Premeditated Forgiveness

Premeditated Forgiveness

“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,

there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”    Hebrews 10:26

           This is probably one of the most difficult topics to write about that I have come across over the years.  I actually would prefer ending this right now, but I feel the Lord has directed me to share these Bible truths with my readers.  I truly intend on ending this on an encouraging note.

            Apostasy by definition is the disregarding of beliefs, or abandoning your religions convictions.  An example of this would be when a Christian turns away from God and becomes a Muslim or Buddhist.

            Another example is when a Christian knowingly turns away from what the Bible says in order to follow his own desires.  One early sign of heart apostasy is when one no longer wants to associate with true believers.  They gradually draw away from church and set their minds on worldly things.

            I John 2:19 says it best; “They had known the way of life, but had not chosen to avail themselves of it.”   If a person has any Bible knowledge, they know what sin is in the eyes of God. If one has attended church for a length of time, they know what sin is.  If you claim to be a Christian, you know what sin is. "Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." (James 4:17)

           Repentance, which means a deliberate change in life style, is usually very hard work. "Long hard obedience in the same direction," does not come easily for creatures of habit, accustomed to years of self-indulgence and the preservation of the status quo---creature comforts and luxury at all costs. We are told by our Lord, however, not only to turn away and flee from life-threatening sins but to take whatever radical steps may be necessary to guard ourselves from further failure, through accountability to others and to the church for example.

            I knew a couple who went to our church several years ago.  They attended every service and Bible study.  One day he told his wife he had met another woman and wanted a divorce.  She told him the Word of God said that would be a sin.  His answer was this, “I know, but after we are divorced and I marry this woman, then I’ll ask God to forgive me.”  This is called, ‘Premeditated Forgiveness’.  Listen to what God says about this in Proverbs 1:28-31, “I will not answer when they cry for help. Even though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen.”  God’s Word warn us of sin; things that we shouldn’t do.  This is not to make us unhappy, but to save us from the consequences to come. 

            Even ‘Christian’s’ see no problem in fulfilling their fleshly desires today, believing in the future that God will forgive them and then they will be okay.  If you ask people who are living in sin, how they justify what they are doing, and their answer is basically, “This is how people live today and no one thinks anything of it.”  They also believe they are still Christians, attend church and will go to heaven when they die.  The ‘Fear of God’ no longer exists in this world and that includes the ‘Christian community’.  “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth.”  I John 1:6

            I write this teaching as a warning to those who no longer believe it’s important to try to live by God’s Word, or no longer have the fear of the Lord.  The words may seem harsh, but I urge you to try to live a holy life.

           The Bible is also full of hope, even for those who premeditate their sin and forgiveness.  It’s not all that easy.  There is one word to follow and that word is: Repentance!  How can we really understand repentance?  We may think of the woman in the Bible who was caught in adultery and was going to be stoned, but Jesus forgave her and told her to go and sin no more.  However, it didn’t stop there; even if she never committed adultery again, she would no doubt be shunned the rest of her life, because of how she had previously lived.

            How about King David?  He was a violent man who committed adultery more than once.  He even had a woman’s husband killed because David had gotten her pregnant.  Yet, God called David a ‘man after his own heart’.  Why?  David learned the meaning of true repentance.  When he was confronted, he was truly sorry for what he had done.  He didn’t just say, “I’m sorry, God”.  He openly admitted his sin and cried out, “I alone have sinned, O, God!”  Did he get off that easy? Not at all.  The baby born of his adultery died, the temple God planned for him to build was never built and he was the target of many who wanted to kill him, including his own son, Absalom. 

            Yes, David satisfied his flesh rather than God and yet God forgave him.  Yet, the consequences of his sins followed him the rest of his life. 

            Yes, God loves you and will forgive you even of premeditated sin and forgiveness, but it’s not always easy.  If you are living in sin, believe what the Word of God says and turn away and sin no more.  Pray sincerely for God’s forgiveness.  Jesus will help you to walk away if you call on His name.