Can We Lose Our Salvation (2)

David Campbell Jr

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Can we lose our salvation?

This is a question that many have asked

It is a loaded question

A wrong understanding of this can lead to becoming a victim of condemnation

We must remember salvation is a gift

It is not earned

God is the one who chooses us

But He has given us freewill and we are accountable and have personal responsibility

Today we examine Hebrews 10:26-39

Main Text

Hebrews 10:26-39

Hebrews 10:26–39 (NASB95)

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,

partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.

But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Purpose of Hebrews

Hebrews was written to Jewish believers

They were Jews who had come to Christ and had placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ

The author of Hebrews is unknown

Many theories exist

But those who would read this letter were facing pressure to return to following the law and abandoning faith in Jesus Christ

Throughout Hebrews the author shows Jesus supremacy over everything

Jesus supremacy over angels and over Moses

The author also shows how Jesus sacrifice is the superior sacrifice

Hebrews 9:23-28

Hebrews 9:23–28 (NASB95)

Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.

Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Hebrews 10:8-14

Hebrews 10:8–14 (NASB95)

After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law),

then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Jesus sacrifice is the superior sacrifice

To abandon faith in Christ for the demands of the law is pure foolishness

It is to abandon faith in Jesus Christ because instead of trusting Christ for one’s righteousness, we are abandoning the precious gift of salvation and instead trying to earn our own righteousness

Warning is Given

Let us return to Hebrews 10:26-31

Hebrews 10:26–31 (NASB95)

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The ultimate sin where no forgiveness can be found is to reject what Jesus Christ has done for us

Hebrews 6:4-6

Hebrews 6:4–6 (NASB95)

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

The writer of Hebrews is writing to Jewish Christians who are considering and being pressured to abandon faith in Jesus Christ

In this warning he mentions those who willfully sin

after they have received a knowledge of the truth

He shows the consequence for those in Israel who abandoned the law of Moses and what resulted

On the testimony of two to three witnesses they would be put to death

But throughout the letter of Hebrews he has demonstrated the supremacy of Christ

Jesus said in John 6:44

John 6:44 (NASB95)

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Before a person comes to Christ they must be drawn by Almighty God

It is a work of His sovereignty

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4

Ephesians 1:4 (NASB95)

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

We are chosen by God

Does this mean that we have no personal responsibility?

Is it simply once saved always saved?

Can I live how ever I want and sin will have no impact on my life?

It is clear from scripture we have personal responsbility

In John 15:5-8

John 15:5–8 (NASB95)

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Jesus speaks of abiding in Him

Remaining in the truth

It is our responsibility as believers to remain in the truth

James speaks of how deceitful sin is

James 1:14-15

James 1:14–15 NASB95

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

We have a daily decision and responsibility to live for Christ

To remain in the word of God

If anyone abandons faith in Christ and dies in their sin there is no longer any way to make atonement for their sin

Our salvation and right standing before God is based on faith alone

Our entrance into God’s kingdom is based upon faith alone

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB95)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Without the hope of Christ it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the Living God

But thankful this is not where the letter to the Hebrews ended

A word of Encouragement

After a loving warning, we are given a word of encouragement

Hebrews 10:32-39

Hebrews 10:32–39 (NASB95)