"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (Jas 5:16 KJV)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1Jn 1:9 KJV)
But I am unable to resolve the meaning of verses like Hebrews 6:4-6:
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Heb 6:4-6 KJV)
I was hoping someone could take that verse and, using the scriptures, explain how it doesn't apply to us.
Philip
You must examine “who” Hebrews Ch 6: verses 1-7 is referring to, it isn’t just a Christian, it’s those who are SPIRIT FILLED...and yes, Christians are, but not as ministers who operate in the laying on of hands and operating in the gifts of the Spirit.
Learn the place where Gifts of the Spirit and laying on of hands are used, then you will understand Hebrews Chapter 6: 1-7. The first verse is clear about elementary teachings and maturity, which confuses some, however, this chapter of Hebrews is trying to let people know there is more that you can have here on earth but it comes at a price/risk.
Salvation is for you, Baptism of Holy Spirit is for others....read ACTS Chapter One...Jesus explained it to his disciples (Comforter) that it would come after he arose into heaven, and it is still available until he returns again....that hasn’t happened yet.
This acknowledgement does not jeapordize the SALVATION of those not operating in that arena...so those who argue this is not truth are just not understanding what Hebrews Ch six is really about.
This Chapter is about a specific type of Christian, and it does not lessen the importance of other Christians, who don’t operate this way or are of different denomination etc because Denominations are man’s invention not God’s....and it isn’t just one failure or sin that causes this loss of Salvation, it’s a determined decision that involves the leaving of the fold and returning to the world and denouncing Christ permanently.
Sins can be forgiven through repentance even in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit filled as humans are not perfect. (Note that I am speaking of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues and operating in the nine gifts of the spirit.)
Everyone gets Christ and the measure of the Holy Spirit that comes with that, when they accept Christ. Water Baptism is for all. However, this is a whole separate experience explained by Paul in Corinthians. There is a scripture that says ‘there is only one unforgivable sin and that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost”...cursing God and I’m not talking about the word people use regularly, it’s a permanent denial after he has given one all there is to give here on earth....and he is rejected.
Those people who are spirit filled exist in almost every denomination that claims Jesus is the son of God and Savior, including Catholicism, and you can research that in Notre Dame history where 3000 where baptised in the Holy Ghost about forty years ago publicly, while assembled at the college. It was a Day of Pentecost here in America that started a huge revival in all denominations. That movement spread for years with Worhip, Praise and Miracles.
One other huge ACTS event was at the turn of the twentieth century in San Francisco, Amy McPherson and other evangelist s came out of that movement. Kathryn Kuhlman, and even Oral Roberts were influenced by the Haight Asbury revival.
A scripture “The gifts and calling of God are without repentence” means that anyone for example who has a talent for singing can use it for God or use it for the world, etc. It will not be taken away, it was a gift. The same is true about the ministry...some fleece the sheep, no doubt. However those gifts were intended to be used to save souls. All those teaching others will be judged by God eventually.
Hope this helps.
There is a lot of info online you can read about what I am saying. There is a book by an Episciple Priest named Bennett (30+ years ago) called ‘Nine O Clock in the Morning”..simple and it might help you understand, if it is still in print.
Many of us received our Salvation during this huge movement of the Spirit....
From the Douay:
6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
6:5. Have moreover tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,
6:6. And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God and making him a mockery.
*It is impossible, etc . . . The meaning is, that it is impossible for such as have fallen after baptism, to be again baptized; and very hard for such as have apostatized from the faith, after having received many graces, to return again to the happy state from which they fell.
A “saved” person can obviously fall away beyond redemption, else the Scriptures wouldn’t have mentioned it. The question to ask is, How can one lose his salvation?
By sinning? Certainly not! — 1 John 1:9, as you mentioned.
So if not by sinning, then how?
Well, Jesus did say there was one unpardonable sin — blasphemy against the Spirit (see Matthew 12:31-32 and Luke 12:10).
What is blasphemy? Blasphemy means defiant irreverence or cursing God or degrading Him. Even relating evil to God.
How does a “saved” person do this? Well, it’s pretty hard. You have to make a deliberate decision that, despite all you know about God, you want nothing more to do with Him. You need to prayerfully, or more likely with clenched fists raised against Him, tell God to get out of your life once and for all. Say, *I REJECT YOU!*
Hard to imagine even the most backslidden person doing that. But if anyone can ever get to that point, then the impossibility of their redemption (Heb 6:4-6) isn’t hard to fathom at all.
Bottom line: You can’t lose your salvation by sinning. Not even by sinning a whole lot. To lose your salvation, you have to really *want* to, making a deliberate decision to reject God and tell Him to get out of your life for good.
The tl;dr version is: Anyone who is worried about it, hasn’t lost his salvation, else he wouldn’t be worried about it.
Hope this helps.