Old Testament: Isaiah 5 & 6
Poetry: Psalm 61
New Testament: Hebrews 6
Is it possible to lose your salvation? The author of Hebrews thinks that this is a real possibility. It can happen. In Hebrews 3:12, he wrote, “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.” In Hebrews 6:5, he writes about those who “…. have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance…” Truly, these are very troubling words to read and to contemplate. We might wonder to ourselves, “I have gone too far? Have I sinned too much? Have I ruined my chances with God?” For each one of us are sinners. We are imperfect. We are prone to sin. We get distracted. We get discouraged. We get apathetic. Each of us can think of people who, at one time, sincerely followed Christ. They attended church. They lived good lives. Their faith seemed genuine. However, now things are different. They live as though they had never known the Lord. In some cases, they have openly embraced evil. The way of Christ has been rejected by them. Has their salvation been lost?
What is it to be saved? It may be helpful to think of salvation in terms of past, present and future. In the past tense, you have been saved. Christ died on the cross for your sins some 2000 years ago. The work is done. His blood covers all who come to Him in faith. Each one of you fondly remembers the day when you came to Christ. On that day, whether decades ago or only days ago, you were justified before God by the blood of Christ. So, you have been saved. In the future tense, you will be saved. Salvation, life eternal, is not yet in your possession. You are saved now only in hope and in promise. The resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ is when salvation will become yours. You will be saved. That is the past and future of salvation. What about the present? You are now being saved. You have been saved in the past. You are being saved in the present. You will be saved in the future. So, you are being saved. The present work of salvation in us has been called “sanctification.” It is a process. It is to grow into the image of Christ. God, by His Spirit, is working in you to change you and transform you. However, the Apostle Paul recognized that there is an ongoing struggle within each Christian. While we hope in the age to come, we still live in this present evil age. Paul in Romans 12:2 urged Christians “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Another common theme in the writings of Paul is the encouragement to live by the “Spirit” and not by the “flesh.” It is no wonder that Paul looked at the Christian life as a contest that must be won, a race that must be completed, a journey that must be finished, and a battle that must be waged. To be a Christian is to be actively engaged against sin and evil in your life. The book of Hebrews draws from the rich history of Israel to make the point. The people of Israel were saved from slavery in Egypt by God’s mighty works. The people of Israel left Egypt with the goal of entering the Promised Land. However, between the past and the future, between Egypt and the Promised Land was the wilderness. The wilderness wanderings are what tested the people of Israel for 40 years. The wilderness tried their faith and challenged their hope. Then, the people of Israel lived in the shadow of God’s presence. They had seen the mighty works of God. God fed them daily with the manna. He gave them water out of the rock to drink. However, as incredible as it may seem, many of them remained disobedient. They grumbled and complained. They wanted to go back to Egypt! Hebrews 4:1,2 comments, “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may have come short of it. For indeed we have had the good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” In the same way, we Christians find ourselves in a “wilderness” of sorts. Behind us lay our sins and our old way of life. Before us lay the Promised Land, the kingdom of God, eternal life. However, you are now walking through the wilderness of this present evil age. The wilderness is what can make you or break you. The wilderness experience will reveal who and what you really are. You have to keep your eyes upon the distant Promised Land.
Hebrews 6:4,5 observes, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted 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 to repentance, since they again crucify the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” This verse is not declaring a penalty against those who have fallen away. Rather, it is simply describing the reality of the human heart. Some of the Israelites of old were apparently untouched by the wonders that they had seen. They had short memories. They were easily discouraged by obstacles. They didn’t trust the God who had saved them. They returned to their old ways. In the same way, some Christians after tasting “the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” have fallen away. They were unimpressed by what God had done in them. They were no longer moved by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. After God had revealed His glory to them, what further could God do to convince them now? If you have seen miracles and all you can do is yawn, what more can God do with you? I believe God, in His grace, would allow repentance in these cases. However, can such a hardened heart be able to repent? If you have already proven yourself resistant to the Holy Spirit, you have rendered yourself blind and deaf to the saving gospel message. It is a though God has cooked you a wonderful gourmet meal with the best ingredients. However, you have no taste for what God is serving. So, you won’t be back because you have no appetite for what God is serving. Hebrews reads, “…it is impossible to renew them to repentance….” You have headed back to Egypt and have forsaken the Promised Land. What could convince you change your course now? God had given you his best and you didn’t want it.
However, it is not the intent of Hebrews to discourage, but to encourage. Hebrews 6:9 reads, “But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you….” Hebrews 6:11 adds, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end…” The book of Hebrews, taken as a whole, is a word of encouragement. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be overcome by sin. Have hope. Have faith in the promise of God. For God is faithful. For you will find troubles and challenges in the wilderness. So, brothers and sisters, if you are reading these words, you have not yet given up. You are not lost. You are still seeking the Promised Land. Hebrews 10:35,36,39 sums up this message: “Therefore don’t throw away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised….but we are not those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” So, the wilderness road may have beaten up a bit. You may have wandered in the wrong direction at times. Perhaps you had temporarily lost your way. You might have encountered obstacles. However, you are still on the road with your eyes focused on the Promised Land. Keep going and don’t give up.
-Scott Deane
Reflection Questions
- Why is it important to know what you believe about salvation?
- Have you accepted Jesus and been baptized? Are you assured of your salvation?
- What are some reminders you can put into your everyday routine to point you to living a gospel-centered life so that you don’t forget your primary calling?
Seek Grow Love 