What Does it Mean, “To Sin Wilfully?” – Part 1 Plus What Does it Mean: To Sin Wilfully – Part 2 – The Unpardonable Sin?

INTRODUCTION

What is wilful sin and can it be forgiven? Some ‘ministers’ in mainstream Christianity love this verse; it’s like a metaphorical truncheon to them. They love to lay into their flocks with it and give them a good spiritual beating. That’s the way to do it, I’ll keep these wayward wretches under control. When I’ve finished with them they’ll be shaking in their boots with fear! OK, I am using an extreme example here, but the core issue is the same none-the-less for, it is crucial that ministers do not spiritually abuse those in their charge, especially Spiritual novices. If you do make this heinous mistake and refuse to repent there are a lot mill stones ready in heaven to be placed around certain necks and the wearers cast into the sea. You have been warned and are now without excuse!

Yet another interesting question eh? Here, too, is that Holy Scripture that is used over and over and over again by blaspheming mongrel dogs in pulpits in order brow beat their flocks into fear based subservience:

Hebrews 10:26 (KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of The Truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.(Emphasis mine)

Many members of the Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion know this verse of Holy Scripture very well and, some, like me in the past, were/are very fearful of what they think it means.

The Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong used to use this Holy Scripture very ‘successfully’ indeed and with great subtlety to hold its bullied and spiritually abused members in place or in check or in captivity through the erroneous, evil, manipulative and threatening use of this verse. You can take it from me that it is a very frightening experience to suddenly ‘discover’ that you are no longer forgiven and, much worse, with no further opportunity for forgiveness either – ever!! That’s it, kaput – zilch – nothing, but God’s wrath and an eternal existence of fiery torment to look forward to or our complete annihilation in the Lake of Fire as Armstrong used to teach!

It is the most horrific thing to contemplate or to dwell upon for, such is the fear and phobia that it conjures up in one’s mind. As I said, I know, because I’ve been there and lived through it. I wore the T shirt for months and it is a miracle that I survived. The issue is, though, were these people right? Were they preaching The Truth? Is it the correct meaning of this controversial passage of Holy Scripture? In WCG we used to call it: “The Unpardonable Sin” and there are many other cults and demon-inations (denominations) that call it by that name, but is that what it is? Is it correct to call it “The Unpardonable Sin” and what does it mean to “sin wilfully”? What is the sin of wilful sin? To put it another way; what kind of sin are we talking about and if it’s not sin as we know it, how do we know for sure that wilful sin is a different kind of sin from sin?

Let’s refer to Strong’s Concordance for some assistance in explaining this very misunderstood verse of Holy Scripture:

Sin: G264 hamartano ham-ar-tan’-o – Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: – for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

Sin: G266 hamartia ham-ar-tee’-ah – From G264; sin (properly abstract): – offence, sin (-ful).

In Hebrews 10:26 we have; “to sin wilfully” and then; “no more sacrifice for sins” and both the above definitions of ‘sin’ are in play here. In the first instance we have G264 and in the second instance it is G266. So what, you’re just splitting hairs I here you say. Well am I splitting hairs, and if sin, is sin, is sin and just sin then why use two different Greek words that are then erroneously translated into the same English word – SIN, it makes no sense?

Let’s be clear, and to put it simply we have one word that means “missing the mark” or “to err” and the other that means “an offence”. So we could say one is a mistake or a slip and the other is an deliberate error. This means, too, we have one word that means ‘sin’ and another word that means something else or something that would and does constitute being more than just a ‘sin’. Without any doubt, we are dealing here with a word that means something more serious than just an ordinary sin. Don’t get me wrong either, for I am not diminishing the seriousness of sinning in the ordinary sense of the word but, rather, highlighting that there is a sin known as ‘missing the mark’ or ‘erring’ that is different and far more serious than an ordinary sin.

OK, what makes it far more serious than ordinary sin? Well the answer is there isn’t it? It’s right there in the same verse; if we can see it of course – “after that we have received the knowledge of The Truth.”

Now what does this statement mean and what is “The Knowledge of The Truth?” Easy, it’s the knowledge of Yashua Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ), because Yashua Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ) is The Truth, but the meaning is dual and just like the Godhead, it is a duality; it carries two meanings. The first meaning is, as I’ve said, the knowledge of The Truth – the knowledge of Yashua Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ). In other words we, as sons and daughters of God come to know Yashua Messiah closely in a brotherly relationship – we know Him as a friend and know He is a real Spiritual Being so we have knowledge of Him as we would a brother – the knowledge of The Truth. The second part of this duality is again the knowledge of the truth, but this time we are dealing with the truth as living information or actual knowledge. The Truth, apart from Him being a Spiritual Being, is also the gospel message and Yashua Messiah said four times: “I tell you the truth” Luke 4:25; Luke 9:27; John 8:45; John 16:7, so Yashua Messiah was/is The Truth and He told us the truth as well – a dual meaning.

