Willfully Sinning?
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:26 NKJV).
Willfully Sinning?
You will die in your sins if you do not believe Jesus is who He says He is.
Jesus said: “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23-24 NKJV).
There are many people who think they are going to go to heaven when they die. The sad truth is they’re not.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord.’ Shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21 NKJV).
If you have believed and accepted Jesus as LORD and Savior, you will have a change in your heart and mind to not continue living willfully in sin. So many people say they have Jesus as their Savior but do not obey a single thing He commanded. They slander other people, gossip, mock, tell lies, envy, create division, are proud, selfish, self-loving, think only about themselves, and yet claim to be followers of Christ. This is not how Christ lived, so who are these people really following? Not Christ Jesus.
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6 NKJV).
There are so many who do not have reverence or the fear of the Lord. The love of most has grown cold. Jesus walked in love and compassion for others, He sacrificed Himself, He spoke truth, He exposed sin and darkness, He was humble and completely obedient to Heavenly Father, The Most High, Almighty God.
As true followers of Christ Jesus, we too need to walk as He walked. Being humble, compassionate, speaking truth, exposing sin and being a light in the darkness of this world, having a sacrificial love for others, and being obedient to our LORD.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV).
If Jesus, being God, “He is the image of the invisible God…” (Col. 1:15), humbled Himself and became completely obedient, why do most Christians today, think they can live however they want to, without consequences?
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV).
Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of sin.
Why choose to continue to live a life of disobedience to God and continue to willfully sin after knowing the sacrifice that Jesus made to set you free?
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26-29 NKJV)
Do true followers of Christ still sin? Yes. But the difference is, they don’t choose to willfully sin. They may stumble and sometimes fall, but they heed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and Repent. They confess and turn away from the sin. Their desire to please the LORD is greater than their desire to continue living in ways that are disobedient and displease the Lord. They have respect for God and take Him and His word seriously.
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (II Corinthians 7:10 NKJV).
Are you willfully sinning, after having known the truth?
Confess and repent. Turn away and start taking God and His word seriously.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV).
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3 NKJV).
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23 NKJV).
Until next time… “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the prophets” …. “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” … “Love one another as Christ Jesus loves you”
Shalom