Will God Take me Back?

Question:

I read your answer to the person who left there church and then went back. Their question is one that has weighed heavily on my mind these past few weeks. You see I was raised in the church of Christ and my dad is a preacher. I know the bible, I know what it says and I agree with what you wrote.

However here is my question that I hope you can help me with. Hebrews 10:26 and following talks about the person who learns the truth and then turns away. It says at the end of the chapter the God is a consuming fire, it also says in there that it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the Lord. I am truly sorry for what I have done. For awhile I tried to ignore God and all that I have been taught and believe. I couldn't do it, but I still feel terrible mostly because more than once I turned away from God for worldly things and desires.

I believe now that I am stronger than before only with the help of God. What scares me is the part in Hebrews 10 that says there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin to the one who learned and turned
away. I can tell you that right now I want more than anything to go to Heaven and be with Jesus and to teach and bring as many with me as possible. I want to do this out of love and because I don't want anyone to suffer eternal punishment when its all said and done. I am a strong believer that I have to teach as many souls as possible, all that I meet. But I haven't always lived that life. I was baptized
for the remission of sins in Christ Jesus our Lord who died for us, but I later turned away and came back, but I repeated the leaving and coming back. I am more sincere now than ever as well as
stronger since I am now into more Christian fellowship and everyday Bible study. However I still can't help but question Hebrews10.

I guess what I'm asking is am I OK? Does God hear me?

Submitted by AH on April 21, 1999.

Answer:  (Answered by Bro. Jon Mullins)

I would like to start my answer to you by saying thank you once again for your patience in awaiting an answer from me. I do appreciate so much more than you know being able to answer your concerns.

In reviewing your original message, I directed my attention to the passages of scripture that you referenced. As I read Hebrews Chapter 10, and specifically verses 26, 27 and 31, I discovered one small two-letter word that is the key to the answer that you seek. This word is found in the 26th verse and it is the word 'if'. As you are aware, the simple word if is a conditional word, and whether or not we do, say or think something will determine the consequences for our actions. In a positive light, and in regards to God and His commandments, if we are faithful to follow His commandments and to do His
will, then He is faithful to reward (bless) us both here on earth and in eternity in Heaven with Him. Of course, the opposite condition also applies that if we do not continue in His will, then He will not bless us in this life, nor will we be with Him in Heaven throughout eternity.

The word if cannot be considered by itself in this verse. As I continued to read verse 26, I saw that the next three words, also two letter words, but highly powerful, determine the conditional statement of the entire verse.  These words, "we go on" combined with the if in front of them tell us that if we continue to do these things then we no longer have a sacrifice for our sins. This is the negative aspect of the conditional statement made by the small word if. The positive, although not stated in the verses that you bring out, therefore made by inference is that if we do not go on sinning willfully (we return to God and repent) we will be entitled to the sacrifice that was made for our sins. Since you state that you were raised in the church of Christ, I know that you are aware that this sacrifice for our sins was Jesus
Christ giving His life on the cross, and His shed blood.

I hope that this helps you to understand the context of these passages a little more clearly, but I do want to address your concerns in a little more detail with some references in regards to the forgiveness of God, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. For the benefit of your understanding, any scripture quoted is taken from the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

First of all, let me assure you that if you are sincere in your repentance and your return to God, then God is faithful to forgive you, as His word states in I John 1:9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This verse in and of itself should be enough to make you rejoice in the fact that God has forgiven you if you have truly repented and returned to Him, as it sounds like from your letter that you have done. However, I would like you to consider the story of the Prodigal Son as related by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32. For brevity’s sake I will not type it here, but please do read it for yourself and again, rejoice. If you truly have repented, and returned to God, He has welcomed you back into His arms with all the love that He can give as your Heavenly Father, and awesome God! Please also read and consider what Christ says in Matthew 18:21-35 in consideration of God’s and our spiritual family’s forgiveness.

Another verse that I would like to bring to your attention, and not for my own glory, but in order to bring about the point that there must be an avenue to established to come back to God is Galatians 6:1. "Brethren, even if a man, is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the
spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Surely God does allow His children to return to Him, He desires all men everywhere to be saved, and I believe that repentance and confession of sin, and living life again within the light is His plan for us. I also believe that the confession of sin needs to only be as public as the sin is, but I am certain that the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ do help as we regain strength and a focus on loving and serving God.

All of us sin, and many Christians that I know and love have spent a part of their life away from God, some even years, and more than just one, for lack of a better word, "episode." I know that I have, in some ways turned away from God in the past, but found that life lived not completely faithful to
Him is not a very joyous existence. It sounds like you have discovered a similar situation in your life. I give God honor and glory for the opportunity to answer your question, because you have asked it at a time in my life where a renewed commitment to Him is underway. Thank you for your seeking heart, and for your desire to be pleasing to God. Thank you also for your honesty.

I would like to close with a reference to God’s word that I hope will encourage you to continue to grow spiritually, and find God’s blessings overflowing in your life. A familiar verse to you, I am sure is found in the book of Matthew, where Jesus talks of God’s provisions in chapter 6. He says in verse 33, "But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

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