1 John 3:16


"By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Thursday 25 February 2010

Hebrews Six

Hebrews 6 is often raised in discussions like this. Can a believer lose their salvation? Hebrews 6 is about those people Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sower, who did not receive the word on good ground. They were not sons. Hebrews 6 does not mean that God will refuse to restore the backslider. God will restore any backslider who returns to Him. God never rejects the penitent.

Peter saw all the miracles that Jesus did. He saw Jesus walk on water. Peter himself walked on water. Peter healed the sick and cast out demons and was sent out with the 12 and the 70. He tasted of the powers of the world to come. He claimed that he would never fall away. He would stand with Jesus in His trial and maybe even help Jesus redeem us! This is our view when we think that we play a part. Peter denied Christ and cursed Christ. Yet Jesus restored him.

Man, in his good intentions on repentance, salvation and sanctification, can do no better than Peter. This is why we have a Saviour, Furnisher and Finisher: Jesus.
Hebrews 6 (just like Heb 10:26) says that if someone leaves Christ then there is no repentance outside of Christ. There is no repentance (no remission of sins) in Judaism or in Buddhism. By this we mean effectual repentance to eternal life and transformation. There is only effectual repentance in Jesus Christ. So, if the Hebrews were to leave Him and go to Judaism, they would not find repentance and salvation there. There is no other sacrifice for sin.

Some say that God did not accept Esau, though he sought repentance with tears (Heb 12:17). Esau did not seek repentance (change of mind) for himself, but from his father: that his father might change his mind about giving Jacob the blessing. He did not care about the birthright, but wanted Isaac to change his mind about blessing Jacob.

Saul did not seek repentance. These are examples of the reprobate, who are sorry for their sin for a season, but they go right back to it again. They do not change, though they exhibit sorrow. Judas Iscariot was of this nature. Peter said they are like a pig that returns to the mud after being washed (2 Pet 2:22).

They are not born of God’s Spirit. These people may speak in tongues and prophecy, as Saul did. They might have financial miracles and cast out devils, like Judas did. They may even come out of some outward sins for a time; “be washed”. But then they return to it.

It is wrong to say that anyone cannot be restored. There is no one who cannot be restored. The unforgivable sin is refusing the gospel, which is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. We know people who have backslidden into Islam, returning to the Mosque and have been restored by the Lord and been used by Him. These are trophies of His grace. Jesus came to save. People face different trials and circumstances and we do not know their hearts. God does.

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