September 18, 2019 – Click here to listen
I am studying the book of Hebrews and I found chapter six to be complex. At first glance it seems to say if we depart from the faith, we lose our salvation and may not reclaim it. Heb. 6:4 – It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and then have fallen away—to be restored again to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame . . .
Some teach concerning this doctrine that if someone were to do such a thing, they were never genuinely saved in the first place, or others might say that we would lose reward and blessing now, but not lose salvation. Others believe it assures a believer through a timely warning and command and that is all this means.
My brother Jim lost his 5 year old son to brain cancer. The little boy was in excruciating agony for months as the cancer spread into his spine and invoked pain throughout his entire body. During this time and after the death of his son, Jim was openly blasphemous towards God for allowing his small child to suffer so. He was angry with God and openly told Him and anyone within earshot. Later in life my pastor and I watched as he got down on his knees, repented of his sins and tearfully asked God to forgive him all of his sins, and vowed to repent. He did just that for a while, even getting baptized with his entire family in the church he attended, but he never got over losing his son and started drinking and drugging and in just a few short years he committed suicide. So, did he lose his salvation for his sins?
If so, then who can retain it, because we all sin even after accepting Christ. Some are small sins and others large, but according to Jesus all sin has a judgment of death.
Matthew Henry wrote: “The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his conscience may accuse him of. Nor does it prove that anyone who is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the power of some worldly or fleshly lust. But the falling away here mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all this after they have received the knowledge of the truth and tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin; but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and everything that leads to it. If those who through mistaken views of this passage, as well as of their own case, fear that there is no mercy for them, would attend to the account given of the nature of this sin, that it is a total and a willing renouncing of Christ, and his cause, and joining with his enemies, it would relieve them from wrong fears.We should ourselves beware, and caution others, of every approach near to a gulf so awful as apostacy; yet in doing this we should keep close to the word of God and be careful not to wound and terrify the weak or discourage the fallen and penitent. Believers not only taste of the word of God, but they drink it in. And this fruitful field or garden receives the blessing. But the merely nominal Christian, continuing unfruitful under the means of grace, or producing nothing but deceit and selfishness, was near the awful state above described; and everlasting misery was the end reserved for him. Let us watch with humble caution and prayer as to ourselves.
I believe we must try to do the right thing always and avoid sin as best we can, but when we slip up and sin we must ask for forgiveness for sins, repent of them, and keep on striving for perfection which we will receive in heaven. I look forward to seeing my brother there one day in his perfected state.
John 10:28
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will 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 Fathers hand.