Posted on 12/21/2013 11:13:29 AM PST by GonzoII
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Hebrews 6:4-6 reveals a rather unsettling truth: We can lose our state of grace and fall away from the Lord. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt. For those who teach what Calvinists call “the final perseverance of the saints,” this text presents real problems. Some will argue the above description only refers to people who “knew about the Lord,” but were never really saved to begin with. I have always wondered if those making that argument can really be satisfied with it. It seems the inspired author makes clear, almost to the point of redundancy, that he was speaking about those who have been saved and then “commit apostasy.” Another Protestant tack is to claim the author is presenting an impossible hypothetical. In other words, he’s saying it would be impossible to restore again to repentance one who had truly been baptized into Jesus Christ because it is impossible for such a person to fall away to begin with. This doesn’t work, either. The author is presenting a warning of the peril of falling away from the Lord. He would hardly warn his readers of something that is impossible to actually happen. Do Catholics Prove Too Much? Most “eternally secure” Protestants with whom I have spoken about these verses of Scripture end up acknowledging their case to be weak from the text alone. But when cornered, I have found almost invariably they attempt to turn the tables on me by claiming I prove too much as a Catholic. If this text is saying one can fall away, then it also says the one who falls away cannot be restored. This would be contrary to Catholic teaching. The greater context of the entire epistle gives us the answer to this apparent difficulty. Hebrews was written to… you guessed it… Hebrews. But more specifically to Hebrew Christians who were being tempted to go back to the Old Covenant priesthood, sacrifices, and other practices, like circumcision, in order to be saved. It is in this context—from start to finish—that the inspired author runs the gamut on Jewish belief showing how Christ is greater than and/or is the fulfillment of the entire Old Covenant. In chapters one and two, Jesus is revealed to be greater than the angels; he’s revealed to be God (see Hebrews 1:5-10). In chapters three and four, he is our true high priest, greater than Moses, and fulfillment of what the Sabbath symbolized (see 3:3; 4:2-11). In chapters five and seven, he is the antitype of Melchizadek (5:5-10; 7:11). In chapter eight, he is superior to and the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in establishing the New (8:8-13). In chapters nine and ten, he is superior to the temple and its sacrifices (9:23-24; 10:4-10). And it is in this context that the inspired author then exhorts his readers to endure the persecution that had already begun by this time (10:32-39). He calls them to “hold fast the confession of [their] hope without wavering” (10:23), and to remain faithful to the Church Jesus established rather than go back to an Old Covenant and its sacrifices that have no power to save (10:25-31; 12:18-25; 13:7-10). If we understand the greater context, we understand that the author of Hebrews is not saying it is impossible to be forgiven of the sin of apostasy; rather, it is impossible for those who “have tasted the heavenly gift” of the New Covenant and would then return to the Old Covenant to be saved. Why? Because they are trusting in a covenant, law, priesthood, sacrifice, and more that do not possess the power to save. They are returning to a well without water. If these same Hebrews, or by allusion anyone down through the centuries who may have apostatized, turn back to Christ and his Church trusting in the graces that alone come from the sacrifice of Christ, then of course they can be restored to a saving relationship with God. |
The Gospel truth is more important
It never ceases to amaze me at how many ill informed misinterpret and misapply Hebrews 6 to falsely insinuate born-again believers can somehow lose their salvation. A false premise which is totally foreign and contrary to the teachings and promises of the Word of God: John 3:16, 10:27-30; Romans 5:1, 8:1; 1 John 5:11-13...etc.
We are kept by the power of God, not our works
Our own works didnt gain us salvation, why do some people think our works will cause us to lose our salvation??
Acceptance of that act.
Apparently there's no Holy Spirit in your Christianity...
Whoever is teaching that is a liar and a deceiver. The "10 second prayer" involves accepting that one is a sinner, being remorseful for one's sins, and accepting Christ's free gift of salvation. Without repentance one is only muttering words. With repentance there is no "go back to your same old life".
Contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture regarding salvation, security and the doctrine of sanctification; this is always the “straw man argument” of the Arminian and of Arminianism.
Answer: Because sinful man would rather rely upon HIMSELF and his own so-called "good works", than to humble himself, bend his knee to the Lord Jesus Christ and to receive His offer of the free gift of salvation, "without cost".
Amen
>>Whoever is teaching that is a liar and a deceiver. The “10 second prayer” involves accepting that one is a sinner, being remorseful for one’s sins, and accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation. Without repentance one is only muttering words. With repentance there is no “go back to your same old life”.
I think we both know that there are a LOT of people who teach that doctrine. They say, “just say this prayer and you’ll be saved, and you will be changed.” For some who say that prayer with the right attitude in their heart, it is true. But for others, it becomes a barrier to true faith because they believe that they have done all they ever need to do. If you tell them that you have to do more, they respond with “that’s just works-based salvation.”
Salvation requires transformation and that takes time and repentance. God will do the work, but you have to let him. That’s where OSAS doctrine falls flat.
I understand your point, and I agree with most of it. However, I must make it clear that salvation is instantaneous. The moment one believes and repents that person is forgiven. What you are talking about is sanctification (transformation) and yes, that takes time and repentance because, let's face it, we continue to sin. Once saved always saved, properly understood, does not negate the process of sanctification.
>>Once saved always saved, properly understood, does not negate the process of sanctification.
What about the person who goes to a revival, and repents with every ounce of his being at the altar call and says the sinner’s prayer. Then, a couple days later, it wears off and he returns to his life of sin.
There has to be some transformation at the moment of justification, or the person will never begin the path to sanctification.
I think that the problem is the point that we define as our moment of justification. A person could reach that point without ever uttering a special prayer. And another person could try it 1000 times without ever having that transforming moment that enables him to begin walking towards sanctification.
Just look at John Wesley. He was a priest for years before he reached the point of justification and then he spent the rest of his life working towards Christian perfection.
Short answer: I trust God implicitly. Myself, not so much.
Wow! Are you sure you understand what being saves entails? Like the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? There is no way a saved person would stay in “dressed up lawlessness”. I see people making that comment and I always wonder if they have ever been saved. They certainly don’t exhibit any knowledge of how the saved person hates lawlessness and sin.
So man can take the credit ey?
The issue is how do you know he"repents with every ounce of his being"? But let's assume that he does. I agree, there is a transformation because if he really repents and believes he is then indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Can he return to his life or sin? Sadly it happens sometimes, but it doesn't last. The Holy Spirit won't allow him to forget that he is a son living in a pigpen!
“A prince, while he is a little child, is presumably as willful and as ignorant as other little children. Sometimes he may be very obedient and teachable and affectionate, and then he is happy and approved. At other times he may be unruly, self-willed, and disobedient, and then he is unhappy, and perhaps is chastised—but he is just as much a prince on the one day as on the other. It may be hoped that, as time goes on, he will learn to bring himself into willing and affectionate subjection to every right way, and then he will be more princely, but not more really a prince. He was born a prince” (C.I.Scofield, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth).
LOVE IT!
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