Who can sin willfully (Heb 10:26-29)? Christians or non-Christians?

Heb 6:3 KJV  And this will we do, if God permit..  We will dispel the myth:

1. that sinning willfully is just rejecting Jesus Christ as savior
2. that only the non-Christians and those who reject Christ can sin willfully
3. and, therefore, Heb 10:26-29 is not for us (the Christians) because we can never sin willfully
4. and, therefore, Heb 10:26-29 is no longer a practical warning for the churches

or

1. that sinning willfully is just sinning after knowing that it is a sin
2. that we (the Christians and everyone) have already sinned willfully
3. and, therefore, Heb 10:26-29 is no longer a practical warning for the churches

Who can sin willfully and will sin willfully with the blood covenant?
Radical grace preachers would say, "Of course, only non-Christians will sin willfully! We, Christians, can never sin willfully. Therefore, the following Bible verses are not for us or the believers:

• Heb 10:22-29 KJV  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  ... (26)  For if we sin wilfully 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.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30)  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (I will talk about Heb 10:26 again in more detailed later. But can we twist it and argue that this warning is not for God's people?  No, it says very clearly that God will judge His people; not other people. When He used the comparison of a sorer punishment, He confirmed again that He was comparing and warning two of His people - one who despised Moses' law under the Old Covenant, and another who will dishonour the Spirit of grace under the New Covenant. Please think, who were able to despised Moses' law? Of course, nobody except the Jews or God's people who were given the law? Similarly, who can dishonour the Spirit of grace? Of course, no one, except God's people who have been given the grace of God too?)

I will tell them, Can you please read the Bible verses again if you want to give God's promises to the believers ? Honestly I don't see any non-Christian or non-believer in the Bible verses above. It's because we know it clearly that Paul wrote it only to the Jewish believers, Christians, and the saints; not the sinners or non-believers, from the ending of his letter.

• Heb 13:22-25 KJV  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.  (23)  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.  (24)  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.  (25)  Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy. (We think that the writer of the Hebrews was Paul because Timothy was mentioned here and there were many indications that the style and of contents of the writing belonged to Paul)

Paul was writing to the Jewish believers and Christians; not the sinners
Hence, we know that this letter was never read to the non-Christians or non-believers. It was read to the the church, the brethren, all the saints, and the Hebrew believers. Hence, when Paul said, If we sin willfully.. he was not referring to the sinners or the non-Christians outside the church..; he was referring to the Hebrew believers, the Christians, and himself, who had believed, received the knowledge of the truth, and known the grace of God. Of course, it is ridiculous to think that Paul would instead identify himself with the sinners or the non-believers outside the church, when he had indicated that he would write to the believers.
If we read Heb 10:26-29 again, we know clearly that there were two main groups of believers, and only these two main groups of believers can sin willfully:

1. Jewish believers - (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
2. Christians - (29) .. who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

I will ask them, Did you see the picture of any non-believer or non-Christian in Heb 10:26-29 above? No. Can we deceive ourselves to think that we can never sin willfully; except the non-believers? No, God forbid. How can we lie and argue vehemently that these Bible verses are not for us when Paul had written it so clearly that he was referring to the believers and us? If we lied, we would be judged severely? Here again, when I said, "If we lied ..", of course, I meant, "If we and all the believers lied .."; not "If the sinners outside the churches lied.."


Why can't non-Christians sin willfully? 
 Many will argue, "I don't care if Heb 10:26-29 is referring to the believers or non-believers. We should just think logically. Do you really think that non-Christians can never sin willfully? I can tell you that there are many non-Christians who sin willfully. They know that it is sin to steal; yet they would still steal against their conscience. Isn't this sinning willfully? Hence, how can we conclude that non-Christians can never sin willfully?"
I will tell them, Please read your Bible. Paul did not define sinning willfully as sinning against one's conscience or sinning after knowing that it is a sin, however, he did mention that we sin willfully if we sin against God after we have received the knowledge of the truth, believed, and lived under the the grace of God. Hence, the non-Christians can never be in the 'picture'. They can never sin willfully in the context of Heb 10:26-29. They may sin repeatedly and deliberately after knowing that it is a sin, but they don't sin willfully as believers, as mentioned in Heb 10:26-29.


