Struggling w/Book of Hebrews

[Catsmeow]

I'm having a really, really hard time with this:

Hebrews 10: 26-27 *(from the Complete Jewish Bible)

For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies.

I'm in big trouble. I have sinned plenty since I became a Christian.

Oh, yes....I have to admit that in the past 10 years, I certainly have:

- lied, gossiped, been proud/haughty, been unkind, unforgiving, been impaired, lusted and been greedy.

Some areas were only on extremelyrare ocassion while other areas were terrible strongholds I've had to wrestle with.

I can NEVER say it wasn't "deliberate". Of COURSE it was deliberate. It didn't happen by accident.

When we sin, it's usually a deliberate act of self-will.

So who in the world can be saved? Who can be spared judgement?

I'M CONFUSED....

Am I the ONLY person here who's sinned since they were saved?

[Gerioke]

Luke 15

7 I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Matthew 18: 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus said to him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

[Abigailwc]

Am I the ONLY person here who's sinned since they were saved?   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, catsmeow, you are not the only one. Remember now that we are still living in our flesh. Even Paul said:

Romans 7:14-25

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Even Paul struggled with sin.

When we sin, we need to humbly come to God and ask forgiveness. We need to ask Him to help us to be strong and not fall into temptation. This is a lifelong process. As we spend more time with Him in His Word and meditation and worship, it will become easier to resist what is ungodly.

I pray, catsmeow, that you never feel hopeless and helpless. God loves you and will never forsake you. Always go to Him when you know you did not do the right thing.

[EricH]

It also helps to understand the target audience when reading this verse

[Shimshon]

Also helps to understand the context of both sections of books. As with the Romans verses used to express that Shaul struggled with sin. This is used many times to imply that even Shaul was a helpless sinner who can't help living in his old nature.

To sum up: with my mind, I am a slave of God's Torah; but with my old nature, I am a slave of sin's "Torah." Rom 7:25

He was speaking the way he commonly did. Speaking in common language, like a child, so to be understood. Verses 14-25 are just this. He is not saying he lives in his old nature. For one, this letter didn't have chapter breaks till many hudreds of years after the fact. So if you read the VERY NEXT statments (Chapter 8 Living in the Spirit) you see Shaul defining a HUGE difference between those who live in the"old nature' and those who live in the "new" nature of the Spirit.

5 For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 Having one's mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one's mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom. 7 For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God's Torah - indeed, it cannot. 8 Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God. 9 But you, you do not identify with your old nature but with the Spirit - provided the Spirit of God is living inside you, for anyone who doesn't have the Spirit of the Messiah doesn't belong to him.

12 So then, brothers, we don't owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature. 13 For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live. 14 All who are led by God's Spirit are God's sons.

Now, in context, how do you figure Shaul was proclaiming he lived in his old nature and could not help doing so?

[Shimshon]

Try studying 1 John to get a better rounded understanding of Yeshua's message of Teshuvah (returning to God from your sins).

[Tishri 1]

I'm having a really, really hard time with this:

Hebrews 10: 26-27 *(from the Complete Jewish Bible)

For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies.

I'm in big trouble. I have sinned plenty since I became a Christian.

Oh, yes....I have to admit that in the past 10 years, I certainly have:

- lied, gossiped, been proud/haughty, been unkind, unforgiving, been impaired, lusted and been greedy.

Some areas were only on extremelyrare ocassion while other areas were terrible strongholds I've had to wrestle with.

I can NEVER say it wasn't "deliberate". Of COURSE it was deliberate. It didn't happen by accident.

When we sin, it's usually a deliberate act of self-will.

So who in the world can be saved? Who can be spared judgement?

I'M CONFUSED....

Am I the ONLY person here who's sinned since they were saved?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is the Hebraic concept of Teshuvah(Repentance and Return) that happens before the festival of Yom Kippur...

There are two books in the Bible: the Book of the Holy Righteous/Tzadikim(the Book of Life) and the book of the Wholly Wicked/Rashim (those who will never ever repent...ever)

On Rosh Ha Shannah these books are sealed (our names are sealed in them that is) then 10 more days are then given to let everyone else who haven't repented but are not wholly wicked (they are called "Sinners" or Intermediaries)to finally repent.

These days end on Yom Kippur, and after that this scripture plays out. The key to this verse is the word "Judgement" ,as Yom Kippur is the Day of Judgement for the world.

Since those who have recieved the life offered in Messiah Yeshua(thru repentance and forgiveness) are written in the Book of the Righteous, they would not count as the subjects in these verses AT ALL.

For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies.

Rosh HaShannah is a 2 day holiday that the Jews call "One Long Day" also called "The Day That No One Knows"(a good subject to do research on ) and Yom Kippur is called the Day of Judgement... so how many Days are between these two Hebrew Festivals.....SEVEN DAYS....or years ...The Tribulation periodof seven years reserved for those "Sinners" to help them make Teshuvah before it is too late.

[Sanctyfied]

I'm in big trouble. I have sinned plenty since I became a Christian.

Oh, yes....I have to admit that in the past 10 years, I certainly have:

- lied, gossiped, been proud/haughty, been unkind, unforgiving, been impaired, lusted and been greedy.

Some areas were only on extremelyrare ocassion while other areas were terrible strongholds I've had to wrestle with.

I can NEVER say it wasn't "deliberate". Of COURSE it was deliberate. It didn't happen by accident.

When we sin, it's usually a deliberate act of self-will.

So who in the world can be saved? Who can be spared judgement?

I'M CONFUSED.... 

Am I the ONLY person here who's sinned since they were saved? 

No of us deserve to be saved. Nobody, noone, ever.

We all have sinned.

This is why I believe why Jesus loves us will we were yet sinners.

At least they are totally honest.

If Christians could do the same Many of us would live better lives.

catsmeow

We are forgiven, Not perfect.

Jesus paid the price because He knows us and He knows how we fail.

He has given us Grace through Faith. Not as a ticket to sin.

But to know we can still come to Him at anytime we need to.

We still Know He is Lord and Savior. We know we can take our failures to Him.

He will Help us when we need it at anytime.

The day we stop doing that is when we are in trouble.

Praise God and live for Him. Repent and do your best not to do it again. With Jesus it is possible to stop.

[Leonard]

I don't have the time to look it up just now, as I have to leave for work (wasn't that part of the curse, by the way? Work, I mean? And aren't we supposed to be delivered from the curse? Oh well, my creditors have a different view of the Scriptures I guess! But I digress.......)

Anyhow......I believe the passage you cite is a Greek text which suggests a continuing lifestyle of sin, rather than our (admittedly 'all too often') slip-ups!

[Leonard]

Oh yeah, old J. Vernon McGee's Bible Commentaries cover the Jewish sacrifices, and also the Book of Hebrews about as well as anyone has EVER done so, in my opinion. It wouldn't hurt to pick up his whole set!