Eternal Security Taught In Hebrews 6

[swathdiver]

Posted are two links to two articles from different authors:

 

On the front page "Falling From Grace":

 

http://www.baptistchallenge.org/challenge/02dectbc.pdf

 

On Page 10, "Grammatically, Hebrews 6:4-6 Teaches Believer's Security"

 

http://www.baptistchallenge.org/challenge/95septbc.pdf

 

Pastor Moser also has a 4 part series on Eternal Security beginning with the March 2003 edition through the June 2003 newsletter.

 

This post was prompted by a comment from Donillo, that one can lose their salvation and that Hebrews 6-4:6 does NOT teach eternal security.

 

"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."

 

Please pray for understanding.

[ASongOfDegrees]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Hebrews was written to Jews in the "last day" (Heb. 1:2) and people during the Great Tribulation, unlike us, will no have eternal security seeing the Holy Ghost no longer seals the individual as we are today. 

 

I know this will be rejected outright as heresy and I know I'm not the only one in this forum who holds this position but it's the only way the passage makes sense because it clearly does state someone who was once saved can lose their salvation and never get it back again. 

 

If a man takes the mark of the beast during the tribulation, be he saved or unsaved at the time, he will go straight to hell.

 

John 6:66- From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

[No Nicolaitans]

I'll throw my two-cents in...

 

Hebrews is dealing with Jews who were on the fence (so to speak) as to whether they would accept Christ or not.  I personally don't believe the verses in question are talking about people who were already saved because of some key words...

 

Hebrews 6:4-6

4   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,

5   And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6   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.

 

1.  They had been "enlightened" - they had been exposed to the truth concerning Christ.

2.  They had only "tasted" the heavenly gift (salvation) - they had not taken it in.

3.  They were "MADE partakers" of the Holy Ghost - they had seen the Holy Ghost at work in the lives of others.

4.  They had only "tasted" the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come - again, only tasting, not taking it in.

 

These Jews were on the fence.  Would they accept Christ, or would the draw to stay with Judaism be too strong; thereby, causing them to return to it and reject Christ?

 

They had been given the truth.  They had seen the results of salvation in the lives of others.  Yet, the cost of leaving Judaism was too strong for them.  To return to Judaism, after seeing salvation in Christ in the lives of others first-hand...would harden their hearts to the gospel thereafter.

 

That's my view...

[Eric Stahl]

We have eternal security as soon as we accept Jesus into our heart. We can lose our rewards but we ourselves shall be saved.

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

 

¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

[swathdiver]

Folks, that verse means that it is impossible for one who is saved (Enlightened and partakers of the Holy Ghost) for them to fall away and be renewed again.  Once saved, always saved.  It also teaches that one who appears to fall away was never saved to begin with.

 

Please read the accompanying articles without considering your teachings.

[Standing Firm In Christ]

I'll throw my two-cents in...

 

Hebrews is dealing with Jews who were on the fence (so to speak) as to whether they would accept Christ or not.  I personally don't believe the verses in question are talking about people who were already saved because of some key words...

 

Hebrews 6:4-6

4   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,

5   And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6   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.

 

1.  They had been "enlightened" - they had been exposed to the truth concerning Christ.

2.  They had only "tasted" the heavenly gift (salvation) - they had not taken it in.

3.  They were "MADE partakers" of the Holy Ghost - they had seen the Holy Ghost at work in the lives of others.

4.  They had only "tasted" the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come - again, only tasting, not taking it in.

 

These Jews were on the fence.  Would they accept Christ, or would the draw to stay with Judaism be too strong; thereby, causing them to return to it and reject Christ?

 

They had been given the truth.  They had seen the results of salvation in the lives of others.  Yet, the cost of leaving Judaism was too strong for them.  To return to Judaism, after seeing salvation in Christ in the lives of others first-hand...would harden their hearts to the gospel thereafter.

 

That's my view...

Agreed. 

I look at Hebrews 6:4-6 in the light of the account of the ten lepers.  All had received a divine touch.  Yet only one came back to give honour to the Lord.

I do not see Hebrews 6:4-6 as speaking of a people who were already saved and retaining their Salvation.  Rather, I see it, as you say, the unsaved who experience enlightenment but refuse to commit themselves to Christ.

[Bro K]

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, Hebrews was written to Jews in the "last day" (Heb. 1:2) and people during the Great Tribulation, unlike us, will no have eternal security seeing the Holy Ghost no longer seals the individual as we are today."

 

Where these not Christian Jews? 

Vs 2 is stating that as in time past God spoke to OT fathers through the Prophets; and in these last days he hath spoken to us through Christ. These last days were the present days that the writer(unto us) was living. I cannot see any reference to the Great Tribulation. If I missed it; please show me where it is.
 

