Can We Lose Grace?

best 40 verse 12 the Hebrews chapter 6 verse 4 2 verse 12

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened who have tasted the Heavenly gift in the Holy Spirit who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and to a full and a way to be brought back to repentance. Today at Lost Lake crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public distract disgrace. Lands that drinks rain Austin falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it has been found received the blessing from God but land that produces the ones and face and is in danger of being cast in the end it will end. Even though we speak like this difference. We are convinced of better things in your case. The things that have to do with salvation God is Not unjust he will not forget your work in the love. You have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to share this same diligence to the very end. So that what you hurtful may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hi, my name is Lily and it's a great privilege to be a minister at this church and Dan and pasta has asked me to steak said wake of a full series we have on Grace I said if you've been here. We had a talk on the basics of Grace what it is what it is in. That was an Alex. He's asking Minister and I had the wonderful sandpaper states with about how you get Grace in the first place. And tonight. We had these tricky topic of can you lose Grace once you release it? Please tell you about two people. I'll tell you suspect Lucy. So at least he grew up in a Christian family. She had Parents who taught her from the Bible as she lands at Sunday school days of love for her and when she became a teenager, she went to church and her friends being there in her youth great latest, but she loves Jesus and what he done for her on the cross and she went to her and said, I just spent the weekend rating of phaeacians. I couldn't get enough. It was so great. When she finish school, she went to UNI and she got involved in the Christian group at University with a guy and he's on a Christian. He wasn't a Christian but I hit it off and they started dating and he was really respectful of his face. He was kind of had a cape living that out but it's coming on it just overcame a bit too hard and rub with more tangible than God was and her Christian faith that I use phenibut childish and improbable irrational. So she stopped going to church. She stopped loving her face and she thinks about it now and again, but that's pretty much just missed it. Has Lacey. Another path and I'll introduce you to is Nathan Nathan didn't grow up in a Christian family, but he had a Christian night at school Luke and Luke was just as great guy and Nathan really respected him and when he when Nathan and like finish school nights instead of checking a shut-in Christianity was really interested in this man Jesus. He's not a really different who's interested in the people at church who were different and really nice and he started asking the minister questions about how you become a Christian and eventually he thought yeah. I think this has the Ring of truth about it. I'm going to put my trust in Jesus and say he he did that he prayed with his Minister and he kept going to church. But nice and feels really really terrible about the safety of his why does a particular seeing that he just feels like he ate stuffing up. I can't coming to go to God and asking for forgiveness. He's really not sure if God can really continue to forgive him time and time again, he writes passages like we read today in havery 6 maybe he's actually lost to Salvation. I maybe go different love him anymore. I maybe he's gone too far beyond the point of 410 and he's just really anxious. He doesn't know who to talk to. Will come back to Lacey and Nathan a little while later. To recap coming really important that we remember that right when we come to this kind of question is that Grace is a gift from God's it's not that I saw Raymond 626 has a great is a great help with these that says the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Our lord say the wages of sin is death wages or something you n you do a day's work you get your wages or salary at the end of the day u n s and just like that police saying in Romans in his passage seen The Way We Were Bell against God and we don't love each other. That's what we deserve. But Grace is not like seeing you don't deserve Grace. You don't even it. It's a gift. It's just given to you. Does anyone know that what is it when you have letters that stand for something that you can rent by the Black Eyed Peas?

Thanks Beth topbox God's riches at Christ's expense. So it's God's gift at his riches at Christ's expense. It's not something you can answer. That's super important turn in The Upfront.

But then you get a passage like Hebrews speak. And it's pretty full-on. I'm just going to raid 6 vs Forza 6. The writers high priest says it is impossible for those who have won Spain in license is tasted the Heavenly gift who has shed in the holy spirit's tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who has fallen away to be brought back to repentance to they lost their crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to Public Disgrace. I say if you thought much about this topic or read much. You'll know that Family Christian people who read the Bible and love to interpret the Bible understand the answer to this question at a different life. I from place to place I'll give you some 3T possible interpretations. What is he saying about whether you can send so much that you can't come back. What do you can lose God's grace. What do you configure Christian and then not be Christian anymore the whole topic. So I first interpretation Christians can fall away and you can have the Holy Spirit kind of tasted Christ on understood the word of God and you can give it up and fall away to the point that you can't repent anymore. You can't come back to God. Secondly this passage and others like it is subscribing people who whenever Christian to begin with. So I just language of tasting the goodness of the word of God and lightens. They would fully enlightened. They didn't fully have the Holy Spirit. They wouldn't really Christian and so it's not surprising that they fell away. Set possible interpretation These Warnings a hypothetical it can never happen to a Christian that you could lose God's grace and full of why that you could spend so much that repentance and forgiveness. So yes These Warnings are in the scriptures real in that but the hottest area code.

