This post is not about the Calvinistic doctrine of Limited Atonement. Let's get that out of the way from the start. This post is in reference to Hebrews 10:26 which reads:
"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins..."
This verse has caused a great deal of debate throughout church history. What I want to do in this post is explore the idea that there are people walking around who cannot be saved. The express reason they cannot be saved is that "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins".
First, who is Hebrews 10:26 speaking about? Who are those for whom "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins"?
In the context of the verse, these are the people who have heard and understood the truth and yet have willfully continued in the sin of unbelief. Peter tells us that it would "be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them" (2Pet 2:21).
Second, why does the text say that "there no longer remains a sacrifice" for their sins?
These people continue to willfully reject the truth of the Gospel and the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such, there is no sacrifice that can save them. They have rejected the only sacrifice, the only Savior, who could have saved them. Since they have done this, and continue to do so, there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins. Instead of a sacrifice and mercy for them, they have nothing to look forward to "but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the furty of a fire which will consume the adversaries" (vs 27). These are people who have no hope and nothing to look forward to but hell. They are not in this situation because they are worse sinners than others. Rather they are in this situation because, humanly speaking, they have chosen to reject Christ once they knew the truth. Since they have rejected, and continue to reject, the only Savior they cannot be saved.
Can they repent of this willful sin?
In this context I'm afraid the answer is no. Through their wilfull rejection of Christ and His work at calvary, these people have placed themselves outside of the mercy of God. Therefore they will go through the rest of their lives with nothing to look forward to but hell. Of course many of them do not understand or believe that. They continue happily in their sinful ways. Certainly if they did understand, they certainly would live in daily terror.
What about me?
At this point, someone always asks a very important question: "What about me? How do I know if I am guilty of this willful sin?"
The truth is that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or if you hear Him calling you and you will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus, you are clearly not guilty of this unpardonable sin. That is a great comfort to many who worry about this issue. Like the Pharisee in Matthew 12 and Mark 3, the majority of people who are guilty of this sin don't care. Though they should, they don't live in fear. Instead they willfully continue to sin by rejecting the Gospel and in doing so only make things worse for themselves.
"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins..."
This verse has caused a great deal of debate throughout church history. What I want to do in this post is explore the idea that there are people walking around who cannot be saved. The express reason they cannot be saved is that "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins".
First, who is Hebrews 10:26 speaking about? Who are those for whom "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins"?
In the context of the verse, these are the people who have heard and understood the truth and yet have willfully continued in the sin of unbelief. Peter tells us that it would "be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them" (2Pet 2:21).
Second, why does the text say that "there no longer remains a sacrifice" for their sins?
These people continue to willfully reject the truth of the Gospel and the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such, there is no sacrifice that can save them. They have rejected the only sacrifice, the only Savior, who could have saved them. Since they have done this, and continue to do so, there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins. Instead of a sacrifice and mercy for them, they have nothing to look forward to "but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the furty of a fire which will consume the adversaries" (vs 27). These are people who have no hope and nothing to look forward to but hell. They are not in this situation because they are worse sinners than others. Rather they are in this situation because, humanly speaking, they have chosen to reject Christ once they knew the truth. Since they have rejected, and continue to reject, the only Savior they cannot be saved.
Can they repent of this willful sin?
In this context I'm afraid the answer is no. Through their wilfull rejection of Christ and His work at calvary, these people have placed themselves outside of the mercy of God. Therefore they will go through the rest of their lives with nothing to look forward to but hell. Of course many of them do not understand or believe that. They continue happily in their sinful ways. Certainly if they did understand, they certainly would live in daily terror.
What about me?
At this point, someone always asks a very important question: "What about me? How do I know if I am guilty of this willful sin?"
The truth is that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or if you hear Him calling you and you will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus, you are clearly not guilty of this unpardonable sin. That is a great comfort to many who worry about this issue. Like the Pharisee in Matthew 12 and Mark 3, the majority of people who are guilty of this sin don't care. Though they should, they don't live in fear. Instead they willfully continue to sin by rejecting the Gospel and in doing so only make things worse for themselves.
Last edited by a moderator:
