Puppet Theology Part 2

Main Sermon Idea

Many believers have wrestled with the fear that they have messed up too badly, wandered too far, or misunderstood salvation so deeply that hell is now inevitable for them. Hebrews 6 is one of those passages that can terrify a tender conscience when it is ripped out of context. But when we read it faithfully, we see both a serious warning and a greater assurance: our confidence is not in ourselves, but in Christ, His finished work, and the confirming presence of the Holy Spirit.

Opening Thought

Every Christian, at some point, has probably asked some version of this question:

“Am I really saved?”

And sometimes the question goes even deeper:

“Have I messed up so badly that I can no longer be saved?”

That fear is real. For some people, it is not a casual theological question. It feels like panic. It feels like dread. It feels like hell is no longer a doctrine but an imminent possibility.

But the truth of Scripture is this: believers can have confidence in salvation, not because we are strong enough to hold ourselves, but because Jesus is strong enough to hold us.

Our assurance is rooted in Christ. It is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. It is strengthened by the Word of God. And it is shaped by the goodness, mercy, and redemptive heart of God, who desires to restore and renew people back into the relationship He always intended.

Today we are going to use this video in two parts. The video deals with a common misunderstanding of scripture.

Transition into Video Part One

This is the first part of this video, listen for the raw question underneath the question. She is not just asking about a doctrine. She is asking, “Am I safe? Am I saved? Have I gone too far?”

As we watch and then walk through the Scripture, I want us to see not only the warning, but also the blessed assurance that belongs to those who are truly in Christ.

And as we listen, remember: the answer will not come from feelings, fear, or religious assumptions. The answer has to come from Scripture.

Part One: The Fear, the Warning, and the Context

1. The question underneath the question: “Was I ever really saved?”

The first thing we need to address is how bluntly Dinx responds at the beginning. He does not merely challenge the young woman’s assumption; he confidently says that early in her life, she was not in a real relationship with Jesus.

That sounds harsh at first.

And yes, we should be careful. We do not know every detail of her heart, her past, or her relationship with God. A puppet and puppeteer are not the final authority on someone’s soul.

But there is a reason he is so direct.

We live in a church culture that has often become seeker-friendly in a way that can unintentionally cheapen salvation. In some places, the whole matter of salvation has been reduced to raising a hand, repeating a prayer, or putting a religious label on your life.

But Scripture never presents salvation as merely repeating words.

God truly does call us to Himself. He wants us to hear His truth, recognize His voice, and respond to Him. But salvation is not a rubber stamp placed on someone who has no desire to follow Jesus. Salvation is a real turning to Christ, a real trust in Christ, and a real relationship with Christ.

That is why many people later begin to struggle. They study Scripture. They grow. They hear deeper teaching. They start asking, “What really happened back then? Did I truly surrender? Did I actually know Jesus, or did I only know church language?”

That is not always a bad question. Sometimes it is the beginning of honest spiritual clarity.

John 10:27–29 NLT

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

Jesus says His sheep hear His voice. He knows them. They follow Him. He gives them eternal life, and no one can snatch them out of His hand.

That gives believers deep assurance.

Our confidence is not that we never struggle. Our confidence is not that we never doubt. Our confidence is not that we performed salvation correctly enough.

Our confidence is that Jesus knows His sheep, gives eternal life to His sheep, and holds His sheep securely.

But John 10 also gives us a picture of genuine relationship: His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.

2. False assurance is not the same as biblical assurance

This is where we need to be clear.

Biblical assurance is beautiful. False assurance is dangerous.

Biblical assurance says, “I belong to Christ, and He is holding me.” False assurance says, “I prayed a prayer once, so I can ignore Christ now.”

Those are not the same thing.

This is why some people are troubled by passages like Hebrews 6. They were told, “You prayed the prayer, so you are good forever,” but they were never discipled, never presented the truth of repentance, never taught surrender, and never taught what it means to follow Jesus.

So when they later read Scripture, confusion sets in.

That confusion is not because the Bible is weak. It is because shallow teaching creates unstable foundations.

3. Matthew 13 helps us understand different responses to the Word

This is where the parable of the sower becomes important.

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches that the seed is scattered. The Word goes out. The opportunity is real. But not everyone responds the same way.

Some hear the Word, but it is quickly snatched away.

Some receive it with joy, but there is no root. When trouble or persecution comes, they fall away.

Some receive the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke it out.

But some receive the Word in good soil, and fruit is produced.

That matters for this conversation because not every religious response is saving faith. Not every emotional moment is spiritual rebirth.

Not every person who is near the things of God has surrendered to God.

The question is not merely, “Did seed fall near me?”

The question is, “Did the Word take rootr, did I TRUST in Jesus, and is there fruit?”

4. Hebrews must be read in context

Further on this video, we see the necessity of context.

Hebrews 10 is a harsh passage if you isolate it. Hebrews 6 is a frightening passage if you isolate it.

But these passages were not written as disconnected fragments. Hebrews is a full sermon-like letter written to people with deep knowledge of the Old Testament, the sacrificial system, the priesthood, and the promises of God.

The author is addressing people who have been exposed to the truth about Jesus in a deep and serious way. They know the message. They know the Scriptures. They know the claims of Christ. Some are being tempted to turn back from Christ and return to the old system.

So Hebrews is not written to crush repentant believers who are afraid they have sinned too much.

Hebrews is warning people who have seen the truth, tasted the truth, been near the truth, and are still in danger of rejecting Christ.

That is a major difference.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14–16

Hebrews 4:14–16 NLT

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Before we ever get to Hebrews 6, Hebrews 4 tells us to hold fast to our confession because we have a great High Priest.

