{"id":509,"date":"2015-04-12T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-12T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/?p=509"},"modified":"2015-04-23T17:50:36","modified_gmt":"2015-04-23T22:50:36","slug":"what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-effect-of-sin-on-your-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/2015\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-effect-of-sin-on-your-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"What does the Bible say about the effect of sin on your thinking?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

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 a fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26–27—NKJV)<\/cite> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There is a destructive force unleashed within when someone chooses to sin on purpose. Our text has a very specific meaning couched in the rich history of Moses\u2019 law. The author of the book of Hebrews wrote with the intention of demonstrating that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the righteousness required in Moses\u2019 law. No matter what Old Testament picture the author presents, Jesus Christ is the greater fulfillment (High Priest, sacrifice, etc.). Since the point of the truth of the Old Testament was that all righteousness and the satisfaction of the wrath of God due to our sin is found in Jesus Christ, God\u2019s Son, then anyone who does not receive and believe that truth is still caught in the web of his sin, condemned to hell (v. 27) as a consequence, and he is lost. <\/p>\n

The point of this passage is that if one is introduced to the truth in Christ (the actual sacrifice for sin pictured by all the Old Testament sacrifices) and rejects His sacrificial work as the payment for his sin, then there is no sacrifice for sin remaining for him. A careful study of the Old Testament shows that there was not a sacrifice designated as the sacrifice for willfully committed, premeditated, deliberate sin (Numbers 15:30f., Exodus 21:14). The sacrifices covered sins of omission and sins of commission, but there was nothing prescribed for willful rebellion. There where cities of refuge for killers who did so without intent to kill (Deuteronomy 19:11–13), but no refuge for murderers. It reminds us of the statement of Samuel, \u201cBehold, to obey is better than sacrifice\u201d (1 Samuel 15:22). <\/p>\n

Willful sin has no sacrifice because it is knowing rebellion against God (Psalm 52:16–17). This is not to say that the payment of Jesus Christ is not sufficient to pay for your willful sin and mine, else who would be redeemed among men? What God does say is that practiced, continual, willful sin in a self-professed believer is an indicator to all around him, and to his own conscience, that he is not born from above. 1 John 3:4–9 reads, \u201cWhoever [habitually, characteristically] commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness…whoever abides in Him does not [habitually] sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.\u201d <\/p>\n

As if these eternal consequences of willful sin were not enough, I believe the Bible also identifies more practical and day-to-day consequences that insidiously serve to dampen man\u2019s perception of sin and hamper any resolve to do right. These effects are as sure as night follows day. Willfully committing sin: <\/p>\n