So what do you think? There are three possible interpretations are not the only ones Christians cancel the way they can lose Grace if you swallow a you would never Christian to begin with These Warnings a hypothetical have a really quick conversation about what you think.

Hey, sorry, you're all Saudis. I can sit down. It's Tricky, isn't it? Well as a tackle this topic make a principle we have to remember that scripture tells us is that scripture doesn't contradict scripture that the Bible is consistent and that we should understand scripture in lot of other scripture. So we read the Bible in the context of the passage is a saying we don't want to grab this one and ignore the rest and I think we can say some things about what is not the answer to a question tonight. So I think there are two extremes that don't work. The fastest can be summarized by the slogan Grace gets you in but your efforts keep you in so Grace gets you into faith and Christianity and relationship with God, but that's one extreme and the other slogan is once saved always saved your urine urine. Southington take you out. Why I think it's problematic to say that Grace gets you in but your efforts tape you in is it so much of scripture tells us that when you become a Christian you are a new creation for a new identity United to cry you'll God's child. You are Justified and Sanctified by Grace. Now those feel Justified and Sanctified a really important to understand justification is what describes you legal declaration if you like of being not guilty, but God that you are not guilty of your saying that Christ has paid the penalty if you're saying and as you trust him, you would Justified it is just as if you'd never seen you are the clay brought. So that's your justification and it's like Bryce. Then this your sanctification which you could also translate whole if acacian becoming more holy which is just becoming more like Jesus the person you're meant to be now that it's time to vacation is not like a legal declaration wants us. It's an ongoing where I can you lie. So once you're justified by Grace, then you a Sanctified by grace and it's really important. It's not as if you had justification happens by grace and then you have to make the effort to get there to get the rest of the way to heaven boys involved. The logic is displayed in Romans 8 in that famous passage verses 28 to 30. We can sit quite clearly the interconnectedness of these things that God is doing in our lives by Grace the Romans 8:28 says that we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him. He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be too stressful and among many brothers and sisters and those he predestined he also cold has he called. He also Justified dicey Justified. He also glorified

So what about Nathan? What would you say to Nathan his anxious about whether he's really still a Christian whether he's seen somehow separate team for the from the grace of God. What's really important to say to Nathan the fact that you care about this means you're not falling away. You care about your seeing you actively seeking to put seem to death in your life. You care about it a wrestling with God about it love that and even though yes, we do hate sitting in our life. That actually doesn't undermine on the gate or get rid of God's grace and he has to make a small like faces change inch by inch. What is God really reliable? That's great to have those thighs though. It's great to think that through and to be honest with yourself about that doesn't mean you're falling away. Daily repentance and struggle with sin and death is a part of the Christian Life. We say that in room in 7 or pull says that he knows the things he should do if it struggles to data men in the end. He says who's going to save this wretch only cross will save me not my efforts. I think it's beautifully captured in that same Amazing Grace. So you might remember the suspects that goes like this Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a Wretch like Me I once was lost but now I'm found I was blind but now I say

It was Grace that taught my heart to fear and Grace my fears relieved how precious did that Grace appear the hour. I first believed. But of course, it doesn't stop there Grace doesn't stop the hour you first believed it keeps going and the says best captures these it says through many dangers toils and snares. I have already Tommy. It was grace that brought me safe. Thus far and Grace will leave me fine. The amazingly good news of the Gospel is that Christ died for you? He loves you so much that he thought you were worth dying for so that you could be forgiven and made right with God and live a life for he'll never perfectly This Side of Heaven and that's a real frustration for us as Christians, but we have hope that God will Kate working in us as we live our lives for him. But there's another equally false extreme to avoid once saved always saved. Lisa Martin Lisa ask 1500 Sky not Martin Luther King 1960 civil rights. Can I buy Sprite but leaves quite a long way apart from each other. Letha famously said we are saved by faith alone, but the site that saves is never alone and size is a gift of God. It's by Grace so you could replace the website with Grace and conclude. We are saved by Thrice alone, but the grace that saved is never alone. He said it's all the way through scripture and examples from Galatians 5 is this pool says it is for Freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand Sundin and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery you my brothers and sisters will cold to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh rather have each other humbly in love. But having been saved by grace. The Apostle tells us to stand for a minute to leave it out. We actually involved in that note in a spike hypothetical way, but really and truly involved.

