Post by M. Hawbaker on Sept 26, 2018 7:07:51 GMT
Folks, imho it is not a matter of 'loosing your salvation' -- it is a matter of rejecting it. The same God who said that He would in no wise cast us out also said these words found in Hebrews 6.
However, a careful examination of this passage may bring a better understanding and some comfort to those who have experienced loss.
Consider this: this passage in Hebrews lists several things that indicate a level of spiritual maturity which most people never attain.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
This passage indicates five things which show a deep level of maturity:
1. Those who were once enlightened. This indicates that the person Paul is describing has been enlightened. Later in Hebrews, he indicates that this means the person has understood the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:32). There, the writer says that after we were enlightened, there was a great fight of affliction that tried to keep us from making the commitment to become a follower of Jesus. Anyone who is saved has progressed to this point -- they have been enlightened to understand their need for a saviour.
2. Those who have tasted of the heavenly Gift. The word used for gift here is 'dorea'. It is a gift that is given freely. In John 4:10, Jesus said that He was the Gift sent from heaven. IN Romans 5:15, salvation through grace is called 'the gift of grace. Romans 5:17 says this gift of grace produces righteousness. So then, after becoming enlightened by seeing our need for salvation through Jesus - the heavenly Gift of salvation is received and the person is saved. All true Christians have progressed through this point, too.
3. They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. This indicates the next level of progression is to be a partaker of the Holy Ghost. I am not going to argue whether you believe the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is a valid experience for believers today, but suffice it to say that this phrase indicates that a person at a minimum is a 'friendly companion of the Holy Ghost'. The Septuagint says this - 'thy God has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above your companions..." (Psalm 45:7). Now we get to where the rubber meets the road. Even though many people have made a confession of faith, fewer of these people have gone on to become a friendly companion of the Holy Ghost. To be led by the Spirit of God. Walking in the Spirit of God so that we don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh... There are fewer believers that continue in this discipline.
4. These have tasted of the Good Word of God. This is yet another level of maturity. To follow on from being led by the Holy Spirit to studying, understanding and knowing the Word of God deletes more Christians from the level of maturity necessary to reject salvation once it has been received. The writer of Hebrews lays out a list of foundational doctrines which we should all understand fully. Most don't. This list includes:
1. Repentance from dead works.
2. Faith towards God
3. The doctrine of Baptisms (plural)
4. Laying on of Hands
5. The Resurrection of the Dead
6. Eternal Judgment.
Until someone has a working knowledge of these doctrines (at a minimum), they would not have the maturity to make any decision regarding rejecting their salvation.
5. They have experienced the power of the coming Kingdom of God. This final level of maturity removes even more Christians from the list of those who could reject salvation, once they are saved. The word translated power is 'dunamis'... it is where we derive the words 'dynamo' (a device which produces power) and 'dynamite' (a device which displays power). The Bauer Greek-English Lexicon says that this word means "power, strength, acts of power, supernatural strength or power, the Power of God, the power to perform miracles'. Unless a Christian has seen the mighty power of God working in and through their lives, through miracles or acts of supernatural power, they are not mature enough to make a decision regarding rejecting their salvation.
- - - - -
In my opinion, Paul made this list for two reasons. First of all, as a warning to those who are mature in the LORD. Do not get haughty, you see God working in your life, but remember that it is God. He enlightened you, He saved you, He talks with you and guides you, He teaches you the Word, He is the source of the power... you are not. When you get to the point that you believe YOU are the power and teacher and saviour and Holy Spirit to others, you are heading for a fall. And this fall may bring you to the point that you would reject your Salvation.
The second reason Paul made this list is to comfort those who have felt like giving up. To comfort those who have lost family members and friends who have seemed to reject God at the end. He is saying here -- were they mature? Did they really know the Word of God? Did they see the Power of the LORD working in their lives? If not, then they couldn't have rejected the LORD, they weren't old enough, spiritually.
As a parent, I have a bit of understanding of how this would work, I believe. If my daughter came to me when she was 5 years old (especially right after being spanked) and said 'I hate you daddy'... it would have NO meaning or bearing on our relationship. She is 5 years old. She has NO understanding of the gravity of those words! If she came when she was 11 -- it may take longer to win her back, but it would do nothing to me and never lessen the love I have for my little girl. However, if she was 35 years old, and said 'I hate you daddy." It would change our relationship. We would be estranged and alienated from one another. That is the essence of loosing your salvation -- to return to the place where you are alienated from the hope of God.
One last thing:
Consider that there were 500 people that saw Jesus with their own eyes before He ascended into heaven (I Corinthians 15:6).
But there were only 120 who were there only one week later at Pentecost (Acts 1:15).
Then there were only 70 who went out to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout Israel (Luke 10:1).
There were only 12 to whom the Parables and Word were revealed (Mark 4:10-11).
However, there were only 3 who were known as Jesus' closest friends, and were His companions through thick and thin and saw the LORD in all His glory -- Peter James and John (Matthew 17:1, see also Mark 5:37, Mark 14:33, and Luke 8:51)!
