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Hebrews 6 and the Loss of Salvation

yort

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Jul 21, 2009
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Troy a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does Hebrews 6:4-6 teach that a true believer can lose his salvation?

No. In that passage, the writer of Hebrews is speaking to the unsaved who have heard the truth and acknowledged it, but who have hesitated to embrace Christ. The Holy Spirit warns them, “You had better come to Christ now, for if you fall away it will be impossible for you to come again to the point of repentance.” They were at the best point for repentance–full knowledge. To fall back from that would be fatal.

Because they believe the warning is addressed to Christians, many interpreters hold that the passage teaches that salvation can be lost. If this interpretation were true, however, the passage would also teach that, once lost, salvation could never be regained. There would be no going back and forth, in and out of grace. But Christians are not being addressed, and it is the opportunity for receiving salvation, not salvation itself, that can be lost.

The believer need never fear he will lose his salvation. He cannot. The Bible is absolutely clear about that. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29; see also Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; and 1 Pet. 1:4-5).

If you are in Christ, rejoice. Your salvation is secure forever.

Amen

Troy
 
Outstanding Facts

1 Christians can backslide...tear down the foundation of repentance that is already laid. Should they ever again be admitted into the church, they will have to build again the foundation of repentance, and do their firstworks again....Heb 6: 1-2. Heb 2: 1-4. Rev 2:5

2 Christians can fully apostatize from Christ, completely reject Him and His atoning work, so that it is impossible to renew them again to repentance....Heb 6:4-9. Heb 10: 26-29. 2Peter 2: 20-22
 
Can a true believer lose his salvation?

When we make the decision to follow Christ we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, but we must persevere to the end to receive the final instalment of our salvation.

The following are all New Testament verses which indicate that in fact Christians may fall away from faith in Christ.

The warning in these verses is STAND FIRM, ABIDE, PERSEVERE, BEAR FRUIT, DO NOT BE DECEIVED and OVERCOME!!!


Matthew 10:22b ...he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:10-13 At that time many will turn away from the faith...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Luke 8:13 They believe for a while but in the time of testing they will fall away.

Luke 13:24 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

Luke 21:19 By standing firm you will gain life.

John 8:31b If you remain in my word you are truly my disciples.

John 15:2a He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. . .

John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown in the fire and burned.

Romans 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.

1 Corinthians 15:2 By this gospel you are saved if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Colossians 1:22-23 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death, to present you holy in his sight, without blemish, free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel...

1 Timothy 1:19 ...holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these [instructions] and so have shipwrecked their faith.

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits.

Hebrews 3:6b And we are [God’s] house if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Hebrews 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 6:4-12 ...we want each of you to show that same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure...

Hebrews 10:26-27

Hebrews 10:35-39 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised...we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

James 5:19 My brothers if one of you should wander from the truth...

2 Peter 2:20-21 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning...

2 Peter 3:17-18 Therefore dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...

2 John 8 Watch out [for deceivers] that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes...I will never blot out his name from the book of life...

:love:
evangeline
 
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No. In that passage, the writer of Hebrews is speaking to the unsaved who have heard the truth and acknowledged it, but who have hesitated to embrace Christ. The Holy Spirit warns them, “You had better come to Christ now, for if you fall away it will be impossible for you to come again to the point of repentance.” They were at the best point for repentance–full knowledge. To fall back from that would be fatal.

I wasn't aware that the letter to the Hebrews was written to unbelievers. do you have any scriptural or historical support?
 
The Truth is hid from the wise and prudent (i.e.scholastic achievers), therefore we must understand only through the Holy Spirit of Truth.
All other scriptures must always connect with what Christ tells us, which is, He (they) that endure(s) to the end shall be saved.
So when another scripture tells us we are saved by grace through faith; if we turn from faith, and become willfully unfaithful, then we are no longer enduring.
Or when another scripture tells us by hope we are saved; but if we change our hope and willfully hope in what we see, and no longer hope in what we cannot see, then we are no longer enduring.
As for being sealed, there is one who can break seals, when we willfully no longer endure.
We ought not to be caught up into presumption, which was the downfall of many in the Old Testament for our example as a warning.
 