Even when the writer of Hebrews off to this really full-on warning, even when he says to them we are convinced of better things for you. He doesn't inside kick back once saved always saved know he edged them to do something with that faith that God has given them he says God is Not unjust. He will not forget your way back into love you have shown him as you have helped these people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show you this same diligence to the very end. So that what you heartful Navy fully realized we do not want you to become lazy butt to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit one has been promised. He say this through Ephesians and Colossians with. By saying this is how good God is this is what he's done for you and Christ. If I leave it out, it's just great logic. That is through so much of Russia.

So what about Lucy who grew up with Christian face but seems to have drifted away. Has she Fallen away so that she can't come back to God. She can't repent again. What's welfare aware that there is such a thing as official site. Some cases says will cry out Lord Lord and He will say I never knew you you look up Matthew 7. So it might be that TV to stop. Is it stop? I thought my favorite she was never a Christian to begin with being excited about following Jesus at one point in your life. If it doesn't result in a change life is not saving safe. If you think you can put your hand up pray the prayer Jesus into your life and then ignore him. That's not good enough. That's not saving faith.

But likewise, it's not up to us to stay with someone is that with God's think of Jesus parable of the lost son? The sunset the father. I don't want to know you anymore. I want my inheritance and he ran away as far as he possibly could and squandered the well and leaves not how his father wanted him to but he came back. And the father will come to you with open arms. There was room for repentance who a way to see who has gone to Spa.

But if this is you if you feel like you're walking away from God's Not taking sin seriously giving up meeting together ignoring what the word of God says. That's a really dangerous way to leave.

This is what could lead to you rejecting Christ in tile a which is something God concert to give if you run away from Christ and you're not going to acknowledge Him. There's no room for repentance there.

Okay. Well, what about the said option that the hypothetical warnings? Scripture is full of assurance that God will carry on to completion the work that he started Philippians 1 Romans 8 really powerful is a lots of passages that speak of God's faithfulness to us and the fact that Grace is not dependent on us. But I think that these warnings are cheapest distant and too strong for us to think that they are not real. It's not just here in Haver is all throughout Haver is not in chat not just in chapter 6, but it's her painted throughout the New Testament. Take Colossians 1 for example from vest 21 once you are alienated from God and what enemies in your minds because of your evil Behavior, but now he has reconciled You by Christ physical body through death 2% you holy in his spot without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your face by establishing firm and do not move from the hype held at in the gospel. You're involved. Christian Life Is by Tasha Leigh reliant on the great Promises of God to carry to completion the good work. He started in your list. And it is one actually perseverance us actually putting off sin and becoming more like Jesus. Facelift hands to captions the two Dynamics in a 2 verse 12 and 13 pull says this will my dear friends as you have always a baby not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to Will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Johns Hopkins at Great Theologian. He's a Canadian fellow that he works in America when you hear him steak heels fake and then he'll lean forward and laying his glasses down on the top of his nose and you know, you supposed to take extra attention when he does that but he says they miss the Philippians had not told to work at the Salvation suit God has done his bit and now it's veteran know are they told that they should simply let go and let God suit salvation is all of Grace. Robber Baron cards to work out that salvation precisely because it is God he was at whacking them right at the level of their wills and at the level of their actions. So it's five scripture tells us to have great confidence in God's grace a Chaves not by you and me but by Christ and scripture app a day late charges, and wants us to persevere in the grace that we have received.

But you might be thinking isn't this a logical contradiction. How can I lose Grace? If God is faithful to his gift of Grace. I'll stroll we stop flashback topic Grace isn't something night and it's a gift from God. We are saved by grace and the Bible tells us that we continue bike race. We are not to presume upon God's grace will get complacent about Sin. I don't want you doing that can seem like a contradiction. But if you believe the Bible when it says it's trustworthy and true, we know that scripture contradict itself. I think here like so often we are in the realm of paradox and mystery rather than contradiction. Tiger a Canadian stay alert and don't Hassan again pulsates compatibilism. He says this is the view that the true statements are despite superficial evidence to the contrary mutually compatible. God is absolutely Suffern but his sovereignty does not in any mitigate. Anyway mitigate human responsibility. We choose we decide we obey we disobey We believe We were Bell and so on. Sciatica who I think is also Canadian is alright Sam. I just think Sam knows everything but clearly he doesn't I think it's another