- - - - - - - - - - -
I hope this brings comfort and understanding to this seemingly difficult passage from the Letter to the Messianic Jews (Hebrews).
However, a careful examination of this passage may bring a better understanding and some comfort to those who have experienced loss.
Consider this: this passage in Hebrews lists several things that indicate a level of spiritual maturity which most people never attain.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
This passage indicates five things which show a deep level of maturity:
1. Those who were once enlightened. This indicates that the person Paul is describing has been enlightened. Later in Hebrews, he indicates that this means the person has understood the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:32). There, the writer says that after we were enlightened, there was a great fight of affliction that tried to keep us from making the commitment to become a follower of Jesus. Anyone who is saved has progressed to this point -- they have been enlightened to understand their need for a saviour.
2. Those who have tasted of the heavenly Gift. The word used for gift here is 'dorea'. It is a gift that is given freely. In John 4:10, Jesus said that He was the Gift sent from heaven. IN Romans 5:15, salvation through grace is called 'the gift of grace. Romans 5:17 says this gift of grace produces righteousness. So then, after becoming enlightened by seeing our need for salvation through Jesus - the heavenly Gift of salvation is received and the person is saved. All true Christians have progressed through this point, too.
3. They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. This indicates the next level of progression is to be a partaker of the Holy Ghost. I am not going to argue whether you believe the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is a valid experience for believers today, but suffice it to say that this phrase indicates that a person at a minimum is a 'friendly companion of the Holy Ghost'. The Septuagint says this - 'thy God has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above your companions..." (Psalm 45:7). Now we get to where the rubber meets the road. Even though many people have made a confession of faith, fewer of these people have gone on to become a friendly companion of the Holy Ghost. To be led by the Spirit of God. Walking in the Spirit of God so that we don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh... There are fewer believers that continue in this discipline.
4. These have tasted of the Good Word of God. This is yet another level of maturity. To follow on from being led by the Holy Spirit to studying, understanding and knowing the Word of God deletes more Christians from the level of maturity necessary to reject salvation once it has been received. The writer of Hebrews lays out a list of foundational doctrines which we should all understand fully. Most don't. This list includes:
1. Repentance from dead works.
2. Faith towards God
3. The doctrine of Baptisms (plural)
4. Laying on of Hands
5. The Resurrection of the Dead
6. Eternal Judgment.
Until someone has a working knowledge of these doctrines (at a minimum), they would not have the maturity to make any decision regarding rejecting their salvation.
5. They have experienced the power of the coming Kingdom of God. This final level of maturity removes even more Christians from the list of those who could reject salvation, once they are saved. The word translated power is 'dunamis'... it is where we derive the words 'dynamo' (a device which produces power) and 'dynamite' (a device which displays power). The Bauer Greek-English Lexicon says that this word means "power, strength, acts of power, supernatural strength or power, the Power of God, the power to perform miracles'. Unless a Christian has seen the mighty power of God working in and through their lives, through miracles or acts of supernatural power, they are not mature enough to make a decision regarding rejecting their salvation.
- - - - -
In my opinion, Paul made this list for two reasons. First of all, as a warning to those who are mature in the LORD. Do not get haughty, you see God working in your life, but remember that it is God. He enlightened you, He saved you, He talks with you and guides you, He teaches you the Word, He is the source of the power... you are not. When you get to the point that you believe YOU are the power and teacher and saviour and Holy Spirit to others, you are heading for a fall. And this fall may bring you to the point that you would reject your Salvation.
The second reason Paul made this list is to comfort those who have felt like giving up. To comfort those who have lost family members and friends who have seemed to reject God at the end. He is saying here -- were they mature? Did they really know the Word of God? Did they see the Power of the LORD working in their lives? If not, then they couldn't have rejected the LORD, they weren't old enough, spiritually.
As a parent, I have a bit of understanding of how this would work, I believe. If my daughter came to me when she was 5 years old (especially right after being spanked) and said 'I hate you daddy'... it would have NO meaning or bearing on our relationship. She is 5 years old. She has NO understanding of the gravity of those words! If she came when she was 11 -- it may take longer to win her back, but it would do nothing to me and never lessen the love I have for my little girl. However, if she was 35 years old, and said 'I hate you daddy." It would change our relationship. We would be estranged and alienated from one another. That is the essence of loosing your salvation -- to return to the place where you are alienated from the hope of God.
One last thing:
Consider that there were 500 people that saw Jesus with their own eyes before He ascended into heaven (I Corinthians 15:6).
But there were only 120 who were there only one week later at Pentecost (Acts 1:15).
Then there were only 70 who went out to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout Israel (Luke 10:1).
There were only 12 to whom the Parables and Word were revealed (Mark 4:10-11).
However, there were only 3 who were known as Jesus' closest friends, and were His companions through thick and thin and saw the LORD in all His glory -- Peter James and John (Matthew 17:1, see also Mark 5:37, Mark 14:33, and Luke 8:51)!
- - - - - - - - - - -
I hope this brings comfort and understanding to this seemingly difficult passage from the Letter to the Messianic Jews (Hebrews).