"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."
* * * Hebrews 6: 4-6, kjv * * *
There are certain passages of Scripture, where a lack
of understanding causes doubt and failure in our walk with
our Lord. This passage just may be one. When we look at
this one, without that understanding, we may accept the
notion that we have fallen from grace. I do not believe that
these verses teach that a born again believer in our Lord is
in jeopardy of losing his relationship with Him because of
weakness or failure to live up to high standards of behavior.
When we read it carefully we see a soul who has come
to a head belief in Jesus, enlightened to certain facts of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, but has backed away after making
the statement that he has received the Lord to the saving of
his soul. He then, by his lifestyle and testimony, refutes this
testimony, bringing a reproach on the Lord God. There are
men who seemingly started well, but because of factors in
their lives, turned their backs on the Lord and became
detractors from the faith rather than followers of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
This passage of Scripture gives me pause since there
have been instances over the years when my conduct and
lifestyle has been "questionable." At eleven years of age I
made a profession of faith in Christ and have always been
a believer that Jesus is the only way for one to know God,
and personal relationship with him is required for the New
Birth. My hangup has been the failure on my part to live
in a way that honored my Lord. The resultant doubting of
my relationship with Jesus Christ caused me to live a "rol-
ler coaster" life and my witness and prayer life were weak
and largely ineffective; my Bible study was not dynamic.
During the past 10 years there has been a gradual, but
perceptible gain of assurance based on understanding that
salvation is neither gained through righteousness, nor do
our failures cause the Lord to take it away. I attribute this
turn around to deeper study and understanding of Scripture.
Writing this blog has kept me disciplined in the area of Bible
study and teaching a Bible study at my church has been a
big help.
To help in the application of this Scripture one must learn
the disposition of the persons to whom this book, Hebrews,
was written. This portion of Scripture was written, of course
to the world at large, but specifically to Hebrew or Jewish
believers. The new believers were certainly legalistic having
been steeped in the traditions of the Old Covenant from the
perspective of Priests, Levites, Pharisees, Sadducees and
their community, family and associates. On every side they
were constantly under pressure from believers and non-
believers from that community, to return to the keeping of
Jewish Law, statutes, commandments, precepts and of the
"lore" surrounding any large group of persons from a com-
mon ancestry. In effect, they were ostracized by family and
friends. Given the situation it is understandable that a num-
ber of them would turn back. This passage is a dire war-
ning against turning back to the "weak and beggarly ele-
elements of the law," that were unable to deliver one in the
first place.
In Galatians 4: 9, we find: "But now, after that ye have
known God, or rather are known of God, How turn ye back
to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire
again to be in bondage."
And in Galatians 3:10:
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the
curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to
do them." This is referring to the known fact that not one
soul, outside of Jesus Christ, ever kept the law continually
or perfectly. So, anyone who went back to the law was
accursed, and required to keep the commands perfectly.
Happily, this Scripture does not teach that persons who
are born again by the Spirit of the living God will return to
the letter of the law that kills, but is kept through the grace
love and mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We could not
save ourselves, and that is why we needed a Savior. We
are unable to keep ourselves saved and still must be "...in
Christ." In Ephesians 2: 8 we see: "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." Could it
be otherwise?
There is this, however; bringing reproach upon our Lord
and Savior, God the Father or particularly against the Holy
Spirit is serious business. One to start out claiming to be a
believer and seems to have gifts of the Spirit in life,then
turns back to a life of apparent unbelief, "back sliding," and
public sin; gives evidence that this one was never born of
the Spirit, or has fallen away. This reproach places one in a
precarious, and doubtful state. The chances of that one to
be restored to faith is in question. To say more than this is
beyond the knowledge of this poor sinner saved by grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ. The question; as to whether one may
lose his Salvation, once he is born from above of the Spirit
of God must be worked out by each individual believer. The
best way, is to be faithful to our Lord to keep anyone from
questioning your steadfast faith.
My mindset is always; If you can shed light on anything
addressed in this blog, do not hesitate; let me know on my
email; jlrsbnch@msn.com, I will gladly read and update any
post on this blog with your timely comment.
One further comment: If you have knowledge about the
Kingdom of God, His Word, or life principles relating to the
Kingdom, and a personal relationship with our Lord, I would
be privileged to have you as a "guest" on this blog. I will be
happy to post well written original articles for you here and
give credit if you choose.Thanks...God Bless!!
donporter,sr. 12.25.14
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