I trust now that you are beginning to see The Light of Truth shining from this verse. What Yashua Messiah, through the author of Hebrews, is saying here in Hebrews 10:26 is that if we “miss the mark” or “err” we have committed the more serious sin of deliberately turning away from Him or turning our backs on Yashua Messiah and, notice, after having gained knowledge of Him in both senses. To sin wilfully literally means to stop believing in Him and in His True Message – The Truth. This means we turn our backs on Him or reject Him completely as our Brother, Friend and Saviour. This also means we cut any Spiritual family tie that we had with Him from the beginning and disassociate ourselves from Him. This takes the form of us then, by default, becoming His enemies. Notice in the next verse: Hebrews 10:27:

Hebrews 10:27 (KJV) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the (His) adversaries. (Brackets and emphasis mine)

Here we can see that those who turn away from Yashua Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ) or “miss the mark” or “err” will become or do become Yashua Messiah’s adversaries and/or enemies. How do they do that? Like this:

John 6:65-66 (KJV) And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that [time] many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.

(Please note the word ‘time’ in verse 66 is a useless gratuitous addition of the KJV translators so I have removed it with square brackets)

Now notice very carefully what is going on here, they walked no more with Him – they rebelled and sinned wilfully, but why? Well the reason is right there, isn’t it? They could not accept The Truth that The Father had called them to Yashua Messiah – they were full of pride, vanity and arrogance, thinking that it was THEIR decision and THEIR decision ALONE to follow Yashua Messiah. This means that they could boast and pat themselves on the back and tell each other what clever people they were to have made this decision of their own volition.

In the future, armed with this rebellious mind set and vanity they would start their counterfeit Christian Religion and oppose the Assemblies of God. They would speak against Him and begin to oppose Him; how and with what? Well not outright in open rebellion. Oh no, they are far too crafty for that. However, if we think about this and we’re honest we know don’t we? They would oppose Him with the subtleties of their religion, their Christian religious nonsense and a false gospel; a gospel that’s not a gospel at all. Again, they would sin wilfully or deliberately by preaching the bad news of salvation by works or self-improvement under their own strength and will power. Thereby replacing simple belief and faith in Him under His Grace with meaningless religious form, obedience, rituals and vain traditions – Biblically known as the “traditions of men”. In other words they would kill His Grace.

Moreover, this sin, which is described as wilful sin, is the same sin that the Pharisees were guilty of in the first century. They believed in ‘getting right with God’ through religion, religious observances, Sabbath Days and law keeping and that is exactly what the Christian Religion does today in the 21st century. Two thousand years have passed religious Christians by and they haven’t learnt a thing; zilch; zero; absolutely nothing about their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – Yashua Messiah and what He has truly done for them; i.e. EVERYTHING!!

In a follow-up article to this one I will explain how ‘The Unpardonable Sin’ is not the unpardonable sin, so be ready for a few pleasant surprises if you are plagued by fear through the blasphemous miss-teaching of this Holy Scripture. Well I do preach The Good News so what do you expect – unpleasant surprises!?

In the meantime if you have any doubts about what you are being ‘taught’ in church or are a victim of spiritual abuse and are plagued by guilt and fear then feel free to leave an anonymous comment below, and I will endeavour to set you free and into Yashua Messiah’s Glorious Grace.

What Does it Mean: To Sin Wilfully – Part 2 – The Unpardonable Sin?

OK, I mentioned this man made phenomenon known as ‘The Unpardonable Sin’ in part one, but there are very few people who understand what it’s all about. To my knowledge, it is only the sect known as “Christian Universalists” who have a good understanding of it. Am I advocating that we all join them in their little group? No, not at all, because even though they have this wonderful knowledge they have made the fatal mistake of becoming just another schism or another demon-ination (denomination or division). We should never do this i.e. give ourselves divisive identifying tags, names or titles. Yashua Anointed (The Lord Jesus Christ) left us with all the names and titles we need to be identified by: The Elect or The Ecclesia; His Saints; His Messengers; His Witnesses; Elders; Pastors; Teachers; The Church of God; The Brethren or brothers and sisters of Yashua Anointed; His friends; a royal priesthood; a peculiar people and future Kings, and that’s just about it. All these names and titles should help to bind us together as part of the like-mindedness that Yashua Anointed asked of us, through Paul. Any other name that man dreams up does the opposite; it drives a wedge between the Brethren and splits them up into arguing factions.

So what is so special about Christian Universalism and Christian Universalist teaching? Well, nothing and everything really, it’s just that they have been blessed with God given knowledge, as all sons and daughters of God should be. All they have done is read and understand The Holy Scriptures correctly which any true son of God should be able to do through the empowerment of Yashua Anointed (The Lord Jesus Christ) in them via His Holy Spirit. This true knowledge comes from knowing the Godhead intimately. From knowing that they are a Godhead of Love, Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness and not a Godhead of tyranny and permanent wrathfulness as the creatures of the Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion would have us believe. Fundamentally, (and this is real fundamentalism for you) Christian Universalists, like me, believe in the eventual total redemption of all mankind i.e. every single man, woman and child that has ever lived. At this point, I will also add that I believe this all encompassing redemption also includes miscarried and aborted foetuses.