How will Christians sin willfully?
They will still argue, "Yes, precisely. We agree that Heb 10:26-29 is not for the non-Christians. But, neither is it for us too. It is for those who would sin willfully by rejecting Jesus Christ. Rejecting Jesus Christ is sinning willfully and that is the only sin which will cause us to lose our salvation. Hence, if we did not sin willfully by rejecting Jesus Christ, we can sin any sins and we are still be saved because of radical grace. We can sin repeatedly, radically, and deliberately (by committing adulteries, lying, or cheating others) and there is no greater sin than the grace of God or no single sin which Jesus cannot forgive. However, there is only one sin which Jesus cannot forgive: that is the sin of unbelief or sinning willfully by rejecting Him after we've known Him as our great savior .. "
I will tell them, I am glad that you have finally understood why non-Christians cannot sin willfully with the blood even though you took quite a while to understand it. But do you know that you are still preaching the wrong things by saying that Christians can repeatedly and deliberately sin with the knowledge of the blood. You have now jumped into a greater error by preaching that Christians can repeatedly and deliberately sin with the blood or the grace of God? What you think and do is precisely what Paul would forbid in Heb 10:26-29. I am afraid, What you think or say could encourage and lead more believers to sinning willfully because:

1. Non-Christians can never think like you. They can never know or believe the blood of the Lamb or the grace of God for justification of their sins.
2. But you are Christians who have the knowledge of the truth and the understanding of the power of grace and God's covenants.
3. Yet, you would use your knowledge of the truth to think, entertain, and teach your own doctrine of sinning with no more sin conscience to repent or sin willfully. 

'Sinning willfully' is not sinning after knowing that it is a sin
They will say, "Please do not condemn us for sinning willfully. How about you? You are no better either. Can you say honestly that you have never sinned willfully after you have received the knowledge of the truth? Have you lusted for beautiful women after you have become a Christian ? If you did, you have sinned willfully too, and you would go to hell. You knew that it was sin to lust after other women, after you know the Ten Commandments, and yet you still lusted for women. You are a hypocrite. You have sinned willfully too. How can you condemn us for preaching sinning willfully.."
I will tell them, Of course, if you insist that 'sinning willfully' is just any sin committed having known that it is a sin, no one can argue with you. Yes, you can accuse all of us as hypocrites because we sin willfully like you too.  But do you think that Paul was talking about this type of sin when he wrote Heb 10:26-29. Of course, no, definitely. If Paul meant it as sinning willfully, he would become a hypocrite too because he still sinned or fell into the infirmities of sins after knowing that it was a sin:

• Rom 7:9-11 KJV  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  (10)  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  (11)  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. .. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after 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 shall deliver me from the body of this 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.

I believe that this had kept Paul very humble because he knew that he still sinned. He knew that he did not just sin ignorantly; but he sinned knowingly. He sinned even though he knew that it was wrong to sin. However, can we say that Paul himself had sinned willfully, and therefore, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins for him too? Of course, no. Sinning willfully according to Heb 10:26-29 is not sinning after knowing that it is a sin. They will ask, If Christians cannot sin willfully by sinning after knowing that it is a sin, who else can sin willfully?   