Jesus is not distant from our weakness. Jesus is not confused by our struggle. Jesus is not shocked by our temptation.

He is our sympathetic High Priest.

So when a believer is struggling, the answer is not to run away from Jesus in fear. The answer is to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

That is the heart of Hebrews.

Yes, Hebrews warns us. But Hebrews also calls us to draw near.

Note Before Video Part Two

I want to mention something before we continue. In the second part of the video, the lady uses a raw word. It is not technically profanity, but it is not a word I recommend using in normal speech.

Adults, understand that she is speaking honestly from a place of emotional distress. Kids, understand this is not a word we are encouraging you to use. But I chose to keep this portion because it shows the emotional weight of her question.

She is not playing games. She is afraid. And many people have carried that same fear silently.

Part Two: The Goal Is Discipleship, Not Shallow Conversion

5. The goal of the gospel is not merely to create converts

The goal of the gospel is not to create shallow converts. The goal of the gospel is not merely to fill church buildings. The goal of the gospel is not to produce impressive numbers.

Now, we should celebrate when many people truly come to Christ. The book of Acts celebrates people being added to the church. There is nothing wrong with numbers when those numbers represent real souls coming to Jesus.

But the Great Commission is not merely, “Get decisions.”

The Great Commission is, “Make disciples.”

That means we preach Christ, call people to repentance and faith, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded.

A gospel presentation that stops at “repeat this prayer” but never moves toward discipleship is incomplete.

Scripture: Matthew 28:18–20

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus sends His people to make disciples, not merely to collect decisions.

That means salvation is not less than a moment of faith, but it is also not disconnected from a life of following Jesus.

We are saved by grace through faith. But the grace that saves us also begins changing us.

6. God finishes what He begins

This is where assurance becomes beautiful.

Philippians 1:6 says:

“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

That is blessed assurance.

The believer’s hope is not, “I started strong enough, so I hope I can finish.”

The believer’s hope is, “God began this work in me, and God will finish what He started.”

This does not make us passive. It makes us confident.

We still follow. We still repent. We still grow. We still endure. But we do not do those things alone.

God is at work in His people.

7. The message of truth is not wrapped in fear

When Paul writes to Timothy, he reminds him that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

The gospel does not produce careless arrogance, but it also does not produce paralyzing terror in the child of God.

A believer may feel conviction. A believer may feel sorrow over sin. A believer may feel grief and repentance.

But the Spirit does not lead God’s children into hopeless despair.

Conviction says, “Come back to Jesus.” Condemnation says, “There is no way back.” The gospel says, “Draw near to the throne of grace.”

8. Hebrews 6 is a warning, but not a denial of Christ’s mercy

Hebrews 6 warns us about the danger of being exposed to the truth and then rejecting Christ.

But Hebrews 6 does not teach that a repentant sinner who wants Jesus will be rejected by Jesus.

That distinction is critical.

The person who is terrified that they have hardened their heart often proves, by that very concern, that their heart is not dead to the things of God. A hardened heart is not grieving over sin and longing for Christ. A hardened heart is indifferent, defiant, and resistant.

So if you are asking, “Can I come to Jesus?” the answer of Scripture is yes.

Come to Him.

Do not run from Him because of Hebrews 6. Let Hebrews 6 drive you to Him.

Scripture: Hebrews 6:9–12

Hebrews 6:9–12 NLT

9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

After the warning, the author says, “Beloved, we feel sure of better things — things that belong to salvation.”

That matters.

The warning is real, but so is the pastoral reassurance.

The writer of Hebrews does not want to destroy their hope. He wants to awaken endurance, faith, and diligence.

Scripture: Hebrews 6:19

Hebrews 6:19 NLT

19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.”

Not in fear. Not in shallow assurance. Not in religious performance. Not in emotional panic.

Our hope is anchored in Christ.

Closing Challenge

So the question today is not, “Did I once have a religious moment?”

The better question is:

Am I trusting Jesus now? Do I hear His voice? Am I following Him? When I sin, do I run from Him or run to Him? Is there fruit, even if it is still growing?

If your confidence is in a prayer you prayed, you may be shaken.

If your confidence is in your own goodness, you should be shaken.

If your confidence is in your perfect performance, you will be shaken.

But if your confidence is in Jesus Christ — crucified, risen, interceding, holding His sheep, and finishing what He began — then you can have blessed assurance.

The warning passages are real.

But so is the Savior.

And the Savior is greater than the fear.

Blessed Assurance Lyrics

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending, bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

ScriptureWhy it matters

John 10:27–29 Jesus’ sheep are held securely by Him.

John 10:27–29 NLT

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

Romans 8:1 No condemnation for those in Christ.

Romans 8:1 NLT

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:38–39 Nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ

Romans 8:38–39 NLT

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

.Ephesians 1:13–14 Believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13–14 NLT

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Philippians 1:6 God completes the work He begins.

Philippians 1:6 NLT

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

1 John 2:19 Some who depart reveal they were not truly of the faith.

1 John 2:19 NLT

19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

Matthew 13:3–23 Parable of the sower: some receive with joy but do not endure.

Matthew 13:3–23 NLT

3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. 18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly grief produces repentance; worldly grief produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Hebrews 3:12–14 Warning against an evil unbelieving heart and call to hold firm.

Hebrews 3:12–14 NLT

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 4:14–16 Hold fast because Jesus is our sympathetic High Priest.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NLT

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 12:1–2 Run with endurance, looking to Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 6:4–8 NLT

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. 7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. 8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

Hebrews 10:26–27 NLT

26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

Matthew 12:31–32 NLT

31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

Mark 3:28–30 NLT

28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, 29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” 30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

John 6:44 NLT

44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.