Does God's forgiveness have it's limits?

[Samual]

I constantly struggle with committing the exact same sin over and over again. Full aware that I'm doing it, regretting it afterwards, and then doing it again. I try to break it, but it's such an old habit I continuously fall back in. I remember reading in Hebrews that if you remain in the same sin, there remains no sacrifice for you. Does this mean that God's forgiveness comes with a limit. And eventually he may reject your repentance because you continuously fall into the same circle?

 

[jsr1221]

You're going to have A LOT of people start to argue with each other, and shift away from your original post. Just be aware of that, as there are already three threads simultaneously debating "Once Saved Always Saved." As for your question, I believe it doesn't. Romans 3:23-24 touches on this where it says we all sin and God declares us not guilty, as if we trust fully in Jesus, He takes away our sin. We must be honest with Him, and not try to hide from Him. God loves and wants what's best for us, and what's best is being with Him.

 

[damombomb]

You can overcome this by the blood of Jesus.

 

[dcontroversal]

Where sin abounds grace did much more abound.........

 

[Magenta]

I constantly struggle with committing the exact same sin over and over again. Full aware that I'm doing it, regretting it afterwards, and then doing it again. I try to break it, but it's such an old habit I continuously fall back in. I remember reading in Hebrews that if you remain in the same sin, there remains no sacrifice for you. Does this mean that God's forgiveness comes with a limit. And eventually he may reject your repentance because you continuously fall into the same circle?

You do it because you want to. If you truly want to stop, give it to God, and let Him look after it.

 

[wattie]

Have a look at the context of the Hebrews verse. Surrounding it is the comparison between the old covenant and the new. So what did Israel do in the old covenant..?

They made sacrifices for sin by animal offerings.

So in hebrews they are being admonished not to go backwards to trying to keep the old covenant but embrace Jesus new way of service to Him.

So when believers get caught in deliberate sin they cant go and offer a burnt sacrifice. That no longer remains. What they need to do is lean on Jesus and think on His Word.

Jesus sacrifice was once for all. If no longer a sacrifice meant no more payment for your sin then that means Jesus lied when he promised to give ETERNAL LIFE

 

[Willie-T]

Matt Slick, the creator of another forum I sometimes look in on had this to say. I copied it because I think he got real close.

The Book of Hebrews was, of course, written to the Hebrew people. Though the author of Hebrews is unknown (many suspect it was Paul), the writer obviously had an exhaustive knowledge of the Old Testament since a great many Old Testament themes and citations are used. Therefore, it seems that the writer of Hebrews is addressing those Jews who had knowledge not only of the Old Testament but also of the work of Christ.

The Jews of Jesus’ time had seen Him carry out His ministry. They knew of the miracles and of the teachings of Jesus. Undoubtedly they had encountered Christ's disciples and/or the apostles and had received the knowledge of the truth about Jesus, His being the Messiah, His sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. Therefore, to go on sinning willfully after receiving such knowledge means that the Jews would be rejecting the sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, there is no sacrifice for sins that remain--because that is the only sacrifice God had provided by which anyone could be saved. So, those who deliberately reject Jesus as the Messiah have no remaining sacrifice for their sins.

Can a Christian be guilty of Heb. 10:26?

Can a Christian commit such willful sin that he no longer has a sacrifice for sins? The answer is no since Jesus has told us in John 10:27-28 that all to whom He has given eternal life will never perish. Also, 1 John 2:19 says that those who leave the faith were never believers to begin with. So again, Hebrews 10:26 is most probably discussing the issue of the Hebrews who knew full well who Christ was as well as His work and sacrifice and yet continued to walk in their sinful and rebellious ways by rejecting the sacrifice that God had provided.

 

[Samual]

You do it because you want to. If you truly want to stop, give it to God, and let Him look after it.

I do want to do it. And that's exactly what I'm trying to break

 

[dcontroversal]

I do want to do it. And that's exactly what I'm trying to break

You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you in the inner man friend!<--things that pertain to godliness and righteousness that is!

 

[Samual]

Matt Slick, the creator of another forum I sometimes look in on had this to say. I copied it because I think he got real close.

The Book of Hebrews was, of course, written to the Hebrew people. Though the author of Hebrews is unknown (many suspect it was Paul), the writer obviously had an exhaustive knowledge of the Old Testament since a great many Old Testament themes and citations are used. Therefore, it seems that the writer of Hebrews is addressing those Jews who had knowledge not only of the Old Testament but also of the work of Christ.

The Jews of Jesus’ time had seen Him carry out His ministry. They knew of the miracles and of the teachings of Jesus. Undoubtedly they had encountered Christ's disciples and/or the apostles and had received the knowledge of the truth about Jesus, His being the Messiah, His sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. Therefore, to go on sinning willfully after receiving such knowledge means that the Jews would be rejecting the sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, there is no sacrifice for sins that remain--because that is the only sacrifice God had provided by which anyone could be saved. So, those who deliberately reject Jesus as the Messiah have no remaining sacrifice for their sins.

