Can a True Believer Lose His Salvation?

CAN A TRUE BELIEVER LOSE HIS SALVATION? Spring Valley Mennonite; January 12, 2020; Hebrews 6:4-8 I am excited about returning to our study of the Book of Hebrews! To review, the letter was written by an unknown author, but by someone intimately acquainted with Jewish history and culture. It was written predominantly to a Jewish audience, and its theme is the superiority of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Covenant of the Law. But rather than abandoning the Law, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law making it obsolete. The Law never could produce righteousness, but simply defined our sinfulness. Without knowing God’s standards of behavior, there was no way to meet those standards. The Old Covenant of the Law through its system of sacrifices provided a method to cover one’s sins by blood sacrifices, but it was incomplete until God provided His Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Old Covenant lost any relevance in regard to salvation. Only by trusting in the resurrected Messiah Jesus can a person be saved. Herein lies the reason for the numerous warning passages in Hebrews. These Jewish believers were under social pressure and persecution from the Jewish community, as well as from the Romans. When persecution came, their former Jewish community appealed to them as a safe retreat. But for a believer to return to Judaism would result in the most dire and severe consequences. This is what our passage of Hebrews 6, verses 4-8 teaches us today. Follow along as I read, then we will examine it more closely. (Read the passage.) Admittedly, this passage is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament. It has been used to prove directly opposite Theological views. The central issue of the debate is whether a believer can lose his salvation, so the issue is not unimportant. Are we secure in our salvation, or can it be lost? This passage has been used to prove both that salvation can be lost and that it cannot be lost. I. FOUR MAIN INTERPRETIVE OPTIONS Interpretations of the passage fall under one of the following four theories: A. The “saved-lost” theory states that an individual can be truly be converted and saved then because of fear of persecution or continual grievous sin can lapse back into a state of separation from God. One can lose his salvation. The problem with this theory is that this passage would teach that once a person loses salvation, it is impossible to regain it; in other words, “once lost always lost.” B. The “professors-not-possessors” view is that those described were never truly saved. Since this view states that a person is eternally secure in salvation, these ones described had come right up to the edge of believing but had turned away and reverted to their former lives. They were acquainted with Christianity but never had received the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. The difficulty this passage presents to this view is the description of these people; they truly are described in terms of true believers. C. A third theory is that the author is presenting a hypothetical case: if a person could lose his salvation, which is not really possible, then there would be no way a person could return to faith. This theory views the purpose of the warning as exhorting believers into obedience by emphasizing the seriousness of apostacy. D. The final theory is the “disqualification view”, that a believer can fall into sin to such an extent that he is disqualified in the Christian race and loses all rewards, but not his salvation. He will be subjected the severe discipline of the Lord and loss of the present blessings and protection of the Lord. II. IDENTIFYING THE ONES ADDRESSED So, are these people saved individuals or not? The difficulty of the passage can be lessened if we can identify those addressed. They are first described as “Those who have been enlightened.” One helpful practice in defining terms in a passage is to see how the author uses the same term elsewhere in the book. In Hebrews 10:32 we observe the same term of enlightenment: “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings…” Their lives were changed to where they were given supernatural strength to endure persecution. This is a clear reference to redeemed individuals. Secondly, they had “tasted the heavenly gift.” The word “tasted” in this context means “experienced” as it also means in Hebrews 2:9 where it is used of Christ having “tasted death.” The metaphor is also used in 1 Peter 2:2-3: “…like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” Again, these verses indicate that tasting equals true experience. These ones had experienced the heavenly gift of salvation. Thirdly, they “have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit.” This word “partakers” is used in chapter 3, verses 1 and 14, of believers and, very importantly as we shall see a bit later, in 12:8 of the sons whom the Lord loves and disciplines. This reference in our passage clearly refers to the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 states, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…” Fourthly, they have “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.” Again, “Tasted” is a metaphor for “experienced.” This “good word” is best understood as the word of the Gospel message as spoken of in Hebrews 2:1-4. This message was accompanied by signs and wonders, as chapter 2:4 states, and corresponds to the “powers” of 6:5. All this proves to me that those addressed were true believers, not just those who had heard but not believed. Only with great difficulty can these terms be redefined to describe unbelievers. III. THE DIFFICULTY ARISES, HOWEVER… The difficulty of this passage stems from