English – Chinese
From: Pieter Stemmett
To: Victor Hafichuk
Date: 11/24/2015 12:48 PM
Subject: Hebrews 10:26
Hi, friends in Christ. I red your correspondence with Jan. I have a problem with his interpertation of the verse in the subject let me paste what I send him.
Hi, I listen to your video about willful sinning and that there is no forgiveness. What about Paul that ask Jesus to take a particular sin from him and Jesus say no that sin will keep you humble before me. He also said that the things I want to do I do not, but what I do not want to do that I do. Also in the old testament all the righteous men of God sin willfully David, Abraham, Solomon and the list goes on. You know lust, Idolatry, murder and so on. God forgive them all
You see I become a Christian by own choice. When I was sixteen. I read the bible and yet I still backslide. Doing every sin under son. I was exactly like the periodical son, after I have given my life to Christ. I repented of my sin but some I do over and over again. I am at the point in my life that I do not want to sin. I also struggle with certain sin. I ask Jesus to take it away. Then for a moment it is gone. But then the temptation is so strong that I stumble again. In my heart I feel that I need to repent and I do. Like Jesus said I will only wash your feet because it will become dirty. I take it that even the followers of Jesus sin. What about the willful sin of Peter to deny Christ three times. Jesus told him that he will do it, and he still did it.
The other point I want to make is about Hebrews 10:26 I look into that verse and it can mean so many things for some if they willfully sin there is no sacrifice. Or is the sin the writer talks about the sin of rejecting Christ as his Lord and Savior. For example I know about a ex Christian that was filled with the Spirit of God he even mention that people saw a difference in his life. Then he turned his back on God and say mostly all of it is a lie. That is he reject God and do not believe anymore. For me the verse also say something else that if you look at the Hebrews who where Jews that some did not see how Jesus’s blood was all they needed but still believed in animal sacrifice. Also want to keep the old testament law.
Finally why do I still feel convicted of sin intentionally and unintentionally. Does that not mean that sanctification is a life long process. That we are going to sin. Like a child that disregards his dad and doing his own thing, only to find out he made a mistake and ask to be forgiven.
I do not promote sin not at all. When I do sin I feel very bad about it even unwanted thoughts. If I was not saved why will I still feel sorry for my sin and repent from that. Also why do the devil still temp me if I was not forgiven. Why do I in the middle of the day I feel the Holy Spirit and I need to praise Jesus for every thing he has done for me. I know I am a sinner and only God can forgive through the cross. I even go as far as to make sure the music I listen to do not blaspheme God or Jesus.
It feels to me that according to what you say that I may not fall at the feet of Jesus for all my sins even though that I feel convicted and need to repent. Is not the work of the Holy spirit that convicts you of sin. Then by the grace of Jesus you are forgiven. But is does not mean that you will stumble again.
This was his response:
Dear friend,
Paul’s thorn in the flesh was not a SIN. It was a weakness an infirmity. some speculate that it was his eyesight. We do not know for sure.
However, dear friend, what others do or neglect to do is their business. The question is whether Jesus is pleased with me and with you. Only Jesus can answer that and it is rather better to find out NOW and not when we stand before Him in final judgment.
The right one to ask is Jesus. He will judge each one of us according to our WORKS, what we have DONE.
May Jesus bless you.
It seems that he promote work based salvation. This is not what the Bible say. Is it not written in John that if we say that we are without sin lies and the truth is not in him.
This was my response: The point I am trying to make is that if you read it at face value you do one sin deliberate and it is over straight to hell. If you read on it states if you draw back meaning turning away from God and the salvation through Jesus Christ then there is no sacrifice. If you interpret the Bible you must not read into it. You must look for who was the book intended the historical background. Historical interpretation refers to understanding the culture, background, and situation which prompted the text.
Grammatical interpretation is recognizing the rules of grammar and nuances of the Hebrew and Greek languages and applying those principles to the understanding of a passage. Contextual interpretation involves always taking the surrounding context of a verse/passage into consideration when trying to determine the meaning. It is not that we are going against the holy spirit but to understand what the Spirit already revealed.
My point is that we are going to mess up. No man is righteous not even one. But we are saved by grace through Christ by putting our faith and trust in Him. It feel that if you deliberate sin even once you go to hell.
Thanks for your response.
Regards
Pieter Stemmett
From: Victor Hafichuk
To: Pieter Stemmett
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: Hebrews 10:26
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26 MKJV).
Hi Pieter,
Your definition for “willful sinning” is wrong. The good news is that your misunderstanding results from never having been born again nor had “the knowledge of the Truth,” with a capital “T.” You’ve had knowledge, but not true spiritual knowledge and understanding of what the Bible talks about. You haven’t had that personal relationship with the Lord, the knowledge of Him that comes by faith, leading you to repentance, deliverance from sin, and baptism in His Spirit.