Can a Christian be guilty of Heb. 10:26?

Can a Christian commit such willful sin that he no longer has a sacrifice for sins? The answer is no since Jesus has told us in John 10:27-28 that all to whom He has given eternal life will never perish. Also, 1 John 2:19 says that those who leave the faith were never believers to begin with. So again, Hebrews 10:26 is most probably discussing the issue of the Hebrews who knew full well who Christ was as well as His work and sacrifice and yet continued to walk in their sinful and rebellious ways by rejecting the sacrifice that God had provided.

So in other words we come right back to blaspheming the Holy Spirit, rejecting his teaching and saying he's the devil

 

[atwhatcost]

I constantly struggle with committing the exact same sin over and over again. Full aware that I'm doing it, regretting it afterwards, and then doing it again. I try to break it, but it's such an old habit I continuously fall back in. I remember reading in Hebrews that if you remain in the same sin, there remains no sacrifice for you. Does this mean that God's forgiveness comes with a limit. And eventually he may reject your repentance because you continuously fall into the same circle?

How good were you at turning a new leaf on your life before coming to Christ? Not very, I assume. What changed? Christ?

Bingo! You are sticking with an old habit, but not the one you're focusing on. You're old habit is "I can do this, Lord. Let me try." It didn't work before you knew him. It doesn't work now.

New habit: "I can't do this, Lord. Help me! Give me what I need just for now." And when he does, keep asking. "Give us this day our daily bread" means something. It's not "give us a week's worth of bread." Why not? Because if we stay away from him while we enjoy the bread for the whole week, we go right back to "Look what I can do," without realizing we never did it. Only God does. So, stop counting on you and keep taking it to God. If day by day doesn't work, hour by hour. If that doesn't work, moment by moment. It is he who strengthens us, not we who do.

Take the focus off you. (Does God's forgiveness have limits?) Put the focus on him. (Help me to be who you want me to be, Lord.)

 

[Samual]

How good were you at turning a new leaf on your life before coming to Christ? Not very, I assume. What changed? Christ?

Bingo! You are sticking with an old habit, but not the one you're focusing on. You're old habit is "I can do this, Lord. Let me try." It didn't work before you knew him. It doesn't work now.

New habit: "I can't do this, Lord. Help me! Give me what I need just for now." And when he does, keep asking. "Give us this day our daily bread" means something. It's not "give us a week's worth of bread." Why not? Because if we stay away from him while we enjoy the bread for the whole week, we go right back to "Look what I can do," without realizing we never did it. Only God does. So, stop counting on you and keep taking it to God. If day by day doesn't work, hour by hour. If that doesn't work, moment by moment. It is he who strengthens us, not we who do.

Take the focus off you. (Does God's forgiveness have limits?) Put the focus on him. (Help me to be who you want me to be, Lord.)

You'd be right to assume I wasn't a very good person before turning to Christ. I was what I like to call a hypocritical christian. When asked, I would say Jesus was my savior but I don't think I ever really gave God glory in anything and for me it was all about the worldly pleasures and I think to this day I still struggle with letting some of them go. I pray and ask him for the strength to resist the temptations but I feel myself falling back into the same patterns, and I think maybe I didn't ask the right way. Seeing what you have to say has shown me what it really means to PRAY to God. It's not about I need this so much as thank you for this

 

[mystdancer50]

The only time God's forgiveness has a limit is when one does not repent. When one does not seek forgiveness, they cannot be forgiven.

Saying that, one must also realize that when one repents without repenting (in other words, just says they're sorry to keep themselves from hell, fully intending to sin again in the same way), that is the same as crucifying Christ over and over and over again. We all struggle with sins and addictions and anyone that pompously says they do not are lying. When we are set free from a bondage, we notice another one that must be dealt with. As others said, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I had a sin that was destroying me. I wanted so desperately to be free. Yet, apparently, I wanted it on my terms. Therefore, I remained bound, lost, and miserable. One day, after I'd committed the same sin again, I fell on my face on the floor and cried out, with tears streaming down my face, "I'm so sorry, God!" Immediately, I felt peace. It was so forceful that I actually stopped crying and looked up and around. Foreign and strange, the weight of shame and despair rose from me. I decided that couldn't be "right", so I began crying out to God again. "I already forgave you," He said, "You asked and I've forgiven you. Now, get up and move on." He showed me that day that the beating myself up when I'm genuinely repenting was a form of self-abuse so that I would feel like I repented enough to be forgiven. One doesn't need to beg God to forgive them. They just need to repent.

Later, after giving into this sin again, I was listening to the song While I'm Waiting and I realized that I wanted to wait on God and serve Him without being in the bondage to that sin anymore. At that point, I realized that I wanted God and a relationship with Him without the sinful acts I'd been committing. I wanted Him MORE than the sin. That was the day that I was fully set free.

