Does Hebrews 6:4-6 Teach that a Believer can Lose their Salvation? by Cooper Abrams Introduction: Often those who believe that a once saved child of God can lose their salvation make reference to Hebrews 6:4-6 as one of their proof texts. However, this interpretation of the verse ignores the context, grammar, and true meaning of the passage. The problem is that most read who verses 4-6 assume that these three verses are presenting a situation in which salvation could be lost. They fail to read the whole Chapter which establishes the context and subject of the passage. A simply exmination of the passages reveals that the passage is actually teaching that salvation is eternal and cannot be lost. THE CONTEXT OF HEBREWS 6 Let us first consider the context of the Chapter 6. Hebrews 5 sets the subject of and the context of Chapter 6. The writer of Hebrews in Chapter 5 is saying these Jewish believers had instead of maturing and growing in Christ had actually regressed. He explains the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Testament human priesthood being after the Melchisedic priesthood who was both king and priest. (See verses 6, 10) Verse 9 says of Jesus Christ that “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:9) Salvation is said to be eternal to all them that obey him. Christ only saves those that believe the Gospel and by faith accept His forgiveness and receive His grace and who subsequently obey Him. (See Eph. 2:10) The writer admonishes these Jews, who were waning in their faith, saying they should be teachers, but because of their immaturity and lack of commitment to growing in Christ, have to be taught the “first principles” of God’s word. He says all that use milk (as babies) are unskilled in the word of righteousness...simply meaning in what is right. He is saying the doctrines of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment are soundly established. He urges them to go on to perfection not trying to lay again the foundational doctrine of repentance from dead works and faith toward God. These basic teachings of the Gospel of Christ were firmly established, yet these Jews were obvious debating the first principles which they should have known. The Hebrew believers were therefore urged with a strong encouragement to go on to maturity doctrine in Christ. THE IMPOSSIBLE SCENARIO Then the writer of Hebrews 6:4- 6, uses an impossible situation as an illustration to show them the impossibility of a true believer losing their salvation. He then clearly teaches that IF were possible to be saved and then to be lost it would be impossible to be restored. Thus, he uses a impossible scenario to show the absurdity of the idea that God could give His grace and forgive one all their sins and then revoke His mercy and condemn them to the Lake of Fire. Note that verse six says it would be impossible to restore this person who falls from grace because Christ would have to be cruicified again and put to shame in order that they could be saved. Why did God say Christ would have to be put to shame? Obviously, it would mean that Christ’s suffering on the cross did not fully accomplish what He intended and that it was deficient in saving to the uttermost. It would mean that when Jesus said He offered everlasting life... that was not the whole story, because in some situations, eternal life could be lost. It was meant that Christ was not fully forthcoming with us and was holding an element of salvation back. Of course that is a foolish idea. explains that “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) If a believer is forgiven of all sin, then what sin could a believer commit that would not be included that would not be under the blood of Jesus Christ? Verses 4-6 teaches that IF it were possible to lost ones salvation, then the principle revealed and established is that ONCE SAVED AND LOST, ALWAYS LOST! He uses this to make the point is that it is impossible to lose what God freely gave you and can be correctly stated, ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED. God elected that salvation would be His free gift; a gift that could not be earned, but was paid for in full by Jesus Christ. God will not take back His freely given gift that was not based on a mans good works, but on the blood of Jesus Christ. THE SUBJECT OF HEBREWS 6 Let us jump ahead to Hebrews 6:11-12 to see the reason why God says, We desire that every one you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of the hope unto the end. The purpose of writer of the Book of Hebrews gives is that he is writing to encourage believers, that he desires to show them, with diligence, the hope of the full assurance the believer has in his salvation. Note word assurance is modified and given a great meaning by the adjective full or “entire.” Verse 11 establishes the reason for verses 1-10. You cannot presume to understand verses 4-6 and ignore the rest of the Chapter. In verses 12 God uses another illustration of His faithfulness in keeping His promises to the Old Testament saints. This saints from the past believed God and accepted His promises, and they inherited His promise. In time, Abraham obtained God’s promises to him. He then states that when a man makes an oath, it ends the strife of some issue. He then reminds the Hebrews in verses 17-18 made an oath to the immutable (unchanging) promises that He would perform. He reminds us that God cannot lie and assures the believer that: “. . .we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Let me reiterate. How much clearer could the Lord make it that the believer can be assured that he will not be lost and that he has eternal life. Therefore, God is not saying that it is possible for a person to be saved and lose their salvation, but saying that IF” it were possible, then Christ would have to be crucified all over again. The passage is not saying it is possible to be saved and then lost, but showing why it would be impossible to lose salvation. The passage is establishing the fact that it is impossible to be lost once Christ has saved us, because that would mean that Christ would have to be crucified again in order for a person to be saved again, if they were lost. Christ was crucified once for all as Hebrews 10:10 says, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. GODS SOLEMN PROMISE Again, note that Verses 17-18 state that God has made an oath concerning our salvation and a made a solemn promise. This is God solemn oath is that all that trust in Jesus Christ are eternally one saved. He uplifts us with the assurance...We might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us... Note way verses 19-20 say, Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Clearly these two verses absolutely assure the Christian who has truly put his faith in Jesus Christ, that he is eternally saved. Interestingly, all those that teach that you can lose your salvation also teach you can be saved again. They teach that by repentance and good works one can get it back again. This directly contradicts Gods word as stated here because this passage emphatically states that if one could lose their salvation, it would be impossible to restore them again. These false teachers who teach one can lose their salvation never address how much sin one must commit to lose eternal life. Thus, their members flounder in a sea of doubt never being sure if they are accepted by God or not. What is the basis of Gods accepting a person and forgiving him? Clearly, the scripture says it is based upon what Jesus Christ did on the cross. If a person by faith believes and receives Christ as their Savior...they have eternal life and being eternal it cannot be lost. A person is not saved by any work or works they do and salvation is purely an act of Gods grace in giving the gift of salvation to those who will believe and accept it. No one can merit salvation nor can they keep themselves saved by their good works. Ephesians 2:1-10 states: 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Note verse 5 says “. . .Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” To “quicken” means “to be made alive.” The person who denies salvation cannot be loss, then must conclude that if they commit some sin then God removes their life and they are not dead again. Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ can be assured “That in the ages to come, he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” GOD FULL ASSURANCE OF SALVATION Romans 5:17-19 states the basis, For if by one mans offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Hebrews 9:14, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Gods offer of salvation is total, complete and final. It was promised on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross as he suffered and shed His blood for man. Mans salvation is not based on his good works. How could a man think that by good works, he could keep a salvation that he was not able to work for or earn for himself in the first place? Further, how could a man so misunderstand the Gospel, and saving grace. How could anyone conclude that our gracious Savior forgive a person of their sins, and then later condemn that same person for the sins for which he was forgiven.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 16:29:26 +0000
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