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I wasn't aware that the letter to the Hebrews was written to unbelievers. do you have any scriptural or historical support?
The letter was written for both but was about the unbeliever.
Not only just non-believers but, St. Paul is talking about outright Apostasy. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
These times of Paul were hard for the early church, nothing like we can experience, except if you are an underground Christian Church somewhere like China or Iran for example, can you say persecution?!
One of the fastest growing areas of Christianity is from Muslim conversations. I can only imagine this is similar to what St. Paul experienced. St. Paul was constantly fighting Jewish infiltrators, spies that were intent on destroying the early church. Acting like Christians but destroying from within!
This was especially true of most of Paul's ministries because, this was predominately coming from the Jews hating the lowly Gentiles, not to even mention the Roman persecution of Christians. After all, St. Paul was beheaded by the Nero Regime.

What St.Paul, in Hebrews 6:4-6, is talking about is Apostasy of unbelievers, the outright rejection of Jesus as being the Messiah.
Paul is saying, that for true "Born-Again" believers, who "having been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift and become partakers of the Holy Spirit", it is impossible for you to fall away to the extent of committing Apostasy. That would be like coming back again and again and asking Jesus to be crucified and resurrected all over again! ... see verse 6. That could only happen to those who were not saved in the first place.
Many use these verses to argue against the term “once saved always saved", which the term is of course true. Once you are "Born-Again", God said that he will never leave you under any condition.

JOHN 3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be BORN AGAIN.
1 PETER 1
23 Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
PSALM 37
33 The LORD will not LEAVE him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
HEBREWS 13
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never LEAVE thee, nor forsake thee.

Yes believers can and do allow there on (fleshy) desires to corrode their connection with the Almighty. And then some read and miss-interpret Hebrews 6:4-6 and fall into the bondage of: I must not be saved, or God doesn't want me, I am worthless.
Look at Hebrews 10-26:
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Sin is one thing, we cannot escape it totally or there would be no need of the continual washing from Jesus blood but, to commit deliberate sin is for the Apostate and not the true believer.

Why does God call it being "Born-Again”? Because we have two births:
JOHN 3
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN OF WATER and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Both are actual births and you cannot be unborn from either one!


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To evangeline

Troy a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:23 & Luke 8:13

but he that endureth to the end shall be saved -- a great saying, repeated, in connection with similar warnings, in the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem (Mt 24:13); and often reiterated by the apostle as a warning against "drawing back unto perdition" (Heb 3:6, 13 Heb 6:4-6 Heb 10:23, 26-29, 38, 39, &c.). As "drawing back unto perdition" is merely the palpable evidence of the want of "root" from the first in the Christian profession (Lu 8:13), so "enduring to the end" is just the proper evidence of its reality and solidity.

Matthew 24:10-13: Note that the real context runs from 24:4-28.

Our Saviour cautions his disciples to stand on their guard against false teachers. And he foretells wars and great commotions among nations. From the time that the Jews rejected Christ, and he left their house desolate, the sword never departed from them. See what comes of refusing the gospel. Those who will not hear the messengers of peace, shall be made to hear the messengers of war. But where the heart is fixed, trusting in God, it is kept in peace, and is not afraid. It is against the mind of Christ, that his people should have troubled hearts, even in troublous times. When we looked forward to the eternity of misery that is before the obstinate refusers of Christ and his gospel, we may truly say, The greatest earthly judgments are but the beginning of sorrows. It is comforting that some shall endure even to the end. Our Lord foretells the preaching of the gospel in all the world. The end of the world shall not be till the gospel has done its work. Christ foretells the ruin coming upon the people of the Jews; and what he said here, would be of use to his disciples, for their conduct and for their comfort.

Luke 21:19;

In your patience. Rather by your perseverance. The word patience here means constancy or perseverance in sustaining afflictions.
"In your patience" Romans 5:3, Hebrews 10:36, James 1:4

Possess ye your souls. Some read here the future instead of the present of the verb rendered possess. The word possess means here to preserve or keep, and the word souls means lives. This passage may be thus translated: By persevering in bearing these trials you will save your lives, or you will be safe; or, by persevering preserve your lives, that is, do not yield to these calamities, but bear up under them, for he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Comp. Matthew 24:13.