There will come a day when you will chose to be set free according to His terms, rather than your own. You will choose to surrender fully to Him and the sinful things of this world will lose their power. You will want Him more than the bondage you've clung to for so long. It's beautiful when that happens.

Now, I'm free from that bondage, yet I still have other sins that I now have to deal with. Mainly, my attitudes. But, each day, with grace, mercy, and love, I face the sins of attitude and I seek to be more and more like Christ.

 

[Standing]

I constantly struggle with committing the exact same sin over and over again. Full aware that I'm doing it, regretting it afterwards, and then doing it again. I try to break it, but it's such an old habit I continuously fall back in. I remember reading in Hebrews that if you remain in the same sin, there remains no sacrifice for you. Does this mean that God's forgiveness comes with a limit. And eventually he may reject your repentance because you continuously fall into the same circle?

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.
He will never leave you.
Sin died at the cross you know!
However it is possible to grieve Holy Spirit as He dwells inside of you....
Keep on trying to be Christlike - be His twin

Just keep on praying and asking for God to help you, and bless you with overcoming, as we do right now. In Jesus name. Amen

He knows your heart.....He will help coz you are His beloved

 

[breno785au]

I constantly struggle with committing the exact same sin over and over again. Full aware that I'm doing it, regretting it afterwards, and then doing it again. I try to break it, but it's such an old habit I continuously fall back in. I remember reading in Hebrews that if you remain in the same sin, there remains no sacrifice for you. Does this mean that God's forgiveness comes with a limit. And eventually he may reject your repentance because you continuously fall into the same circle?

I know what your feeling, had it for years, couldn't break it. Condemnation didn't work, depression didn't work, anger at myself didn't work, waiting for God to wave the 'magic wand' didn't work, self pity didn't work, trying harder to stop didn't work. I found only one thing worked...

I stopped trying and by God's mercy He showed me it's all in His finished work on the cross. You've probably heard that a thousand times plus one but once that becomes revelation to you in your spirit, it changes everything! It gives you peace and joy, you don't even want to go back to it. Sure, you'll be tempted too but His joy is our strength.

No, I don't believe God has, nor will give up on you. He has invested too much into just dropping you where you fall short (we fall short in many things, some are just more obvious) that is why we need Him, He is patient, He is kind, He is merciful and is lowly of heart.

Father, I pray for Samual that you would help Him, as you have helped me. I am not special and You are no respector of persons. You know everything about him, you have numbered the very hairs on his head. Father, by Your Holy Spirit I ask that you would reveal to Samual more and more what You Son Jesus Christ did for us on that cross and how much it is relevant to us in our walk with You daily. Father, continue to lavish You love on Him, may he be encouraged that you are still with Him even when He falls short. There are times when we feel we have let go of you but You won't let go of us. Thank you Jesus for Your work You have done for us that we may be one with You. Bless him Father, bless Him with your presence, thank you that You hear us Father even in our greatest time of need.

 

[oldthennew]

1JOHN 3:18-19-20-21-22-23-24.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in Deed and in Truth.

And hereby we know that we are of the Truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His Commandments,
and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

And this is His Commandment, That we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ,
and love one another, as He gave us Commandment.

And he that keeps His Commandments dwells in Him, and He in him.
And hereby we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.

5:4.
For whatsoever is born of God over-comes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world,
even our Faith.

20.
And we know that the Son of God is come,, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him
that is True, and we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the True God, and Eternal Life.

21.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. AMEN.

 

[Elysian]

I constantly struggle with committing the exact same sin over and over again. Full aware that I'm doing it, regretting it afterwards, and then doing it again. I try to break it, but it's such an old habit I continuously fall back in. I remember reading in Hebrews that if you remain in the same sin, there remains no sacrifice for you. Does this mean that God's forgiveness comes with a limit. And eventually he may reject your repentance because you continuously fall into the same circle?

You mention you struggle with the sin and regret it afterwards -what you described is repentance or godly sorrow,which is good.I struggle with the same problem.We all slip up now and then and it's usually with the same sin,if you have repentance then you have forgiveness but remember you can feed the spirit or you can feed the flesh,starve the spirit and the flesh will only get stronger,your in my prayers tonight.

 

[notuptome]

Psalms 119:9 ¶ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 ¶ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 ¶ Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

To be strong and resist sin you must feed your soul on the word of God. As you grow you will win the victory. You cannot succeed in your strength but only through the strength of Christ.

We are told when we are offended to forgive seventy time seven so how much more will our Father in heaven forgive us?

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[prodigal]

Psalm 43King James Version (KJV)

43 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

 

[Willie-T]

So in other words we come right back to blaspheming the Holy Spirit, rejecting his teaching and saying he's the devil

Yes, I think so. Something certain Jews were doing. But something a Christian won't be doing. And certainly NOT anything you are doing.