The Spirit of Grace

Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the 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 hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the 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.

In the New Testament, we can become sanctified, which means to be purified and forgiven for our past sins. When we are submerged underneath the waters of baptism, God forgives us of every sin that we have committed up to that point in our lives. They are completely expunged, so that we can begin a new life as a child of God. But not everybody who begins the Christian life is going to treat the priceless grace of God in the same manner. Rather than taking the opportunity to turn from sin and lovingly submitting to God’s calling and purpose, they will abuse God’s kind gift of forgiveness, and in the process, will raise up His anger and vengeance.

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

I’ve seen the rise and fall of many people who professed to be Christian, who were raised and educated in the teachings of Holy Scripture, and well-versed in the will of God, but somewhere along the line, something snapped inside of their heart. They knew what the Bible said, but they willingly chose to rebel against it. When people choose to sin willfully against God in such a manner, His punishment is coming. Sometimes sin can be an honest mistake, or an unintentional slip of the human nature, but willful sin is a whole different issue, because it is making the concerted effort to go against the will of God deliberately, and intentionally. Intentional is having or showing a stubborn determined intention to do as one wants to do regardless of the consequences or effects. For example, a husband might forbid his wife from doing certain things, but in an act of flagrant rebellion she departs his presence and does whatever she wants to instead. God does not bless this behavior, He will avenge it. Intentional means that what they have done is on purpose and deliberate. It’s not an accident, it is voluntary and calculated! Judas did the same thing to the Lord Jesus. When people choose this wicked path, they will go completely against the teachings of scripture that they were once educated in. They will get themselves involved with fornication, false religions, and things that are completely contrary to the conservative faith that they were once raised in. You must remember that this is exactly what Satan did, when he rebelled against the will of God. 

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry……

Purposely going out of one’s way to go against God’s will is going to reap God’s vengeance. Ananias and Sapphira intentionally lied to Peter, so God killed them right on the spot. (Acts 5) It’s one thing for a sinful person to get themselves all cleaned up through faith in the gospel of Christ, but it’s quite the other to intentionally disobey the will of God, and return to the old life that you gave up for Christ. If there’s anybody who deserves the lake of fire, these people are it. 

2 Peter 2:20-22  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The Christian faith is about transforming from a sinner into a Saint, but we are never to revert from a Saint back into a sinner once again. God absolutely hates this type of behavior, and when people forsake Him in such a manner, He will forsake them. 

1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

So once again, willful sin is having a clear understanding of what you want to achieve, and going about to bring it to pass. Consider the life of Noah, who at one point became inebriated with too much wine. But what he did was not intentional, because sometimes if you don’t eat or drink enough water, things can happen. This is quite different from somebody who goes out to a senior kegger or frat house party and plans to become completely annihilated. They drink for the sole purpose of getting drunk out of their minds, which is sinful behavior that is done with intent and on purpose. When people choose to sin willfully against God in such a manner, He can cause them to believe a lie, which will result in their own damnation.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Some people are no longer ignorant because they have been educated in the teachings of Scripture. But not everybody’s going to last in the Christian Life, because they will turn away their ears from the truth and purposely go out and do their own thing instead. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Our God is very merciful and forgiving, but some people will choose to trample upon His precious gift of kindness. Be not like unto them, because you never want to choose to sin intentionally against the love of Christ, and……..

……..The Spirit of Grace

Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.

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