Advanced evangelicals will note the evidence of salvation in their lives. Note that Hebrews was talking about PAST TENSE history as such evidence. These believing Jews were longing to hang it up in the face of persecution. The author of Hebrews points out that makes no sense using some hypotheticals (such as suppose you totally could give up your faith in Christ, what would be left?). The result of stumbling badly is not to be lost, however, but to fail to gain a reward.
1John 5:13 refers to believing Truths and to evidences as providing assurance one presently has eternal life, and which is an appeal to private judgment. While for RCs assurance is based upon what Rome says. If she conveys a soul will attain eternal life in the light of their merits and that of the church, as is done in giving Teddy K. Caths glorious church funerals, then most are comforted that they too will finally enter Heaven on the same basis.
Note that Hebrews was talking about PAST TENSE history as such evidence. These believing Jews were longing to hang it up in the face of persecution. The author of Hebrews points out that makes no sense using some hypotheticals (such as suppose you totally could give up your faith in Christ, what would be left?). The result of stumbling badly is not to be lost, however, but to fail to gain a reward.
I must honestly disagree. A close examination of Hebrews makes it clearly it is written to believers, exhorting them to "hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end," "lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12,14), and drawing "back into perdition" in impenitent sinning, in contrast to those who do not draw back, but "believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39). THis is present and future tense.
There is nothing hypothetical about either, but as in Gal. 5:1-4, to deny the faith which appropriated justification and liberty, placing on in grace, is to make Christ to profit you nothing," to "become of no effect unto you," being "fallen from grace," thus forfeiting what faith obtained, which was by God's grace.
Thus "when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:32)
The only thing you can propose as hypothetical is the warning against final apostasy, leaving such warnings as being means of motivating repentance, by God's grace and credit, as He works in those He possesses. But i believe that it cannot be honestly denied that the above warnings are written to believers as believers, and warns them against departing from the living God, falling from grace, and making Christ to profit you nothing," to "become of no effect unto you," drawing "back into perdition."
For the only faith that is salvific is a living faith (which God granted, having drawn the soul, opened his heart, and granted repentance) that rests upon the Lord Jesus to save them by His sinless shed blood, on His expense and credit, to walk in newness of life, and which faith thus effects characteristic obedience, and repentance when convicted of not doing so, as David exampled.