For many believers, Hebrews 10:26 is a very scary verse for them. It can be especially scary for those who struggle continually with a particular sin. But should it incite fear in believers? Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then this verse should actually comfort you, not scare you. And, with the proper understanding of this verse, you can be completely set free from the bondage that this verse (and the book of Hebrews as a whole) can cause.
Let’s jump right into it!
Willful Sin and No More Sacrifice
Hebrews 10:26 reads as follows:
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”
If we read this verse out of context, it sounds exactly like how many of us interpret this verse; if we keep on sinning, and sinning willfully, there no longer remains a sacrifice that takes away our sins. That sounds terrible, right? I mean if our sinning causes us to lose our salvation, and we can’t seem to stop sinning, what hope do we have? How can we remain “saved”?
If you understand the Gospel and what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross, then Hebrews 10:26 probably doesn’t sit right with you. It doesn’t line up with the message of the Gospel of Grace. And that’s probably why you are here. You want understanding and for this verse in the book of Hebrews to make sense in light of the Gospel.
And, if you are simply terrified of this verse and the fact that you might have lost your salvation (or might in the future if you can’t stop willfully sinning), you are probably here to ease your heart and conscience.
If you are either one of these people that I described above, be at rest. The proper understanding of Hebrews 10:26 will set you free and that is my aim here!
Understanding the Book of Hebrews
To properly understand Hebrews 10:26, you have to understand who the book of Hebrews was written to and what the intentions of the writer of the book of Hebrews were.
The Audience
The book of Hebrews was written to the Jews who were accustomed to living under the law of Moses and were surrounded by Jewish culture. These particular Jews had become, or at least were considering becoming believers in Jesus Christ (Christians). These believing Jews, or messianic Jews, seemed to be on the fence with their faith in Jesus Christ. It’s as if they had started out strong in their faith in Christ, but as time went on they began to drift back to their old religion, the law of Moses (see Hebrews 2:1-4 and Hebrews 10:32-39).
The Writer’s Intentions
Knowing that living according to the law of Moses cannot save anyone (see Galatians 3:10-11), the writer of Hebrews is trying to persuade and encourage these Jews to keep their faith in Jesus and not to return to the law of Moses (Old Covenant). That is why throughout the entire book of Hebrews the author is comparing Jesus to Moses and the law of Moses. He is trying to convince them that Jesus is better and that the new covenant in Jesus’ blood, which we enter by faith, is the only way to be saved.
Just look at Hebrews 1. The writer of Hebrews is comparing Jesus to the prophets first and then to angels. He is exalting Jesus above both because the Hebrews (Jews) would be familiar with both angels and the prophets from the Old Testament, including the Torah and the books of the Prophets. The Jews highly esteemed them. But Jesus is above all of them.
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.“
You can see the theme of convincing these Jews to keep their faith in Jesus and not to turn back to the Old Covenant in Hebrews 2. In Chapter 2 verse 1 it reads:
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”
Throughout the book of Hebrews the writer continues to:
- compare Jesus and Moses (Hebrews 3)
- portray the danger of not believing the Gospel and entering into God’s rest (Hebrews 4)
- reveal Jesus as our High Priest in Hebrews 5 (compared to the High Priest of the Levitical Priesthood of the Old Covenant)
- elaborate on the danger of turning away from Jesus and the new covenant (Hebrews 6)
- display the need for a new covenant and High Priest (Jesus) when compared to the Old Covenant (Hebrews 7-9)
Do you see how all these topics would resonate and make sense to Jews who were accustomed to the Old Covenant? The theme throughout Hebrews 1-9 is to show these Jews that the Old Covenant is no longer in effect and is obsolete (Hebrews 8:13) and that a new covenant in Jesus’s blood is now the superior covenant (Hebrews 9:11-15). It’s important to understand this as we move into Hebrews 10, and more importantly Hebrews 10:26.
Hebrews 10
As we come to Hebrews 10, the writer is making the case that Jesus has offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin once for all time. This is huge. In comparison, sins under the Old Covenant were atoned for once a year continually. It never stopped. The writer of Hebrews also says that the sacrifices under the Old Covenant never took away sins (Hebrews 10:4). It was actually a reminder of their sins every year. Hebrews 10 even says that God was not pleased with nor desired the sacrifices under the Old Covenant.
“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them‘ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
We can see here that the only sacrifice God was ever pleased with and ever desired was the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only sacrifice that could ever take away our sins for good (John 1:29). And Jesus did just that.
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” [emphasis added]
As you can see, for those of us who believe in Jesus, He completely took away our sins and made us perfect forever. He accomplished this one time and it’s a done deal. He will never be sacrificed again.
“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” [emphasis added]
The Willful Sin Referred to in Hebrews 10:26
We can see now that the writer of Hebrews is showing the importance of Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf. It’s clear that going back to the Old Covenant will not get rid of our sins. Jesus is the only sacrifice to ever take away our sins and He accomplished it once for all. With this in mind, let’s dive into Hebrews 10:26 again.
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”
It’s important to note that the word “for” is at the beginning of Hebrews 10:26. This means that the writer is connecting this verse with his previous line of thought. In the previous text of Hebrews 10, most of which we’ve already covered, the writer of Hebrews is displaying the sufficiency and validity of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.
