The Dangers of Sins

Hebrews 10:26-31 (Pastor Heo)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 John 3:5 “Jesus Christ appeared in this world to remove sin… to give his life as a ransom for us.”

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus came to help, teach, give an example – but more than all things – he came to die for us. His death on the cross is foundational for every other blessing we enjoy – to remove sins from our lives, our eternal lives.

If we are sure that Jesus’ fundamental purpose is to remove sins from our lives, then what should we do with those sins? We must not compromise, we must hate them, we must flee from them and their temptation.

If we compromise, we will find ourselves fighting Christ. If we are friends with sin, we are enemies with Christ. If we are close to sin, we are far from Christ.

“The dangers of sins.”

This is the last Sunday of this year, but the topic is very serious – a warning and threat against the dangers of sins.

v. 26-27

“26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

We know nobody is perfect – nobody is sinless – not even very mature Christians. If I say, “I’m sinless, then I’m a liar (sinner).”

“If you claim to be without sin, you deceive yourselves and the truth is not in you… He will purify us from all unrighteousness.”

But remember the point of these two verses: it’s absolutely impossible for saved Christians to continue to sin willfully.

Have you heard: “The sad consequences of mercifully forgiven sins”? What does this mean?

The true, practical meaning is: David is a fitful example.

He was king, at the top of the world. He sinned – terribly – deliberately and intentionally – adultery with Bathsheba, and murdered her husband Uriah by putting him in the front line of the army. He did not recognize the weight and size of his sin. God sent Nathan to convict him, and he was convicted. He repented in sackcloth and ashes and called out to God in repentance. He was forgiven. But he suffered sad consequences anyway: “The sword shall never depart from your house.”

Continuing story: Abnon raped Tamar (son and daughter of David) – then the real brother (not step-brother) murdered Abnon. And Absolom committed adultery with David’s concubines in the daylight – and tried to take over his kingdom (son). David’s son Solomon killed his brother who tried to become king after David.

These are the consequences of sin – even though sin is completely forgiven.

That’s why Jesus says, “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away because it is better for you to enter eternal life without one hand than to be thrown into the fires of hell. (Likewise with your eyes).”

These are the consequences of sin – even forgiven sin.

v. 28-29

“28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 *How much more* severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

If anyone rejects God’s covenant – even the Old Covenant, deliberately, and follows another small god – there is no sacrifice for him because his sin is the sin of idolatry. “How much more severe… those who reject the New Covenant…?”

God the Father, the Son, the Spirit, the Trinity God – is exactly the same for this great project of forgiveness and salvation for all human beings. The plan is the same. Let me explain this one by one.

1. There is only ONE sin the Father God cannot forgive. This sin = to reject (not to believe in) Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

John 3:16 “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This is the love story of Jesus. Whoever believes in Christ shall not perish, but have eternal life. Therefore, on the flip side: those who DO NOT believe, shall perish.

John 3:17 “God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

God wants all human beings to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. But he has no choice but to allow those who reject Christ to go to hell.

Matthew 10:8 “Do not be afraid of man who can kill you body, but not your soul. Rather be afraid of the one, God, who can destroy body and soul in hell.”

2. There is only ONE sin that Jesus cannot forgive: not to confess him as personal Savior and Lord.

Remember, “once for all” – this is a key point of Hebrews. Jesus “once” sacrifice is sufficient for all eternity for you and me. But, this “once for all” means, there is no more sacrifice left for those who reject Christ – because his sacrifice is the only and final sacrifice (v. 26b “no sacrifice for sins left”).

Jesus says in regard to sin: “They do not believe in me.”

Acts 4:12 “There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

3. There is only ONE sin the Holy Spirit cannot forgive: to reject Christ – not to believe in him as Savior and Lord.

The HS has many jobs and businesses, but his one MAIN job = to testify about Jesus Christ in human beings so that man may receive Christ as personal Savior and Lord and then become a powerful witness of Christ to others.

Jesus says, “When the HS comes, he will testify about me; and you will become my powerful witnesses.” (Acts 1:8 “When the HS comes on you, you will receive power and … be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”)

Matthew 12 “EVERY sin can be forgiven – but sin against the HS cannot be forgiven.”

Continually the Bible says, “If you speak against the HS, you cannot be forgiven” (i.e. if you reject Christ, about whom the HS testifies).

v. 30-31

“30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

God judges ALL Creation – because it is His Creation. “Just as a man is destined to die once and after that to face the Judgment.”

But to those who believe in Christ, “judgment” = evaluation, accounting, reward

To those who don’t, “judgment” = penalty, punishment, condemnation

“It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Wait, we are IN his hands now. This is a dreadful thing? Or a joyful thing?

• To those who believe in Christ, “being in his hands” = safety, protection, guidance, guarantee, blessing
• To those who reject him, = under the wrath, retribution, but also opportunity with God’s long-suffering patience

Do you have faith in Christ? If you have it, you can know that your faith is doctrinal. But it is frankly doctrinal – sometimes this condones a negative (exclusive) meaning. We should not be “doctrinary” – where we don’t listen to others and condemn them.

But we must be “doctrine” – this is not something we can prove experimentally, scientifically. This is rather something we adhere to, push, and base our lives on. But not only us, but all humans – even non-religious, and humanist. All religions are “doctrinal.”

Two people:

• Person A (Christian)
• Person B (non-Christian)

One day they sit together.

• Person A says, “I wish you receive Jesus as your Savior and be saved – I want to try to convince you.” This is his faith, his doctrinal position.
• Person B – “You cannot know anything definite about God.” This is HIS faith, his doctrine.

His word is not empirical, not scientific. He has his own faith position.

• Person B – “You should not persuade others to take on your faith.” (But wait, you’re persuading me…)

Person A, Person B are both doctrinal and living by their own faith and convictions. They have bet their own lives on it.

Person B = bet his eternal destiny on the idea that nobody can know anything about God.

We know our morality did nothing for our salvation – but our morality standard must be higher. Do you agree? As the fruit of salvation, the power of salvation.

Around us, there are so many Person Bs. We must know that they have little concern for what we believe. But what we want to share is what we believe – so our morality and integrity must be higher and have an impact on them.

Today’s sermon: “The dangers of sins.”

Today is the last Sunday of 2019.

The Bible says, “There is a time for everything, for every activity under the sun – to be born, to die, to start, to finish…” (Ecclesiastes 3).

To start well is good, but to finish well is MORE important.

Hebrews = the book of “Let us!” Two weeks ago we studied 5x “let us…”

Today is the last Sunday of 2019.

Let us finish this year very well. How?

Let me suggest:

• If we want to finish this year VERY well, let us finish by confessing Christ as Lord and Savior, publicly, officially, before others.
• Also, let us decide to commit ourselves more and more to Christ.
• Let us finish this year by forgiving ALL – just as Christ has forgiven us. If there is someone you have not yet forgiven.
• Let us finish this year with a new attitude, new heart, new dedication to Christ in the New Year.
• Let us finish this year by confessing our sins. If there are any committed, unconfessed sins before God. 1 John 1:9? “If you say you have not sinned, the truth is not in you. But if you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness.”

Let us finish this year by confessing all sins.

Let us receive the new year with a new heart, new attitude, new dedication to Christ.

“Let us finish this year very well. Let us receive the new year with a new heart.”

Let’s pray.