verse 6 which states that once these believers “fall away” it will be impossible to renew them again to repentance. What is this “falling away?” Having determined that those addressed are believers, “falling away” cannot mean loss of salvation because salvation is clearly presented elsewhere in scripture as an unalterable possession of the believer. Here is a case where we interpret a difficult passage in light of other Biblical passages which are clear on the same issue. There are many such passages, but consider John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them and they shall never perish; and no one shall 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 Father’s hand.” Also consider Romans 8:29-38 where it is stated that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ. Ephesians 4:30 tells us that we were sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of Redemption. Hebrews 7:25 states that as our eternal High Priest, “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” So, if “falling away” is NOT loss of salvation, what is it? The “falling away” is a defection from the faith or apostacy; a denial of the profession they once made; and in the case of these Jewish believers, returning to the Jewish religion. By renouncing their Christian faith, they are identifying with the Jewish rulers who crucified Christ. In this sense they are “crucifying the Son of all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.” In such a case, it would be impossible to renew them to repentance, as there would be a deep hardening of heart which would preclude them returning to a place of service and commitment to Christ. So… IV. IS THERE NO HOPE FOR REPENTANCE AT ALL? What is impossible for man is possible for God. Hope arises for these ones as we examine the subject of the term “to renew.” Since the subject is not given, we must find it in the context. Two possibilities exist: God or us (man). If we say that God cannot renew them, we are limiting the omnipotent God! Therefore, this verse is saying that there is nothing man can do to renew someone who is in this state of apostacy. But there is hope, and we find that in the verses that follow, in the form of a parable or illustration. (Read vv. 7-8) Here is the illustration of land which should be productive, yet only produces thorns and weeds. It has received the necessary rain, but nothing good has grown. The field is the subject and the thorns and weeds are the fruit from the life. All of us have observed the wheat stubble being burned off from fields. A question: does this destroy the field? No; it only destroys the stubble and weeds. It prepares the field for future productivity. In this illustration, there is the possibility that the field could product a future crop. Perhaps these apostates, after divine discipline, could return to productive commitment to Christ. In 1 Timothy 1:18-20 we read of two men who rejected the conviction of the Holy Spirit: Timothy was to, “fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.” A shipwreck is a tragic occurrence accompanied by great loss but does not necessarily result in loss of life. Paul survived many shipwrecks himself. In several other places in 1 Timothy people going “astray from their faith” are mentioned. We all have known such people who once were strong workers in the kingdom who have drifted away. The final chapter in such cases has not been written, for they may return as a result of God’s intervention in their lives. This burning may be describing the Bema Seat of Christ, the judgment of the works of believers in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Turn there with me in closing. Read vv. 10-15 Often the subject of rewards is overlooked in describing the Christian life, but notice that these rewards are given in heaven, supposedly to be enjoyed there. I believe that we are preparing ourselves for all eternity through the treasure we lay up in heaven. Some will have decidedly less responsibility or status in heaven than others: think of Jesus’ parable of giving the talents to various servants; the faithful servants received great rewards, but the unfaithful servant had his removed. The apostate Christian will forfeit God’s blessing in this world, and fall under the fearful discipling hand of God, and will enter eternity impoverished in terms of rewards. This may determine many things about how our eternity will play out. In summary, the author is speaking of true Jewish believers who once they return to Judaism will successfully resist all attempts of man to restore them. The individuals are not lost concerning their salvation, but they are lost as far as their making any contribution to the cause of Christ. However, the fiery disciplining retribution of God may renew them to their former level of service and commitment. The warning to we believers is genuine. The enemy of our souls cannot steal our salvation, but he can render us ineffective and even a reproach to the cause of Christ. We must be on the alert each day to ward off the multiple attacks of Satan. The pathway to apostacy, of denying the faith, begins with rejecting God’s Word as authoritative, of giving in to the pressures of the culture. For once one verse of scripture is discredited, all scripture is questionable. Our culture is becoming more and more hostile to Biblical Christianity. The pressure on believers and the church to conform will only get more intense. Many who stand up for Christian principles are now being economically and socially persecuted. Jesus told us that the world hated Him, so they will hate His followers. To be forewarned is to be prepared. The beauty of close fellowship with other believers is that we can support one another to remain strong in the faith.