(I’m linking several writings in this letter. Read them all very carefully, because they’ll explain to you the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which you’ve never heard as He teaches it – or if you’ve heard it with your ear, you haven’t received it in your heart.)
The Lord never leaves His children in sin. Paul didn’t ask Jesus to remove a particular sin, but to remove a thorn in the flesh – something that was giving him psychic discomfort and troubling him. Paul asked for it to be removed three times and the Lord answered:
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 MKJV).
How could Paul glory in sin, which is the breaking of God’s Law and brings death? No, Paul gloried in his dependence on Christ, Whose power sustained him in trials and needs that had nothing to do with sin. The Lord delivers us from sin and doesn’t tempt us with that which destroys us:
“Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one” (James 1:13 MKJV).
“Behold, you are made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come to you” (John 5:14 MKJV).
When Paul was describing his battle with the sin nature of the flesh, he wasn’t describing being under the power of sin. On the contrary, he declared victory through Jesus Christ:
“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 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. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 7:24-25, 8:1 MKJV).
A Christian born of God doesn’t become a Christian by his own choice. You describe a manmade Christian, which also explains why you’ve never escaped sin. You’ve never known the Lord Jesus Christ or His saving grace. In that position, you’re not sinning willfully. You’re sinning because it’s your nature to sin.
Those who have been delivered from their sins and have tasted the good things of God by faith in Christ, and turn away from Him, choosing their own lives in this sinful world over the Lord, are those who sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth. Peter gives an extensive description of such, starting in verse 10:
2 Peter 2:9-22 MKJV
(9) The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust for a day of judgment, to be punished,
(10) and especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise dominion. They are darers, self-pleasing; not trembling at glories, speaking evil.
(11) Where angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reproaching accusation against them before the Lord.
(12) But these, as unreasoning natural brute animals having been born for capture and corruption, speak evil of the things that they do not understand. And they will utterly perish in their own corruption,
(13) being about to receive the wages of unrighteousness, deeming indulgence as pleasure in the daytime, and reveling in spots and blemishes, feasting along with you in their deceits,
(14) having eyes full of adultery and never ceasing from sin, alluring unstable souls, having a heart exercised with covetousness. They are cursed children
(15) who have forsaken the right way and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,
(16) but had reproof of his lawbreaking, a dumb ass speaking in a man’s voice, held back the madness of the prophet.
(17) These are wells without water, clouds driven with a tempest, for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.
(18) For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they lure through the lusts of the flesh, by unbridled lust, the ones who were escaping from those who live in error;
(19) promising them liberty, they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom anyone has been overcome, even to this one he has been enslaved.
(20) For if they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the full knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and are again entangled, they have been overcome by these, their last things are worse than the first.
(21) For it would have been better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than fully knowing it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
(22) But the word of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog turning to his own vomit; and, The washed sow to wallowing in the mire.
Peter wasn’t sinning willfully when he denied the Lord three times before His crucifixion, as described in the verses I just quoted you. He was being exposed by God to his true nature for the purpose of being saved or converted, as the Lord told him:
Luke 22:31-34 MKJV
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat.
(32) But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers.
(33) And he said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You, both into prison and into death.
(34) And He said, I say to you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before you shall deny knowing Me three times.
You’re also wrong about the others, Abraham and David, saying they sinned willfully. Solomon too, who disobeyed in taking strange wives, wasn’t sinning willfully. You need to be careful about accusing others of things you don’t understand, as Jan’s words could serve as a warning:
“However, dear friend, what others do or neglect to do is their business. The question is whether Jesus is pleased with me and with you.”
What Jan is missing is that you need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to do His works of faith. You ask us:
“If I was not saved why will I still feel sorry for my sin and repent from that?”
No doubt Saul of Tarsus felt sorry if he sinned, so zealous was he for upholding the Law before he met the Lord. Saul even consented to putting to death those he thought were blasphemers (Acts 8:1). Have you been that zealous and disciplined against sin?
As a Catholic, for example, one can be sorry for sins committed, yet goes back to doing them again because he hasn’t received the nature that comes by a new birth from above.
As for your “ex-Christian” acquaintance who seemed to believe and then turned away, you really don’t know what was going on in his heart at any time. Many have had false conversions, albeit impressive. Until you receive the Spirit of God, you’ll not be in a position to correctly judge anything or anyone.
Don’t mistake our directness for condemnation, Pieter. There is hope for you, and only one Hope, the Lord Jesus Christ. You need to face the truth about yourself and Him in the light we’re giving you from Him.