Lifehacker doesn't call it compatibilism but he uses another word to describe the same phenomenon. He calls it an antinomy with two things of Kia contradictory, but they're actually both true. We don't know how to explain it by true, but they are now that might sound like a huge cop-out to you, but it happens all the time. Now the field sorry. I'm not a scientist. You might be a spy but I've read that science can prove that light behaves in waves and I don't know how boys can coexist. It shouldn't be the case of apparently it's very odd that they screw things coexistence. I thought we have to hold his true. Likewise with God's scripture is constantly asking us to accept seemingly contradictory truths. Jesus is by fully human and fully divine. God works the goods even through a table. God doesn't change by actively responds to a Pres. God is completely Sovereign he's in control, but we absolutely responsible to how we respond to him. There's so many treats in Scripture that are presented side-by-side as truth without shame. And I think that there is Mystery shouldn't surprise us.

If there is a God who would save a Wretch like me and you when we didn't deserve it, so you think it makes sense that he might understand things that weigh Giants and the Seas planet epices. We might sometimes struggle to understand.

Set a finish up. I think that's a better question to be asking. What is this passage thing to me today? Reading the Bible as we know is not just an academic exercise.

The have you heard God's voice in your life. Have you been impacted by the depth of your sin by God's Great goodness and loving you even though you sing and doing everything necessary to make it possible for you to leave last the fool and have life eternal. The writer of Hebrews doesn't muck around in Chapter 2. He says we must pay the most careful attention. So that what we've heard maybe HUD and we don't Drift Away. He says in chapter 3 we have come to share in Christ's if indeed we hold our original conviction family to the very end. As it is said from Psalm 95 today if you hear his voice do not Harden your hearts. Now we can't do this without God's help and without his grace. But there's a place for us to approach God's throne of grace. Even when we seeing even when we doubt to come to God as we are and say I need your help.

Are you hearing God's voice?

What you going to do about it? That's a far more important question than the questions. I was dealing with early actually. Are you going to take sinceriously to make sure you don't Drift Away? Are you going to take perseverance in becoming more like Jesus seriously?

If you're not sure whether to trust Jesus and he's head of the Gospel. What should you do with that? Do you need to talk to someone tonight about putting a trust in him? Do you need to tape investigating by reading the Bible with someone? And if you are a Christian person you have God's grace you have an end to it and it's with you. But then presume upon it don't get casual about the sin in your life. I know you're helping each other in that helping each other to Presa via and to trust him when it's hot.

What about Lacey and Mason? The Christians if you feel like you're drifting and you're not taking life with god seriously. Stop combat talk to someone tonight and tell them you're struggling. If you're anxious about whether you're really saved with your state is too great to be forgiven.

You're securing Crest you steam cannot separate you from Christ. As long as you continue to bring it to God's continued to wrestle with it and look forward to the hype of one day. Nothing's ever again in heaven.

John Stott, not a Canadians a legend but a British say Legend. He write a great book called why I am a Christian and he talks about when he came to trust in Jesus as a 17 year old. He says this. The Stranger at the door knocking until a preacher through light on my dilemma he spoke to me of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ explained that Christ died to 10 My Strange man into reconciliation and Bane rise from the dead to turn my defeat into Victory the correspondence between my subjective test no need and cross subjective ultah same to close to be a coincidence. Christ knocking became louder and more insistent Did I open the door or did he truly I did but I'm leaving cuz by his persistent knocking he made it possible.

Have you heard Jesus knocking at the door? Have you open the door? So he in a taping it open to him? Let's pray.

Father I thank you so much that you speak to us that you don't stay silent that you have not really done something about out desperate need for you. But you've done everything we need for that Lord. I pray that everyone he would have great confidence in your grace in making them right with you and I'm working in allies to continue to grow ass in face. I please help us to keep in step with the spirit to continue to put us in and put on godliness to Tessa V. It takes him seriously to take your help and others help. Please encourage us to have great confidence in what you've done for us and to never stop clinging to your cross and we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Nothing was getting ready. I change the order of service.

Actually sing we're going to have some question time because these are important things to think through an important things to understands go cold after love him without whole mines. But as well as challenged us the more important question here is the one about Hots. I don't know how God has been speaking to you tonight by the he has being convicting you of seeing that you have left unaddressed in your life whether he is being convicted you of not pursuing righteousness and Holiness as much as You chords. But we going to spend a little bit of time now bringing those two.