, but I sometimes am afraid that my verbal renunciation of Christ here was me apostasizing (spelling?). However, I know Peter denied Christ verbally, but had a HEART of repentance, which differentiated him from someone like Judas. In my heart, I know I KNEW God was there, and that he was the one and only truth, but I willingly sinned. And Hebrews 10:26 spooks me because I feel that I DID deliberately sin during this time.

Moreover, the reason I am posting this now is because even though the past 8 months have been FILLED with tons of new victories and progress, I recently had some struggles with looking at porn, and I remember feeling this aching feeling telling me "NO!" as the videos started to load. I didn't renounce my faith there, but I did push the feelings aside, and told myself "one more time". The idea that I willingly sinned here scares the crud out of me. I have cried out to God in grief and have simply cried "Help me." I know that there is nothing I can do, and it is by grace alone. Verses in Hebrews like 10:26 and 6:4-6 just naturally scare me and make me wonder if I will be beyond the grace I FEEL like I have. It's scary.

But I also know that I have OCD pretttttty bad and I can't let myself cycle through the thoughts, so getting it out on a forum I think is what I need to do. I know I believe and trust in Him, and I truly regret my sin. I think most of us willingly sin every day. We tell ourselves "one more bite" or "one more sip", even though we KNOW it's not what we should be doing morally.

I should also mention that my sexual struggle is pretty complex, in that I am also SSA (Same-Sex Attracted). The idea that I will likely have to live a life of celibacy is very difficult. And I think being SSA makes a sexual struggle 10x harder, because I don't have an outlet for my passions. Paul advises men to marry to have an outlet for their lusts and passions, and I don't have that. It's a daily battle, and I have made a lot of progress. I know it will be a life-long battle, and I can't beat myself up when I make a mistake like I did today. It's just that it was WILLINGLY, and I went against the Holy Spirit's prompting.

So I realize that I kind of spilled out my whole testimony on this post, but this is what I am feeling, and what I think about daily. I LOVE GOD AND REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE WAY but I willingly. sin. and. it. breaks. me. At least I think it does. What if this is all a "feeling" and I have been tricking myself? That's a scary thought, isn't it? I'm just going to dismiss that question.

I don't really want to go through and edit this post, so I am going to post it. I would really appreciate any answers you all can provide to the question of what it means to willingly sin, and how does it pertain to salvation and being beyond God's grace? IDK. SPEAK TRUTH! lol.

.
This verse is the ONLY place where Sin Wilfully is mentioned.

My advice would be, read the Chapter and decide for yourself just how this verse might pertain to you personally, because you are the only one who knows your heart besides God.

The read Hebrews Chapter 6 where it basically says the same thing, but with both of these Chapters it must be understood, who was Paul speaking to, and why was Paul saying these things to them in particular.

Personally I do not believe these chapters apply to Christians in General, but to those types of people Paul was speaking.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

"Willful sin" can result in hardening of the heart, loss of assurance, weakening of faith, and a dampening effect on hope. Willful sin can bring doubt, and doubt when it is sown and fully grown and ripe is unbelief, which is the "unpardonable sin". So best to stay away from willful sin, for all the heartache and trouble it can cause in the life of a believer. "Searing" one's own conscience through habitual sins can never be a good thing, and some things were never intended to be messed around with for whatever reasons.

 

[Jeshu]

I don't really want to go through and edit this post, so I am going to post it. I would really appreciate any answers you all can provide to the question of what it means to willingly sin, and how does it pertain to salvation and being beyond God's grace? IDK. SPEAK TRUTH! lol.

hallo brother in the struggle. Like you i'm mentally ill and like you i also struggled a lot with wilful sin. Some sin i still often struggle with. It is a hard battle. However please do know that Christ holds you accountable for your actions so the best is to refrain from wilful sin at all times. (We can win the Victory in and with Christ.)

In me it was a split between the sheep and the goats within me. The sheep in me always repented of wilful sin, the goats in me just didn't care and kept sinning wilfully anyway. In the end such sin is cut out of us in accordance with Hebrews 4:12-13 painful in wilful sin (Revelation 9:3-11) but very liberating in our repented selves (Revelation 19:1-10) and gives us huge boosts in our faith.