[Ukulelemike]

I'll throw my two-cents in...

 

Hebrews is dealing with Jews who were on the fence (so to speak) as to whether they would accept Christ or not.  I personally don't believe the verses in question are talking about people who were already saved because of some key words...

 

Hebrews 6:4-6

4   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,

5   And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6   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.

 

1.  They had been "enlightened" - they had been exposed to the truth concerning Christ.

2.  They had only "tasted" the heavenly gift (salvation) - they had not taken it in.

3.  They were "MADE partakers" of the Holy Ghost - they had seen the Holy Ghost at work in the lives of others.

4.  They had only "tasted" the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come - again, only tasting, not taking it in.

 

These Jews were on the fence.  Would they accept Christ, or would the draw to stay with Judaism be too strong; thereby, causing them to return to it and reject Christ?

 

They had been given the truth.  They had seen the results of salvation in the lives of others.  Yet, the cost of leaving Judaism was too strong for them.  To return to Judaism, after seeing salvation in Christ in the lives of others first-hand...would harden their hearts to the gospel thereafter.

 

That's my view...

This is actually an excellent picture of Judas Iscariot: He had been enlightened by Him that lighteneth every man that comes into the world. He ad tasted the heavenly gift and been made partaker of the Holy Ghost-in that he had gone out with the other disciples and cast out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead-he had tasted the good word-he walked with the Good Word, in fact, yet at the end, he rejected, never having been saved.

[Donillo]

I have seen on this thread that there are different interpretations of this passage. For this reason, I'm against being dogmatic on doctrine and in the end it serves only to distract. For some, the question will burn in their minds and they will either lose faith or eventually find peace with God. Many have left the faith because of doctrinal differences, legalism, etc., distracting from the gospel message.

[No Nicolaitans]

This is actually an excellent picture of Judas Iscariot: He had been enlightened by Him that lighteneth every man that comes into the world. He ad tasted the heavenly gift and been made partaker of the Holy Ghost-in that he had gone out with the other disciples and cast out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead-he had tasted the good word-he walked with the Good Word, in fact, yet at the end, he rejected, never having been saved.

 

Interesting observation and parallel.  

 

I have seen on this thread that there are different interpretations of this passage. For this reason, I'm against being dogmatic on doctrine and in the end it serves only to distract. For some, the question will burn in their minds and they will either lose faith or eventually find peace with God. Many have left the faith because of doctrinal differences, legalism, etc., distracting from the gospel message.

 

But Donillo, God puts much emphasis on and stresses the importance of doctrine in his holy word.

[Donillo]

Interesting observation and parallel.


But Donillo, God puts much emphasis on and stresses the importance of doctrine in his holy word.

Doctrine = love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

[Ukulelemike]

You know, whether one can or can't lose salvation should really be a moot point, right? Seriously, think about it.

 

If one can lose salvation, how would it have to be done? Since we are saved by grace through faith, IF, and I repeat, IF, one could lose it, it would HAVE to be through a complete and total rejection of the reality of Jesus Christ and a total loss of faith. Now, be it understood, I don't believe that's even possible, and those who claim to have been a Christian but lost it, I declare they were never saved in the first place.  

 

This being said if you COULD, then why be concerned? Just believe and obey and stop worrying over it-unless you're planning on completely losing your faith in the existence of Jesus Christ, you can't possibly be lost. If you could be lost again. Which you can't. 

 

generally the question only comes up because we sometimes have a loved one who is living in sin, and we just hope they were truly saved once, so they don't lose it, or we  reflect over it because of our own sin and disobedience, or we want to live like the devil, but still claim to be saved.   But if we just live as Christ wants us to, it would never be an important point for us, now would it?

[Ukulelemike]

Doctrine = For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Doctrine = My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27-29)

[prophet1]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Hebrews was written to Jews in the "last day" (Heb. 1:2) and people during the Great Tribulation, unlike us, will no have eternal security seeing the Holy Ghost no longer seals the individual as we are today.

I know this will be rejected outright as heresy and I know I'm not the only one in this forum who holds this position but it's the only way the passage makes sense because it clearly does state someone who was once saved can lose their salvation and never get it back again.

If a man takes the mark of the beast during the tribulation, be he saved or unsaved at the time, he will go straight to hell.

John 6:66- From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

No one ,who is saved, will take the Mark. All who take it will be damned. No new form of salvation necessary.

Anishinaabe

[Eric Stahl]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

You can not take yourself from God.

 

If a dog runs away, who does he belong too?

 

You do not have the power to lose your self because you don't own yourself!