Christians will sin willfully if they will sin with the blood of the Lamb without repentance
I will tell them, It is hard and rare for Christians to sin willfully. However, in the end time, Christians who become false prophets or followers of the false prophets could sin willfully. Please read Heb 10:26-29 again. Do you know who would preach or think of the blood sacrifice or the grace of God as 'license to sin'? I don't think that the non-Christians will do it or can do it; neither can backslidden Christians too. Why ? It's because they don't believe in the blood or the grace of God anymore.
Hence, those who will sin willfully are very likely the believers whose conscience has become so perverted that they would become false prophets or follow the teaching of false prophets. They will preach against the words of God, lie to the people, and deceive the ignorant that the preaching of the blood or the grace of God could replace the need of repentance and that all their believers can continue to sin with no more sin conscience to repent. They would promise the believers that they could have no more future sins and no more need to repent or to confess sins. They would boast that all the Bible verses about repentance, confession of sins, or obedience to God's words would be no more applicable to them. Instead, they would come up with their own doctrine, law, wisdom, and philosophy to replace all God's laws and commandments. They have literally (29)..  trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Ironically, I notice that those who always preach lawlessness would keep denying that they have preached license to sin or sinning willfully. I will tell them, Why do you keep defending and justifying yourselves, but other preachers do not need to do it? It's because you have knowingly or unknowingly preached too much against the law of God to please the lawless. Hence, you can't blame everyone for misunderstanding you including your own believers and followers. Naturally everyone who sin would hate the law of God. And they would love your preaching which has no more law:

• 1Jn 3:3-6 LITV  And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure.  (4)  Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.  (5)  And you know that that One was revealed that He might take away our sins, and sin is not in Him.  (6)  Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him, nor known Him.

Attitude of rebellion and bitterness against God's word, God's warning, or the Lord's preaching can be detected easily from the way we respond to it
Finally, I will tell them, If you still argue that Heb 10:26-29 is not a warning for the believers, you may not be aware that you could have hidden bitterness against the Bible and you would just want to rebel against any teaching or warning from the Bible. Please think, If your father said, "Son, if we break the laws, we may end up in hot soup or in prison ...", will you tell your father, "Nay, we can never break the laws. It's impossible for us to fall. We are radical grace believers. Hence, we can never fall.. Even if we break the laws, we can still have God's favors. We will never end up in miseries. Please don't preach to me what to do or tell me the negative things, like my pastors .. " Yes, you may have God's favors, but the way or the attitude you showed your great confidence in the grace of God would just indicate to us that you are not teachable. You can never take instructions from God and others. If Paul said, "If we sin willfully .." Will you tell him, "Nay, we can never sin willfully .. because of .. this ..and that.." and give him a list of boastful reasoning of why you can never fall? No, I doubt if you will read your Bible too. I am afraid, No one can teach you, warn you, or instruct you with any advice or any God's words now; not even the Apostles.

• Act 8:20-24 KJV  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  (21)  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  (22)  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  (23)  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.  (24)  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Do you know that Simon did not have the right believing, and yet he listened to Peter and repented? How much more we should take heed and listen to Paul's warning, especially when he said, "If we sin willfully .." or "If we .."

• Heb 2:3 KJV  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
• Heb 12:25 KJV  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
• 1Jn 1:6-10 KJV  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
• 1Jn 2:3-4 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

No more if's and but's?
I think it is ridiculous to tell people that the Bible has no more 'if' and 'but' for us when the Apostles would still warn us with so many 'if' in their letters. I don't think we are doing justice to the words of God by telling others that all those Bible verses that have 'if we' and 'but we' are for the non-believers or for the churches who have fallen from grace, and giving people the impression that those who still teach from these Bible verses and warnings are preaching condemnation and fear to the people. I think you don't just owe an apology to those who preached from the Bible, you owe an apology to Paul and John who wrote the 'if we' and 'but we' to the believers.  

Have we thought why John said, If we confess our sins .. and Paul said, If we sin wilfully..? Does it mean that John always confessed sins or Paul always sinned wilfully? No. We can say that they hardly sinned. But does it mean that they are saying it to the agnostic believers and therefore their warnings are not applicable to us? No. They are saying it to us and their warnings are for us. Please think, When a father warned his kid and said, "Son, if we drink and take drugs, we will get drunk, get addicted, and regret one day..", does it mean that the father had taken drugs? No. We can say that the father had never taken drugs or hardly took any drugs. But does it mean that the father could only say it to other kids and therefore his warning was not applicable to his own kid? No. It is ridiculous to twist the warning of the father and ocnvince the kid that his father's warning was not for him. Similarly, it is ridiculous to twist the words of God in Heb 10:26 and 1 John 1:9 and convince God's children that God's warnings are no more applicable to them.


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