For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins… Hebrews 10:26

Who are those who sin willfully in this text? Some who teach Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) claim that it is referring to those who never accept Jesus, but this cannot be the case because this verse is connected to the previous verses by the conjunction “for.”

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins… ~ Hebrews 10:23-26

In verse 29 those to whom this verse refers were once sanctified by the blood of Christ.

Now, the reason I say that some who teach OSAS make this claim is because there is another group among the OSAS advocates who claim that this text is referring to believers and the warnings which follow do not equate to a loss of salvation. According to this view of OSAS, those referred to in verse 26 and the following verses are still saved and going to Heaven as part of the bride of Christ.

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. ~ Hebrews 10:26-31

I heard one Pastor argue that where verse 26 says, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” the text is referring to the end of the offering of animal sacrifices because Jesus’s sacrifice is eternal and that the Christian who commits apostasy is still saved.

Honestly, I was stunned that anyone could twist this portion of Hebrews 10 to make such a claim. First and foremost, just a plain reading of these scriptures and following the flow of thought ought to be enough to convince the reader that this Pastor’s claim is not correct. Allow me to show how we would have to understand this portion of scripture to read it in such a way by providing the following example.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins because Jesus’s sacrifice is once for all. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries… “

As you can see, this would make absolutely no sense with the flow of thought. Making such claims by interjecting the idea that the one who sins willfully (becomes apostate) still maintains the salvation provided by the sacrifice of Jesus, is completely contrary to what is being communicated by the writer of Hebrews.

So what do the words there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, actually mean? In simple terms this is a reference to no more sacrifice for sins beyond the sacrifice of Jesus. Based on the whole teaching of the book of Hebrews this is referring to a person who has been a believer, but has turned away from Christ and hardened their heart beyond the point of repentance.

Once there is no place for any repentance in heart of one who has become apostate, they have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and will experience the eternal judgment mentioned in Hebrews 6. Now, If this causes fear in your heart, then you have not committed this sin. The fear of the unpardonable sin torments a lot of people. As a young man it tormented me and almost cost me my sanity. It was my desperation to overcome this fear that drove me to seek and understand the power of the blood of Jesus, and that led me into much learning about the cross of Christ.

If the blood of Jesus is precious to you – YOU ARE SAFE!!!!!

Do not live in fear of this sin. Live with the fear of God in your heart, and hIs Holy Spirit with keep you from ever being a candidate for this sin. The Spirit of God will keep you in saving grace of Christ.

A believer who loves Jesus can not commit this sin. A believer who is hardened by sin to the point that he no longer has a place for repentance in him, can. No one becomes an apostate because God refuses to forgive them. All sins are forgivable except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is the sin that the writer of Hebrews details throughout his epistle. This is the sin of permanently hardening your heart (beyond repentance) against the Lord after you have received the knowledge of the truth (after you have known the Lord.

The one who has committed this sin has become apostate because they have permanently rejected the grace of God. Thus they sin willfully with no regard for Jesus. They have trodden underfoot the Son of God, counted the blood of the covenant that sanctified them as an unholy thing, and done despite the Spirit of grace.

They have consciously and deliberately chosen to reject the grace of God and for this reason there is no longer any sacrifice to save them, there remains no more sacrifice for sin. There is nothing beyond Jesus except a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.