(26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
I beg the Reader's close regard to these verses, because, for want of due attention, God's dear children have sometimes, through the weakness of their faith, and Satan's temptations, been apt to mistake the Lord s Meaning. The Apostle by willful sin, could not be supposed to imply, the common sins, and infirmities of the brethren. For in many things we offend all, James 3:2. The just man (that the justified believer in Christ), falleth seven times, and riseth up again, Proverbs 24:16. Yea, willful sins against light and knowledge, are not the sin which the Apostle alluded to in this scripture. Such there are in the best of men. Paul himself confessed, that in his flesh dwelt no good thing, Romans 7:1 throughout. And David hath left it upon record, that the transgression of the wicked said within his heart, that there was no fear of God before his eyes, Psalms 36:1. Nay, the Lord's own testimony to the same solemn truth is, that every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart is only evil continually, Genesis 6:5. And the carnal mind, is not only enmity against God; but it is not subject to the law of God: neither indeed can be. Let the Reader remark the strong emphasis of this latter clause: neither indeed can be, Romans 8:7. Many read this scripture as though it referred to the child of God before his regeneration, And there was a time, I confess, that I read it so too. But I bless God, since he mercifully brought me more into an acquaintance with the plague of my own heart, and his grace, that I have been taught better. I now see, that as the regeneration of the spirit doth not regenerate the flesh, the body of sin and death remains the same. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh. So Christ hath said. And so I know. It is only that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, John 3:6. Hence, the carnal mind is carnal; neither can it be subject to the law of God, as the Holy Ghost hath declared. And it is only by the Spirit, that the deeds of the body are mortified, and the soul lives, Romans 8:13. Hence, neither from the testimony of scripture, neither Paul's own personal experience, neither the experience of the Lord's people, in all ages of the Church, could Paul mean by this expression to allude to, in the common sins and infirmities of the brethren, whether involuntary errors, or those of a more deliberate nature.
But, it is evident by the expression itself, there is intended some one more special act of offence, in a willful transgression. Let the Reader observe, it is spoken of someone sin, not sins. For, if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. Hence it is plain, that it was one special, particular sin, against the commission of which the Lord the Holy Ghost warned the Church. And when we consider to whom this Epistle was especially written, and the circumstances of that people, we shall soon discover, under the Lord's teaching, what this willful sin was to which the Lord alluded. But, before we do this, let it be observed, that the expression itself, doth not speak as of a sin done, but if it were done. The Hebrews are not charged with doing it, only cautioned against it. I beg that this also may be properly and fully attended to, in order that no false inference may be made from it, and to which the scripture itself gives not the least countenance, as if there was a possibility implied in it of finally falling away from grace.
In order to a right apprehension of this passage, let it be first considered, that the Apostle is here writing to the Church of the Hebrews; that is, to persons who were brought up in all the prejudices of Jewish ideas, and of consequence had been in the habit of observing all the sacrifices of the law. When, therefore, by regeneration, they were gathered to the Lord, and had learnt the blessed truth, that Christ, by the one offering of himself, once offered, had forever perfected them that are sanctified; a firmness of faith in this one all-sufficient offering, ought to have kept them from having the least disposition to return to any of the sacrifices of the law. Nevertheless, as in this Church of Christ, made up of true believers, there were with them, as there is with us now, a visible professing Church also, of men unregenerated; the weak and fearful of God's people among them were tempted by such characters to suppose, that there could be no harm in observing the sacrifices of the law, and still to look to Christ. To prevent this, and to shew the danger of such conduct, the Apostle solemnly points out that such a willful perversion of the truth, in looking to the shadow, now the substance was come, became virtually a denial of the full and complete sacrifice of Christ for sin; and therefore there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. I am inclined to think that this was the case in this church of the Hebrews; and that this was the object had in view in this Scripture. We know that it was so with the Church of Galatia, which was composed of a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. See Galatians 1:1; Galatians 4:1. And we know that in our own day, too many there are, who mingle law and Gospel, and but few, comparatively speaking, who live wholly upon Christ, as the sole cause of justification before God.
Secondly. Let it be further considered, that, in this Church of the Hebrews, there must have been as there always is in the purest congregations upon earth, a number of mere nominal professors, who had no part nor lot in the matter. The real Church of Christ therefore, was hereby taught how to discriminate the precious from the vile. And this became the more necessary, because, when the after-visitation came, in the destruction of Jerusalem, the people of God might discover that a mere profession would not screen from the just judgment of God. This certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, actually took place at the memorable siege made upon Jerusalem, agreeably to Christ's prediction, when the Roman soldiers, under Titus Vespasian's army, burnt the City and the Temple, and destroyed the people with the sword. It should seem, therefore very plainly to be meant, that the willful sin here spoken of, was that, special act of considering the sacrifice of Christ, either not in itself sufficient for salvation, or that it might receive benefit by the addition of joining with it an attention to the sacrifices under the law. And this transgression is here pointed at, as willfully departing from the faith, and this is done by way of preserving the real child of God from being led away by the temptation, and calling upon the Church to mark the sure destruction of mere nominal professors, in whose hearts no saving act of grace had been wrought by the Holy Ghost.