In verses 19-25, the writer is encouraging the audience (believing Jews) to take advantage of this “new and living way” of approaching and drawing near to God that is through the blood of Jesus. He tells them to “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” in Hebrews 10:23. What is the “confession of our hope” the writer is referring to? Their confession of their hope in Jesus and His sacrifice on their behalf. It’s being justified by faith in Jesus and not by the works of the Old Covenant law (Romans 3:28).
If We Sin Willfully
So what is the willful sin that the writer is referring to in Hebrews 10:26, then? It’s turning away from faith in Jesus and returning to the law! Think about it. If the Jews, or anyone, rejects the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf, what sacrifice is left for their sins? There isn’t one. Jesus is the only sacrifice to ever completely satisfy and take away our sins which the writer of Hebrews has emphatically stated.
Let’s look at the verse again.
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” [emphasis added]
The Knowledge of the Truth
What is the “knowledge of the truth”? In this context, it’s referring to the Gospel. It’s what Jesus did for us on the cross. So if we come to the knowledge of truth and understand what Jesus and His sacrifice did for us, but we willfully sin (reject it), there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins. He’s the only sacrifice!
Let’s keep reading through Hebrews 10 and verse 29.
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? “
Do you see it? The writer of Hebrews is saying that if we reject Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf, there is only a “fearful expectation of judgment”. Why? Because we are still dead in our sins. Then he compares rejecting the law of Moses, which these Jews would understand, to rejecting Jesus. Rejecting Jesus and His sacrifice is far worse and is essentially “trampling the Son of God underfoot” and counting His blood of the new covenant as meaningless, or a “common thing”.
Lastly, rejecting Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf is “insulting the Spirit of grace”. Remember, the Gospel and the new covenant, which we enter into by faith in Christ, is based on grace (see Galatians 1:6, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 6:14). So rejecting Jesus is insulting the Spirit of grace.
As the rest of Hebrews 10 unfolds, the author exhorts his audience “not to cast away their confidence” and to continue believing “to the saving of their soul”. Believe what? Believe in Jesus! Believe in the Gospel!
Make sense? Let’s touch on a couple more points to drive this home.
How Many Sins Do You Commit That Aren’t Willful?
I think what we’ve covered so far explains what Hebrews 10:26 means very well. But, I want to touch on a couple more points that I believe will solidify it’s meaning even more.
What percentage of your sins are done by an act of your will? I’d say for me, it’s probably 100% of them. I’d say the same is true for most people. So, if Hebrews 10:26 is saying that if we sin willfully, and that Jesus’ sacrifice no longer covers us, then I’m screwed (pardon my language). And so is everyone else. In that case noone can be saved because I’m pretty sure everyone who has been saved has sinned at least one time since their conversion. And, it was probably willful.
Thankfully, Jesus died for and took away all our sins forever, and that includes willful sins.
Struggling With Sin (or Not) Doesn’t Determine Your Salvation
Now that we’ve explained the primary purpose of the book of Hebrews and the meaning of Hebrews 10:26, I hope that you see that this “willful sinning” is not referring to certain sins you might struggle with or even commit periodically. It’s referring to the sin of rejecting Jesus and His sacrifice. If Hebrews 10:26 was referring to sinning in general, then it wouldn’t line up with the rest of Scripture, primarily the New Testament.
Check out Romans 4:5-8:
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.'” [emphasis added]
Those of us who believe in Jesus and are righteous apart from our works, God does not impute sin to us. In other words, He doesn’t count our sins against us.
Let’s look at Hebrews 10 again.
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” [emphasis added]
It says here that we who believe in Jesus and have been sanctified have been perfected forever. This means that whether you sin or not, you are made perfect because of Jesus’ sacrifice. If you can sin and be made no longer perfect, then this verse is not true (but we know it is). Let’s stay in Hebrews 10.
“‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” [emphasis added]
This verse in Hebrews says that God does not remember our sins. If He did remember our sins then Christ would have to be sacrificed over and over to take care of them. But, as we see in Hebrews 10:18 above, there is no longer an offering or sacrifice for our sins. It was taken care of once for all time by Jesus and His sacrifice. And this includes all sin, including willful sin. Lastly let’s look at Romans 5:20-21.
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Paul says in Romans 5 that where sin increases or abounds, grace abounds much more. This illustrates that even when we sin, God’s grace increases. It’s an illustration that shows that we can’t sin more than God’s grace can cover. This is further proof that your sin doesn’t cause you to be lost or unsaved as a believer. Jesus and His sacrifice and our faith in Him is what saved us. It wasn’t our performance or “not sinning”, therefore our performance or sinning doesn’t cost us our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Conclusion
I hope this post on Hebrews 10:26 has opened your eyes to its true meaning and proper contextual interpretation. This verse plagued me for years in my early walk with the Lord. But, once I started to understand what it was actually saying, it really helped set me free and actually made a lot more sense when considering the rest of the New Testament.
Hebrews 10:26 and sinning willfully is referring to one sin – rejecting Jesus. This is what the author of Hebrews was warning these Hebrew believers NOT to do because they were flirting with returning to the law of Moses. If you are having a hard time seeing this for yourself, ask the Lord to give you a revelation of this. Then, read the book of Hebrews again, starting with chapter 1. I believe God will open your eyes to this truth (John 16:13)!
Finally, be at peace. If you believe in Jesus and have received Him as your Lord and Savior, you are secure. And, remember, the only sin that can cost you your salvation is not believing in Jesus. Your perfect living didn’t save you, nor does it keep you saved. It’s always based on Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.
