Disrupting Deliberate Sin

The Weight of Disobedience: A Call to Holy Living

Bible Passage: Hebrews 10:26–31

Summary: This passage serves as a stark warning about the consequences of willful sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth. It emphasizes God’s holiness and the serious nature of turning away from His grace.

Application: This sermon is crucial for Christians who may be struggling with complacency in their faith, reminding them of the gravity of sin and the importance of repentance. It encourages believers to examine their lives and reaffirm their commitment to living according to God's will.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that knowing the truth of Christ carries with it a responsibility to live righteously, and deliberate sinning after such knowledge comes with grave consequences. It calls for a radical examination of one’s faith and a serious commitment to holiness.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage points to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and the gravity of rejecting His grace. It reminds us of Christ's role as our Advocate, emphasizing the need to honor His sacrifice through a life of obedience rather than defiance.

Big Idea: Rejecting the truth we know about Christ leads to severe spiritual repercussions, urging us to live in a manner worthy of the grace we have received.

Recommended Study: You might want to examine the linguistic nuances of key terms in Hebrews 10:26–31, such as 'deliberate sin' and 'knowledge of the truth.' Using your Logos library, consider researching historical context and the author's intent in addressing the recipients' struggles with complacency. Pay attention to the use of Old Testament references in verses 28-30, as these can deepen understanding of the seriousness of God's judgment.

James 1:14–15 ESV

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

There are different kinds of sin in the Bible. Often we talk about sins of commission and sins of omission. But there is another dichotomy as well, one that Hebrews deals with in today’s passage. Sin of ignorance vs intentional sin.

There are times in our lives when we fall into sin. For whatever reason we are not on our game, or we don’t realize something is sin, or Satan sneaks up on us and without any real thought we fall out of the will of God.

But there are other times when temptation comes our way and we give in knowing that our choice is out of the will of God, we knowingly and willingly enter into sin.

And from the beginning God has made a distinction between accidental and intentional sin.

Numbers 15:27–31 ESV

“If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”

And the New Testament also talks about willingly ignoring the truth

James 4:17 ESV

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What is deliberate sin?

In v26 the English reads “if we deliberately keep sinning” but the Greek can also be translated “established a pattern”

In other words, it’s not a single act; it’s not a few acts; it’s not periodic acts. It’s rather a settled, persistent continuation in sin. What destroys the soul, what puts it beyond forgiveness in verse 26 is not sin per se, but an eager, deliberate, willing, persistent, settled pattern of sin.

The writer of Hebrews is not talking to us about messing up; even messing up a few times; he is talking to us about setting our sails to catch the wind of sin and allow it to carry us.

Deliberate sin is also sin that know we know is sin and has even been confronted in our lives. Perhaps a pastor or another church leader or another Christian comes to us and calls the sin out and cautions us to get back in the will of God and we continue to go away from Christ.

1. Deliberate Defiance Destructs

Hebrews 10:26

When we deliberately sin, we remove ourselves from the will and the projection of God. The Hebrew writer goes as far as to say that the sacrifice of Christ is no longer good for us.

Imagine if you knew that a tornado was coming and you made your way into the most secure storm bunker you could find. But let’s say you decided that the shelter was too confined, or you couldn’t do what you want in it; or you decided that the storm wasn;t that bad. So you, knowingly and willingly leave the bunker and stand in the path of the storm? Most would say that you have no right to complain if the storm harms you because you knowingly put yourself in harms way.

Why would we treat sin any different?

When we choose to knowingly and willingly step outside of God’s will we are asking for trouble, and when trouble comes many believers want to blame God.

2. Dire Destiny for Defiance

Hebrews 10:27–29

Now think about this for a moment, and what I am about say might sound harsh, but friends, it in the text so if it seems harsh just remember I am just reading the words here:

Hebrews 10:29 “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?”

When we knowingly allow and entertain sin in our lives, friends; the Bible says that we are basically trampling the Son of God under our feet.

3. Divine Decrees Determined

Hebrews 10:30–31

In these verses we are assured that God will execute judgment against those who practice sinful and evil ways.