Paul Cohen & Victor Hafichuk
From: Pieter Stemmett
To: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 10:44 PM
Subject: Re: Hebrews 10:26
Hi, thank you for your response.
You see I pray daily and repent of my sins to Jesus. Also I get this joy in my heart daily where ever I am to praise Jesus. That I want to fall down before His throne and worship Him. I even get temptations and attacks from satan. For example he plant blasphemous thoughts of God and the Holy spirit in my head. I was so physical sick for a weekend and even days after it. I drove to work the Monday and I say to Jesus. Do not leave me I do not want to loose You. Jesus then spoke to me and say I will never leave you. I even saw a big hand of God that I lay in for protection. A couple of months later I sat on my bed and I saw a pit with demons. My legs was in the pit I then saw a bright light in human form taking my hand and drew me out of the pit.
Also feel the Holy Spirit works on me. He completely free me from lust full masturbation. I being mold every day.
How is it that I am not saved. All I want is Jesus. I pray to him through the day.
If this is not true am I not one of the elect that was chosen before the foundation of the earth. I can just as well turn my back on God and stop believing.
I BOW BEFORE HIM. AFTER I GOT A CONVICTION TO REPENT OF MY SIN.
How do I know know I am saved. I red in the bible that you cannot say Jesus is Lord and mean it if you do not have the Holy Spirit.
I Just want to shout Jesus is Lord.
Please help me.
Thanks
From: Paul Cohen
To: Pieter Stemmett
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 7:13 AM
Subject: Re[3]: Hebrews 10:26
Hi Pieter,
It sounds like the Lord has done wonderful things for you. Why would you ever turn your back on Him?
You wrongly conclude that because we said you’re not saved, therefore you aren’t one of God’s elect. Did you know that Peter wasn’t saved when he confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, the Son of the living God? Jesus later said to him:
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32 MKJV).
Didn’t Satan have the rule over Peter before this conversion, as when Peter tried to save the Lord from the cross (Matthew 16:23) and later denied Him three times (Matthew 26:34)?
Help is already at your door, as you ask, Pieter. Read the links we put in the last letter and then let us know if you have questions. Also read Victor’s Testimony and The Three Degrees for a good example of the Lord’s way of salvation with some explanation. Don’t give up!
Paul
From: Pieter Stemmett
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 8:15 AM
Subject: Re: Re[3]: Hebrews 10:26
Hi Paul
I did not intentionally turn my back on God, I backslide for a while then I listen to Jans video about Jesus blood do not cover willful sins, the verse is singular meaning the sin of unbelief. That was written for the Hebrews that after they know Jesus and partake in his Glory and turned away and is on the side of the Jews that shout that Jesus is not worthy and mock him. When people read the bilbe and take it on face value you going to miss stuff. That is why hermanuics is important.After you have done that then you can see how it fits what the writer have to say. For example the blasphamy of the Holy Ghost. If you look at the text people will come up with every theory under the sun, but if you read the text in the background of what have taken place, you will see it is not about a thought or this sin or that sin. It means that if you believe in Jesus and he did the miricals but he did It by the power of satan that is blasphamy against the Holy spirit. There is verses in the Bible that can take at face value like when Jesus said that not every one that calls me Lord Lord will enter the Kingdom but who do the will of the Farther. What is the will that everyone that believe in Christ will have everlasting life.
I personly believe that a Christian can fall into sin, to give you an example I struggle 20 years with lustful masturbation, finally I was set free. Like a child that is dissonant to his dad.. Do I promote sin no. Like Paul said that will we go on sinning that grace may abound no we are not. Jesus gave us all matter of things to enjoy in this world. Nature and Materialistic stuff (like a beautiful painting, car or a nice crafted wooden table). As long as it does not come in the way of your relationship with Jesus then it is fine. I love tech but I can be busy with it and still start thanking God for his mercy.
You see what ever I do I try to do it for Christ. I like metal music any genre, Doom, Black, Death, Folk and the list goes on. You know for me it is like Paul said that about God’s children eating meat offered to Idols. I take that principle to other stuff as well, movies games etc. For metal music for example. I will go to a site and see what the lyrical content is, if it is about satan, blasphemy ludeness sex murder for the sake of revenge then I stay clear. Same with movies, games and everything in my life. I will get a thought that is against the will of God and in the place where I am I will pray to have it taken away.
Warmly
Pieter
From: Victor Hafichuk
To: Pieter Stemmett
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2015 7:46 AM
Subject: Re[5]: Hebrews 10:26
Pieter, do read the links I’ve given you in the past two letters. You lack understanding because you’ve not received the Spirit of Christ – you have yet to be born again. The tragic part is you’re so self-satisfied with your religious knowledge that you don’t have a hunger for the Truth. Only the Lord can remedy that, and He will.
Victor