It is learning to operate out of love for God brother instead of love for ourselves in our wilful sinner self. And have you noticed how horrible lusting after makes you feel, as does porn? So instead of eating guild and shame eat grace brother. Each time you fall warn yourself in your wilful sinner self and repent from what you have done accepting grace instead of eating guild and shame. Hold onto the promise knowing that you are still a slave to sin in that part of your life but that Christ can surely liberate you if you learn to love Him through the loving grace you receive from Him each time you fall.

Please let no one fool you. There are many believers who struggle with wilful sin, often hidden and lied about even to themselves. Don't let the accusers make you feel bad but hold onto God's grace for if you are truly sorry for what you have done you can find forgiveness 7x70 times a day. Be of very good courage.

Good on you for being open and honest about your struggles that is the best way to find freedom. To remain honest and to become God and neighbour loving and you will do well in your walk with God.

And please remember the more you eat grace the more loving towards God and Jesus you become and the easier it is to cut with sinful behaviours. Don't expect the goats in you to operate like that though. In our big self serving I we never heed Christ until the day we die being like that. Honestly true, wilful sin is bad news and brings a lot of bad life alive within us. When you see that and can repent of that then you will be free not before.

Pray that God unites your divided heart and you find deliverance.

Psalm 86:11-17
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.


Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

 

[Jenniferdiana]

its sinning on purpose and not caring..i usually feel convictions when i sin or do something wrong..i don't know i guess its the same when you get those convictions and ignore them and keep sinning...i guess some of us , dont sin much or on purpose because of those convictions it brings etc.. some just dont care...i could be wrong but that's how i see it..

 

[royal priest]

hallo brother in the struggle. Like you i'm mentally ill and like you i also struggled a lot with wilful sin. Some sin i still often struggle with. It is a hard battle. However please do know that Christ holds you accountable for your actions so the best is to refrain from wilful sin at all times. (We can win the Victory in and with Christ.)

In me it was a split between the sheep and the goats within me. The sheep in me always repented of wilful sin, the goats in me just didn't care and kept sinning wilfully anyway. In the end such sin is cut out of us in accordance with Hebrews 4:12-13 painful in wilful sin (Revelation 9:3-11) but very liberating in our repented selves (Revelation 19:1-10) and gives us huge boosts in our faith.

It is learning to operate out of love for God brother instead of love for ourselves in our wilful sinner self. And have you noticed how horrible lusting after makes you feel, as does porn? So instead of eating guild and shame eat grace brother. Each time you fall warn yourself in your wilful sinner self and repent from what you have done accepting grace instead of eating guild and shame. Hold onto the promise knowing that you are still a slave to sin in that part of your life but that Christ can surely liberate you if you learn to love Him through the loving grace you receive from Him each time you fall.

Please let no one fool you. There are many believers who struggle with wilful sin, often hidden and lied about even to themselves. Don't let the accusers make you feel bad but hold onto God's grace for if you are truly sorry for what you have done you can find forgiveness 7x70 times a day. Be of very good courage.

Good on you for being open and honest about your struggles that is the best way to find freedom. To remain honest and to become God and neighbour loving and you will do well in your walk with God.

And please remember the more you eat grace the more loving towards God and Jesus you become and the easier it is to cut with sinful behaviours. Don't expect the goats in you to operate like that though. In our big self serving I we never heed Christ until the day we die being like that. Honestly true, wilful sin is bad news and brings a lot of bad life alive within us. When you see that and can repent of that then you will be free not before.

Pray that God unites your divided heart and you find deliverance.

Psalm 86:11-17
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.


Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Spoken like a true soldier of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

 

[paul1149]

. I LOVE GOD AND REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE WAY but I willingly. sin. and. it. breaks. me

Let's start with what the verse says. You can go here and see dozens of renderings, but the salient point is that the verb is a present participle, indicating ongoing action in the present. A good rendering would be:

For while we are willfully sinning after the receiving of the [full] knowledge of the truth, a sacrifice no longer remains for sins -DLNT.​

The verse is meant to warn you, but not to discourage you. God is a loving Father, and if you really want Him, He is not going to leave you in the lurch. We have to believe that. The same writer will go on to say:

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. -Heb 11.6​

So what do we do when we find ourselves caught in sin and unable to extricate ourselves? We do the basics - prayer, fasting, encouragement from the scriptures and the believers, obeying the light we have to the best of our ability - all with patience and perseverance, which that same writer tells us is necessary to inherit the promises.

 

[AvgJoe]

And Hebrews 10:26 spooks me because I feel that I DID deliberately sin during this time.

Question: "Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that a believer can lose salvation?"

Answer: “For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins.” Hebrews 10:26-29 warns against the sin of apostasy. Apostasy is an intentional falling away or defection. Apostates are those who move toward Christ, right up to the edge of saving belief, who hear and understand the Gospel, and are on the verge of saving faith, but then reject what they have learned and turn away. These are people who are perhaps even aware of their sin and even make a profession of faith. But rather than going on to spiritual maturity, their interest in Christ begins to diminish, the things of the world have more attraction to them rather than less, and eventually they lose all desire for the things of God and they turn away. The Lord illustrated these types of people in the second and third soils of Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. These are those who “receive with joy” the things of the Lord, but who are drawn away by the cares of the world or turned off by difficulties they encounter because of Christ.

“Willful sinning” in this passage carries the idea of consciously and deliberately rejecting Christ. To know God’s way, to hear it preached, to study it, to count oneself among the faithful, and then to turn away is to become apostate. Sinning willfully carries with it the idea of sinning continually and deliberately. Such a person does not sin because of ignorance, nor is he carried away by momentary temptations he is too weak to resist. The willful sinner sins because of an established way of thinking and acting which he has no desire to give up. The true believer, on the other hand, is one who lapses into sin and loses temporary fellowship with God. But he will eventually come back to God in repentance because his heavenly Father will continually woo and convict him until he can’t stay away any longer. The true apostate will continue to sin, deliberately, willingly and with abandon. John tells us that “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).

Apostates have knowledge, but no application of that knowledge. They can be found in the presence of the light of Christ, mostly in the church, among God’s people. Judas Iscariot is the perfect example—he had knowledge but he lacked true faith. No other rejector of the truth had more or better exposure to the love and grace of God than Judas. He was part of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples, eating, sleeping, and traveling with Him for years. He saw the miracles and heard the words of God from Jesus’ very lips, from the best preacher the world has ever known, and yet he not only turned away but was instrumental in the plot to kill Jesus.

Having turned his back on the truth, and with full knowledge choosing to willfully and continually sin, the apostate is then beyond salvation because he has rejected the one true sacrifice for sins: the Lord Jesus Christ. If Christ’s sacrifice is rejected, then all hope of salvation is gone. To turn away willfully from this sacrifice leaves no sacrifice; it leaves only sin, the penalty for which is eternal death. This passage is not speaking of a believer who falls away, but rather someone who may claim to be a believer, but truly is not. Anyone who apostatizes is proving he never had genuine faith to begin with (1 John 2:19).

www.gotquestions.org/Hebrews-10-26.html

 

[AvgJoe]

Verses in Hebrews like 10:26 and 6:4-6 just naturally scare me and make me wonder if I will be beyond the grace I FEEL like I have. It's scary.

Question: "Does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean we can lose our salvation?"

Answer: Hebrews 6:4-6 states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” This is one of the Bible’s most difficult passages to interpret, but one thing is clear—it does not teach that we can lose our salvation. There are two valid ways of looking at these verses:

One interpretation holds that this passage is written not about Christians but about unbelievers who are convinced of the basic truths of the gospel but who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. They are intellectually persuaded but spiritually uncommitted.