John 15:6; This does not apply to "Once saved a;ways saved',you can understand this verse more by studying into the Isreals history in reference to the "Vine'.

Romans 11:21;

The Gentile has even more reason to fear than the Jew had. It was in itself far more probable that God would spare a people so long connected with him in the most peculiar manner, than that he should spare those who had no such claims on his mercy. The idea intended to be expressed by this verse probably is, that the Jews, from their relation to God, were more likely to be spared than the Gentiles, inasmuch as God is accustomed to bear long with the recipients of his mercy, before he casts them off; even as a father bears long with a son, before he discards him and adopts another.

1 Corinthians 10:12; Note there is alot more info on this verse, but I`m just relating that which shows that this verse isn`t refered to "Once saved always saved";

This indicates the apostle's aim in referring to the events in Israelite history. There is perpetual danger of falling. No degree of progress we may have already made, no amount of privilege which we may have enjoyed, can justify the lack of caution.

1 Corinthians 15:2; Has nothing to do with the subject.

Hebrews 3:6; 3:14; 6:4-12; Has nothing to do with the subject.

Now you`ve shun the thought or perhaps the idea of this in Hebrews 10:26-39.

And at first glance this does appear to give some type of creadite towards the statement that you can lose your salvation. Just to set the record sraight here, these verses are towards the apostate. Apostasy is the sin for which there is no forgiveness. There are five warnings in the Book of Hebrews, warnings to the intellectually convinced, who know that Christianity is true but have never committed themselves to it honestly and truly.And of those five warnings, this is by far the most terrifying and the most serious. In fact, it may be the most serious warning in all of the Scriptures.

For example, In the case of Saul, we have an example of an apostate, King Saul. I Samuel 15:11, "It repented me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me," said God. Amaziah, another example, II Chronicles 15, verse 14 and 27 say this. "Now it came to pass, that after Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them. Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah. They sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there."

James 5:19; If any one err from the truth - Practically, by sin. This really does not apply. We all sin even those that are saved but remember; If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (ASV)

2 Peter 2:20-21;You really need to read and study this whole chapter, for you are way out of context on your thinking here; look at their perversion in verses 20 to 22. There are words of strong judgment against them all through the passage, and here is the final blast of doom given. Verse 20, "For if they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first." Now in first reading that might not come crystal clear. Let me help you with it. The word "they" means the false teachers. If after the false teachers have escaped the defilements of the world. What does that mean? In what way have they escaped the defilements of the world?

This passage does not refer to the post that you presented.

2 Peter 3:17-18; Since ye know, he says, all that has been said above, and since you see that many false teachers must come people to lead the world astray and since scoffers as pervert the Scripture and will not understand it—take care of yourselves. Guard against them with diligence that ye fall not from your faith by reason of the doctrines of error. And grow, so as to become stronger from day to day by the steadfast practice and preaching of the Word of God. Here observe how great care the apostle shows for those who have come to faith, those who urged him even to write these two epistles, in which is fully comprehended what a Christian should know, besides also that which is to come. May God give his grace, that we also may lay hold of and retain it. Amen.

2 John 1:8; The truth which is taught here is one of interest to all Christians-that it is possible for even genuine Christians, by suffering themselves to be led into error, or by failure in duty, to lose a part of the reward which they might have obtained. The crown which they will wear in heaven will be less bright than that which they might have worn, and the throne which they will occupy will be less elevated. The rewards of heaven will be in accordance with the services rendered to the Redeemer; and it would not be right that they who turn aside, or falter in their course, should have the same exalted honours which they might have received if they had devoted themselves to God with ever-increasing fidelity. It is painful to think how many there are who begin the Christian career with burning zeal, as if they would strike for the highest rewards in heaven, but who soon waver in their course, and fall into some paralysing error, until at last they receive, perhaps, not half the reward which they might have obtained.