Now to begin this explanation of ‘The Unpardonable Sin’ versus the total redemption of all mankind, we need to go to the ‘end’ of the story, only in Truth it’s not the end at all. Let’s go there now to the last verse of Holy Scripture:

Revelation 22:21 (KJV) The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

And now the Greek MSS transliteral:

Revelation 22:21 The Grace of The Master Jesus with all.

Can you see the difference between these two renderings? If not, I will explain; 1) the KJV, has an ‘Amen’ and 2) the original Greek rendering does not. What’s that got to do with anything I hear you say? Everything. The added ‘Amen’ is just that, an addition and yet what does Yashua Anointed (The Lord Jesus Christ) warn us about in a previous verse of Revelation?

Rev 22:18 (KJV) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

Rather them than me, that’s all I can say to this revelation, but this is just an aside to what I am explaining here. This reality of the added ‘Amen’ tells us that these people wanted us to believe that Revelation 22:21 was it – that’s it, finish – kaput – the end and nothing more, but that is a lie for there is no end to the Kingdom of God or the things of the Godhead. In fact, the end of Revelation is just the beginning of Yashua Anointed’s glorious reign for all eternity and that is why there should be no ‘Amen’ at the end of the Book of Revelation.

Luke 1:33 (KJV) And He shall reign over The House of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.

Isaiah 9:7 (KJV) Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon The Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of The LORD of Hosts will perform this.

There is no end to Yashua Anointed’s (The Lord Jesus Christ’s) governance nor to His Kingdom; it will go on for all eternity so there are no ‘Amen’s’.

If we now work back through Revelation 22 we find another verse that needs special attention:

Revelation 22:14-15 (KJV) Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to The Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

And in the Greek MSS transliteral:

Revelation 22:14 Happy the ones-plunging (rinsing or washing) the robes of them that it shall be the authority (licence) on the wood of the life and to the gates they may into coming the city.

Notice first, the word ‘commandments’ is not there in the Greek transliteral rendering which immediately tells us this is a translation corruption; happy are they that wash their robes because spotless robes mean purity and perfection. For only those wearing spotless robes can enter through the gates of the New Jerusalem (God’s Kingdom) or those Born of God (Born Again) through water Baptism and receiving the gift of The Holy Spirit i.e. those saved by Yashua Anointed’s Glorious Grace, which in turn makes them perfect and sinless:

1 John 3:9 (KJV) Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit sin; for His Seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In verse 15 of Revelation 22 we get down to the nitty-gritty of this passage of Holy Scripture, and notice what types of people are still without the gates of the New Jerusalem on the new earth: dogs (Judaisers; salvation by works types and Law keepers and creatures of the Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion), and sorcerers, (wizards, witches, and mediums) and whoremongers (the sexually perverted), and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie (bankers, politicians, CEOs, company directors, attorneys, solicitors, lawyers, judges, policemen, bailiffs, doctors and accountants etc. etc. etc.).

Even at this stage, which is after the end of the millennial reign of Yashua Anointed (The Lord Jesus Christ) on earth for a thousand years, we still have rebellious people who cannot enter God’s Kingdom. Hu-mankind is still rebelling against The Godhead but, notice, there is no mention of hell or burning torment here, just a load of people without the Kingdom of God, so what’s going on here? If this is the end of the story then The Father and The Son have failed. The Father has set up His Son’s Kingdom and actually come down out of heaven with a new heaven and new earth to make His home with men and yet some people are still in rebellion against Them, so what gives?

Right, now here’s where we look at another Holy Scripture to add a new dimension to the above Holy Scriptures and add the thrust of this article – ‘The Unpardonable Sin’.

Matt 12:31-32 (KJV) Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against The Holy Ghost (Spirit) shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against The Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against The Holy Ghost (Spirit), it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world (age), neither in the world (age) to come.

Here we can see from the KJV that Yashua Anointed (The Lord Jesus Christ) is stating quite clearly that any man who, and notice, speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven – ever, but is this true, and is He actually saying that? As I have shown above we do not know how many ages there are to come in the future, because the Book of Revelation is open ended and there is no end to the Kingdom of God. Moreover, it’s Eternal and goes on forever and we can only surmise how many ages it will be divided into – if any. If we look now at Matthew 12:32 carefully and check in the Greek MSS we find that the word ‘world’ is translated from the Greek word ‘Aion’ which means ‘age’, so the accurate translation should read: “neither in this age, neither in the age to come.”

So what Yashua Anointed was actually saying is this: he or she who speaks against The Holy Spirit will receive no forgiveness for their sins in this age i.e. until Yashua Anointed’s return, nor in the age to come i.e. in the thousand year millennium here on this earth. That’s two ages, for those of you who were not counting and that’s all Yashua Anointed was referring to. However, when He spoke those words in Matthew 12:32 i.e. with reference to two ages to come, what do we find in Revelation 22:21? We find another age – the age of the New Jerusalem, the New Earth and the New Heaven – a third age and this is when those who spoke against The Holy Spirit will be given their chance to repent and be forgiven.

In Revelation 20 we find the commencement of this age with The Second Resurrection where all those who were not part of The First Resurrection are raised physically alive, not Spiritually alive, to a new life, a fresh start and a chance to learn anew.