According to this interpretation, the phrase “once enlightened” (verse 4) refers to some level of instruction in biblical truth. However, understanding the words of scripture is not the same as being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. For example, John 1:9 describes Jesus, the “true Light,” giving light “to every man”; but this cannot mean the light of salvation, because not every man is saved. Through God’s sovereign power, every man has enough light to be held responsible. This light either leads to the complete acceptance of Jesus Christ or produces condemnation in those who reject such light. The people described in Hebrews 6:4-6 are of the latter group—unbelievers who have been exposed to God’s redemptive truth and perhaps have made a profession of faith, but have not exercised genuine saving faith.

This interpretation also sees the phrase “tasted the heavenly gift” (Hebrews 6:9) as referring to a momentary experience, akin to Jesus’ “tasting” death (Hebrews 2:9). This brief experience with the heavenly gift is not seen as equivalent to salvation; rather, it is likened to the second and third soils in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 13:3-23), which describes people who receive the truth of the gospel but are not truly saved.

Finally, this interpretation sees the “falling away” (Hebrews 6:6) as a reference to those who have tasted the truth but, not having come all the way to faith, fall away from even the revelation they have been given. The tasting of truth is not enough to keep them from falling away from it. They must come all the way to Christ in complete repentance and faith; otherwise, they in effect re-crucify Christ and treat Him contemptuously. Those who sin against Christ in such a way have no hope of restoration or forgiveness because they reject Him with full knowledge and conscious experience. They have concluded that Jesus should have been crucified, and they stand with His enemies. It is impossible to renew such to repentance.

The other interpretation holds that this passage is written about Christians, and that the phrases “partakers of the Holy Ghost,” “enlightened,” and “tasted of the heavenly gift” are all descriptions of true believers.

According to this interpretation, the key word in the passage is if (verse 6). The writer of Hebrews is setting up a hypothetical statement: “IF a Christian were to fall away . . .” The point being made is that it would be impossible (IF a Christian falls away) to renew salvation. That’s because Christ died once for sin (Hebrews 9:28), and if His sacrifice is insufficient, then there’s no hope at all.

The passage, therefore, presents an argument based on a false premise (that a true Christian can fall away) and follows it to its senseless conclusion (that Jesus would have to be sacrificed again and again). The absurdity of the conclusion points up the impossibility of the original assumption. This reasoning is called reductio ad absurdum, in which a premise is disproved by showing that it logically leads to an absurdity.

Both of these interpretations support the security of the believer in Christ. The first interpretation presents unbelievers rejecting Christ and thereby losing their chance of salvation; the second interpretation presents the very idea of believers losing salvation as impossible. Many scriptures make it abundantly clear that salvation is eternal (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35, 38-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:4-5), and Hebrews 6:4-6 confirms that doctrine.

www.gotquestions.org/Hebrews-6.html

 

[Greg J.]

@ericro, no matter what you have done before this moment, God loves you and wants you to seek his forgiveness for sinning with the intent to not do it again. When you really mean it, you are forgiven and are right with God so much so that Scripture likens it to God having forgotten about your sins (Isaiah 43:25, Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, Hebrews 10:17). If you sin again, you need to get back up and repent again, but God will never, ever reject you. The only thing that can separate you from God is your unwillingness to keep going to him with repentance and asking for help.

IMO, you must study Scripture and learn the promises of God to you, because you (and everyone) needs his help to not sin. We cannot do it without him.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4, 1984 NIV)

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 1984 NIV)

Do not underestimate what God is willing to do for you. God's power is available to all who will genuinely call on him for help. Pain drives us to focus on ourselves and relieve our pain (I've had Bipolar 2 for 20 years, Depression for most of my life, and a list of other things). God knows you are limited in your ability to obey him. It is your heart that he wants.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2, 1984 NIV)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30, 1984 NIV)

No matter how it seems now, you do not know your future. The belief that you will have to be celibate for the rest of your life is questionable at your age, because it doesn't take into account all that God will do in your life—and he will do much if it is your habit to make him the center of your days. You don't know anything about your future with God working in your life.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34, 1984 NIV)

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13:14, 1984 NIV)

Do not neglect getting on your knees and worshiping him and ask and keep asking God for what you need.