The Word This Week

Hebrews 6:1...

What is the danger of turning back to religious rituals and practices once you have tasted and seen the blessings and grace of Jesus Christ?

Is it even possible to turn back?

For many people, the first eight verses of Hebrews Chapter 6 is one of the most troubling passages in all of the Bible.

The reason is because it not only presents the possibility of turning back from Christ once you have been, “enlightened and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,” but it further states it is “impossible” to renew those who have done so to repentance.

This is very serious and very sobering.

We need to take a step back and realize no matter whether you believe - as most do – Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews or not, the Holy Spirit is the Author.

What, exactly, is the Holy Spirit communicating here? Is He saying you not only can ‘lose’ your salvation - but that once you have lost it you can never return to it?

This is the aspect that troubles theologians most, and there are no certain answers for us other than what the text says.

Men bring their theological perspectives to this passage and seek to understand it based on their preconceived notions of their understanding of eternal security.

Some will say, “Once saved, always saved.” (Once born of Christ, you cannot be unborn.) If this is your theological perspective, you will argue a person who turns back from Christ was never truly saved in the first place. But Hebrews 6:4-6 argues against this. They indeed have ‘tasted’ Christ and been ‘enlightened’ by Christ. And then they turned away.

Some will say, “Yes, you CAN lose your salvation,” and they will present any number of ways this can happen. They might say you can lose your salvation - and you can return to it again - any time you want. But Hebrews 6:4-6 also argues against this.

Upon closer inspection, isn’t it good to know this part of this passage is speaking of “those” and “them,” and not “us” – the “beloved?” We, “the beloved,” KNOW our eternal security is found in abiding in Christ – Who is of the order of Melchizedek.

Pastor Bill