Beyond Return (2)

This sinful world is under the clutches of Satan (1 Jn 5:19). God’s intention is to save those who believe in Him from the power of darkness.  It is not rare to sin against God in the community of faith. In fact, it is a common experience for many. At times, it is hard to figure out how God would show His righteousness and mercy at the same time in dealing with the sinners in Zion, the church (cf. Isa 33:14). However, one of the burning questions we frequently ask is: what is wilful sinning?

Wilful Sinning
This is an issue that the writer of Hebrews raises. For us to sin wilfully is to disregard God, and thereby, to jeopardise our spirituality. The word ‘wilful’ gives a sense of blatancy; rebelliously going against what is divine and the will of God. Wilful sinning is to intentionally act against the knowledge of the truth (Heb 10:26a), despite being well-acquainted with it. This act is directly the opposite of those who are ignorant (Heb 5:2). Going astray shall be the end result of the latter. But, they are to be actively led back to the fold of the Lord. As for the former, they shall face the scary prospect of ‘there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins’ (Heb 10:26b).

Now, what exactly is a wilful sinning? The example given to define the concept is the rejection of Moses’ law (Heb 10:27). Which example is Hebrews talking about? ‘The testimony of two or three’, points to the one in Deuteronomy: when one transgresses the Law of God by worshipping idols, one is punishable by death (Deut 17:2-7). This is the sin that causes God to be infuriatingly jealous. This basically severs the relationship with God completely. This sin of idolatry makes one to be guilty of violating the covenant of the Lord, who had considered and taken one to be His.

The wilful sinning in the context of Hebrews brings about a much more severe punishment (Heb 10:29), in the light that they have already been given the knowledge of truth (Heb 10:26). The sinning here comprises of three main counts:

1. To trample the Son of God underfoot — this has to be looked at with Elder John’s vision in mind. The outer court of the temple is trampled underfoot (Rev 11:2). The timeframe given is 42 months. This is the same period of time in which Satan would relentlessly attack the church (Rev 13:5-6) and God, with pompous and profaning words. Today, the Son of God (Jesus) is no longer present in the flesh. Since the church is His body, an act of desecration (speaking maliciously and causing division) against the church is equal to trampling the Son underfoot.

2. To count the blood of the covenant by which one is sanctified a common thing — the vision Peter saw defines the meaning of being ‘common’: ‘what God has cleansed (sanctified) you must not call common’ (Acts 10:15; 11:9). The vision is not just about food. It is more about accepting the gentile believers to be part of the church. The reason is God has granted them the repentance unto life (Acts 11:18). The apostolic church, though being predominantly Jewish people, must accept the gentiles whom God had sanctified. Similarly, by the blood of Jesus the church enters a covenant with God. We are guilty of despising the covenant initiated by Jesus’ blood if we claim that the church is common (like any other denominational churches).

3. To insult the Spirit of grace — this basically means blaspheming against the Spirit. In the light of the account of Matthew, to attribute God’s power to the power of Satan is nothing short of going against the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:31). However, it is equally blasphemous to consider the work of Satan to be the work of God. Such an insult is uttered on account of one being deceived and disregarding the work of God.

What God has established to save us, namely His church, cannot be desecrated and spoken against indiscreetly and derogatorily. To allow evil-speaking against the church to continue, will only build up and add on to the intransigence in the heart. In this situation, the eyes of the heart shall be completely blinded beyond cure. To distinguish the work of God from the work of Satan, in life and in the community of faith, becomes utterly impossible. As a result, not only does misjudgment become rife in every situation, but most sadly, it ends up profaning God and His work — plunging ourselves to a state beyond extrication.

Conclusion
It is, thus, of utmost importance to know that our attitude towards, and our behaviour in, the community of faith have a profound impact on our relationship with the Lord. Indifference and unrestrained conduct are not only unacceptable, but they also cause us to lose sight of the grace that God has so willingly given to us. This grace is availed at the price of the life of Christ. In other words, He has traded His life for ours, enabling us to stand in the grace that we are now in. It is a grave sin to move wilfully away out from where we are. Most importantly of all, such a move carries severe consequences and unbearable penalties — marking the separation from God.

In view of the severity of God’s punishment, great resolve is required to hold on to the confidence steadfast to the end (Heb 3:14; 10:35). We must be keenly aware that we are not those who draw back to perdition, but to those who believe unto salvation (Heb 10:39). This steadfast position shall always be attainable if we do not shy always from listening to the Lord (Heb 12:25). This sense of fearing God generating from the word we have received, shall always prompt us to serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Heb 12:28), hiding us away from the consuming wrath of God upon those who have lost His grace.