How Can A Believer Find Assurance From God After Willfully Falling Into Sin?
Q: Last night I willingly sinned and fell into lust and watched some inappropriate things I’m not proud about. I keep hearing Hebrews 10:26 flash in my mind, and I just feel so far from God. After willfully falling into sexual sin, how should a believer understand Hebrews 10:26 without losing assurance or hope?
Hebrews 10:26 – For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
A: Let me just remind you of what Jesus said about our sins. 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That can be you. The mere fact that you’re convicted over your sin is something good, and wonderful, and powerful. Take peace and rest in the fact that you are convicted. You have a problem with this. You don’t want it to be this way. This shows you that the Spirit of God is operating in your life. Listen, it’s good that you feel terrible about it. Your response is a demonstration of the fact that the Spirit of God is actually working in your life in a great and legitimate way.
Father, we just pray for our brother and ask that he would trust in You and receive the forgiveness that You promised to the repentant, to those who confess their sin. We ask that You’d give him a better ground in his life for future victory over such temptations. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.