Sin Management
The passage (up to v39) is clearly exhorting the readers to perservere. the writer sees that sin is an issue. he wants the readers to realise what a dreadful thing sin is. it's punishment is literally to be dreaded. 'Come on' he says later (ch 12:1-3) 'dont let sin get in the way of this glorious life God is offereing to us.' Here, in Ch 10 he wants us to consider the scrifice Jesus made to make our forgiveness possible. This is the theory of substitutionary punishement - he took in our place. it is the language of the temple: be assured that Jesus through his own sacrifice of blood can go into the holy of holies, where we can follow, knowing that we are washed clean of all that would defile us and make us unacceptible to God. A clear concience is esential if we are to enjoy being in the presence of God. Guilt is the barrier to the knowing the presence of God. Persistent sin becomes a greater barrier, because we are devaluing, diluting the sacrifice made for us. it was 'once and for all'
this is where i get stuck. Is there no forgiveness for persistent sin therefore? have we burnt our bridges by 'trampling the Son of God underfoot and insultingthe Spirit of Grace?' I suppose eventually this will happen. We will get so far doen the road of sin, of closing our hearts and minds to Jesus, that the barrier will be insurmountable. but it will be our choice, we will have brought judgement upon ourselves.
this is where i get stuck. Is there no forgiveness for persistent sin therefore? have we burnt our bridges by 'trampling the Son of God underfoot and insultingthe Spirit of Grace?' I suppose eventually this will happen. We will get so far doen the road of sin, of closing our hearts and minds to Jesus, that the barrier will be insurmountable. but it will be our choice, we will have brought judgement upon ourselves.
