A lot of people make a distinction between sin and deliberate or "willful" sin, as if there's accidental sin that's of less consequence. The common verse quoted is Hebrews 10:26 as an attempted proof-text to show that if you willfully sin after being saved, Jesus' sacrifice no longer applies to you.
Hebrews 10:26 (ESV)
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
This verse is being used wildly out of context trying to imply that "willful" sin as opposed to accidental(mistake), and there no longer being a sacrifice for sins meaning Jesus' sacrifice is removed from you.
The Wider Context
The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were a shadow of good things to come. However, they could never make those who brought them perfect — because the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.
The Law Was a Shadow
Hebrews 10:1 (ESV)
“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities,
it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”
These sacrifices were ongoing — year by year continually — and yet they could never make the comers perfect.
The Blood of Animals Could Never Remove Sin
Hebrews 10:4 (ESV)
“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
The sacrificial system was always meant to point forward to something greater. And that “something” was the sufficient, acceptable, once-for-all offering of Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ Sacrifice Was Once for All
Hebrews 10:14 (ESV)
“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
Christ’s one offering perfected forever those who are sanctified — not temporarily, but eternally. Once a person is saved by trusting in Christ’s offering, that person is positionally sanctified forever.
That means those who have believed on Christ and accepted His offering for sin are eternally secure.
No More Need for Sacrifice
The continual sacrifices that were offered year by year are now unnecessary because of the superior sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19 (ESV)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,”
Believers now have boldness — confidence — to enter into the holiest place, not by animal blood, but by the blood of Jesus.
And the audience here are born-again believers. That’s key.
They are being encouraged to hold fast to their faith — to stand firm in what they’ve believed.
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
What About Hebrews 10:26?
Let’s look carefully at this next part — because this is where misunderstanding often comes in.
Hebrews 10:26–27 (ESV)
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”
Now watch what follows:
Hebrews 10:28–29 (ESV)
“Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God,
and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?”
So what’s being warned against here?
This is a warning to Hebrew believers who, after having received the knowledge of the truth, were tempted to willfully return to animal sacrifices.
Going back to the old system — after having believed in Christ — would be like:
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Trampling underfoot the Son of God
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Counting the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing
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Doing despite to the Spirit of grace
This is not about losing salvation. It’s about rejecting the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice — and drawing back to a system that could never perfect anyone.
Divine Chastisement — Not Loss of Salvation
This would provoke God to discipline — not cast them away, but to chasten them severely.
Hebrews 10:30 (ESV)
“For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’”
Notice — “His people.”
This is not a threat to unbelievers. This is a warning to God’s people, that if they reject what Christ has done and draw back to the old system, God Himself will judge them — not by eternal condemnation, but by discipline.
Hebrews 12:5–11 (ESV)
"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.'It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons.
For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated,
then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Why This Warning?
These Hebrew believers were facing great affliction and reproach for trusting in the offering of Christ. Some were tempted to draw back and cast away their confidence.
So God, through the writer of Hebrews, is urging them:
Don’t turn back. Don’t give up. Don’t return to something inferior.
The blood of bulls and goats never saved anyone.
But the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ perfects forever those who are sanctified.
In Conclusion
These passages are in no way implying that a believer can lose their salvation if they sin willfully after receiving eternal life.
Instead, this is a specific warning to Hebrew believers tempted to draw back to animal sacrifices, which have been made obsolete by the blood of Christ.
To do so would be an offense to God and would provoke Him to severe divine chastisement — not the loss of salvation.