Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation? (Hebrews 5:11–6:12)
Todays sermon is more like a lecture. Notes are at RealFaith.com & study guide 2
Who do you know that has walked away Christ/Church? Have you? What happens?
Please stand for the reading of God’s Word
Hebrews 5:11–6:12 11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Pray
-Warnings = eg cell phones all alert for severe weather danger
-Hebrews = warning apostasy (being in Church, or claiming Christ, = not true believer)
NOT: A). Lost people B). Brand new XN C). Repentant XN (tender hearted XN’s)
7 Ways People Become Apostate and Deconstruct Their Faith
- Unteachable, being “dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11)
- Disobedient: “You need milk, not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12)
- Immature, a “child” (Hebrews 5:13)
- Self-Destructive, causing their “own harm” (Hebrews 6:6)
- Rebellious, having “fallen away” (Hebrews 6:6)
- Arrogant, holding the “Son of God” in “contempt” (Hebrews 6:6)
- Lazy, spiritually and morally “sluggish” (Hebrews 6:12)
What happens to someone who goes apostate?
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
- Possibly the most debated section in the NT
- 2 Peter 3:16 “hard to understand”
- Keeps us humble
- Raises question – Can XN lose salvation? Can you do something to undo cross?
- Open vs Closed handed issues
- Dialogue. Debate. NOT Dogmatic or Divided.
Interpretative Option #1 for Hebrews 5:11-6:12
Jewish people who have professed Christ, but stopped short of saving faith.
We do not know who wrote Hebrews, or who is was written to?
Hebrews 2:3 says the original recipients were not eyewitnesses to Jesus (2nd gen)
Sounds like believers
Hebrews 6:4-6, “those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come…”
= NO.
Interpretative Option #2 for Hebrews 5:11-6:12
Believers who have fallen into sin, and have lost their eternal rewards, but not their salvation.
- Bible encourages believers to live fruitful for eternal rewards
- We are saved by grace. We are rewarded for obedient faithfulness.
Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You
are serving the Lord Christ.”
Hebrews 6:7-8 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
= YES. (warning – bad witness lost, not helpful others, dishonor God)
Interpretative Option #3 for Hebrews 5:11-6:12
Former believers who have slipped back into unbelief and have lost their salvation.
The Perspicuity Principle: Interpret less clear Scripture in light of more clear Scripture.
- Perspicuity = means “clarity”
John 10:28-29, “I [Jesus] give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will 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.”
- “eternal life”
- “no one will snatch them out of my hand…[or] the Father’s hand”
? NOT can XN lose salvation. ? IS Can Christ lose a XN (Good Shepherd not that good)
John 6:39-40, “this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that
everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Lastly, there is a “golden thread” of salvation that stretches
from before you were born to after you die, spoken of in
The “Golden Thread” of Romans 8:31-39 ends with, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
= NO (warning: You cannot lose salvation, but can fake faith (Judas Iscariot).
interpretative Option #4 for Hebrews 5:11-6:12
True believers who are fearful, panicked, and need to stop worrying about the impossibility of losing their salvation and grow up, mature, and move forward in faith.
- Scared Prodigals – respond emotional fear w/logical reason
· People who care a lot about not going to Heaven are usually believers
In argumentation, “reductio ad absurdum” (reduce to absurdity) is used to take a thesis that is incorrect, and follow it’s logical implications to an absurd conclusion.
2 Reasons Why Hebrews 5:11-6:12 Does Not Teach A Christian Can Lose Their Salvation
#1. If there is a sin Jesus did not die for, we need to bring Him back from Heaven and to kill Him for that sin by, “crucifying once again the Son of God” (Hebrews 6:6).
#2. Hebrews 6:9-12 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Did not lose salvation, did lose “full assurance”
=YES (warning: Prodigal vs Apostate – 2 walk away, 1 comes back (Peter & Judas)
Interpretative Option #5 for Hebrews 5:11-6:12
This section of Scripture is a warning about the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea in the days of Moses, using the same language (Numbers 13-14; Psalm 95).
- God’s people wilderness wandering.
- Wanted to go back to Egypt, mob riot planned to stone Moses and Aaron
- God banned them from Promised Land
- Went into battle w/o God & got slaughtered
=YES (warning: You can be in Church & ruin your life & family, Heaven ???)
3/5 are Possible/ YES
Close:
2 Timothy 2:19 God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