Rev 3:5; Theres alot on this verse but check it out for yourself; Again we`re at a subject that does not pretain the subject you posted about; blot out . . . name out of . . . book of life -- of the heavenly city. A register was kept in ancient cities of their citizens: the names of the dead were of course erased. So those who have a name that they live and are dead (Rev. 3:1), are blotted out of God's roll of the heavenly citizens and heirs of eternal life; not that in God's electing decree they ever were in His book of life. But, according to human conceptions, those who had a high name for piety would be supposed to be in it, and were, in respect to privileges, actually among those in the way of salvation; but these privileges, and the fact that they once might have been saved, shall be of no avail to them. As to the book of life, compare Rev. 13:8 Rev. 17:8 Rev. 20:12, 15 Rev. 21:27 Ex 32:32 Ps 69:28 Da 12:1. In the sense of the "call," many are enrolled among the called to salvation, who shall not be found among the chosen at last. The pale of salvation is wider than that of election. Election is fixed. Salvation is open to all and is pending (humanly speaking) in the case of those mentioned here. But Rev. 20:15 Rev. 21:27, exhibit the book of the elect alone in the narrower sense, after the erasure of the others.

My friend I`ve tried to my best to post according to scripture that you presented that gives the suggestion that one might lose his salvation, and yet I find no truth in it at all, not in the scripture , not in my heart. Alot of the things that you presented were out of context if not all, but I did see the writtings in Hebrews and Peter to represent the false teachings.

Pleases don`t take it the wrong way, sometimes people are just misinformed, I will pray that the light to be shined upon you in the course of you understanding the truth in this matter. Think about this verse and consider who the spirit would be referring to.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
John 10:27-29 (ASV)

Amen

Troy
 
I absolutely believe that no one can snatch a person away from Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ - and all that that entails!!!

It is only the person themself who can fall away from faith.

Troy, I am sure that you're responses are an honest evaluation on your part, but I am unsure why you've dismissed some of the verses as not being relevant to the subject. I think they are very relevant.

I believe salvation has a continuing and future aspect, which people will miss out on if they get sidetracked or fall away from faith.

Instant Salvation

The moment we put our faith in Jesus and turn to him for salvation we become members of God’s kingdom – citizens of heaven. We are rescued from Satan’s kingdom of darkness and death, and transferred into God’s kingdom of light and life.

At conversion, our spirits are regenerated (born again) in a moment, in a complete, single action; even if we are not aware of that precise moment. Our eternal life has begun. Our salvation is a done deal, so it would seem, with the Holy Spirit living inside us, testifying that we are truly children of God.

Continuing Salvation

But there is more to it than that. While many verses correctly speak about salvation in a past tense: “He rescued us…redeemed us…we have been saved“, there is also a continuing aspect to salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says that we are “being saved”, in a continuous, present tense.

We are continually being sanctified and (hopefully) becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. This is God's purpose for us and the goal of salvation (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 4:13).

Future Salvation

We need to endure to the end to ensure that our salvation is completed! Our salvation will be fully and finally complete when Jesus is revealed at his return to earth; or when we get to heaven. At that time, Christ will be fully formed in us. It is also then that are bodies will be finally redeemed (Romans 8:18-23).

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the his glorious body, by the exertion of the power he has, even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

18th century theologian, Jonathan Edwards, once said that every sermon was a “salvation sermon” not just if the aim was to convert “sinners”, but also if the aim was to encourage the devotion of Christians and confirm their calling; if it kept Christians persevering in their relationship with God, it was a salvation message.

So we must keep persevering in our Christian faith and walk with God, because, as the Apostle Paul said to the Christians in Rome, “…our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed!” Romans 13:11b.

Our salvation is guaranteed as long as abide by the “ifs” in the New Testament:

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word…otherwise you have believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:2

…if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel… Colossians 1:23

…if we hold on to our courage and the hope… Hebrews 3:6

We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first. Hebrews 3:14

…but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off… Romans 11:22


[I have adapted this response from my article "Instant Christianity?" which is on the internet.]
 
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