Hebrews 6
February Memory Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Read: Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:4-8 is difficult to understand.
In verses 4-5, it talks about someone who very much could be a believer. They have been enlightened, experienced the good things of Heaven and shared in the Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of God’s Word. If someone has all of these things, then we would obviously say without hesitation that they are a believer. But verse 6 takes a major turn, because the writer of Hebrews says that if they fall away then they have crucified Jesus again. Not only that, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring them back to repentance.
So the question is, can someone lose their salvation? The answer is No. Check 1 John 5:13.
So what does it mean for someone to have experienced all of these things and then fall away? Well, I think John Piper, a famous pastor and author, gives a great illustration, he says:
“I’ll be very personal, to give it its sharpest point. If in the coming years I commit apostasy and fall away from Christ, it will not be because I have not tasted of the word of God and the Spirit of God and the miracles of God. I have drunk of his word. The Spirit has touched me. I have seen his miracles and I have been his instrument for a few.
But if, over the next ten or twenty years, John Piper begins to cool off spiritually and lose interest in spiritual things and become more fascinated with making money and writing Christless books — if I buy the lie that a new wife would be exhilarating and that the children can fend for themselves and that the church of Christ is a drag and that the incarnation is a myth and that there is one life to live, so let us eat, drink, and be merry — if that happens, then know that the truth is this: John Piper was mightily deceived in the first fifty years of his life.”
And to his point: If this happened, then John Piper never really knew Jesus. That is what we have to understand. People may have “spiritual experiences” and never really know Jesus.
For us: I want you to be reminded of this important truth. Tim says it all the time, but, “You cannot come into contact with the resurrected Christ and remain unchanged.” Are you 100% sure that if you died today that you would go to be with Jesus? If you are wrestling with this question or have some doubts in your life, please email me at brice@cpclex.org. I would love to help you with any question you might have.
If you want to better understand Hebrews 6:4-8, check out this article from John Piper (it will take about 10-15 minutes to read).
What stood out to you from Hebrews 6?
By: Brice Stockton
Read: Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:4-8 is difficult to understand.
In verses 4-5, it talks about someone who very much could be a believer. They have been enlightened, experienced the good things of Heaven and shared in the Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of God’s Word. If someone has all of these things, then we would obviously say without hesitation that they are a believer. But verse 6 takes a major turn, because the writer of Hebrews says that if they fall away then they have crucified Jesus again. Not only that, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring them back to repentance.
So the question is, can someone lose their salvation? The answer is No. Check 1 John 5:13.
So what does it mean for someone to have experienced all of these things and then fall away? Well, I think John Piper, a famous pastor and author, gives a great illustration, he says:
“I’ll be very personal, to give it its sharpest point. If in the coming years I commit apostasy and fall away from Christ, it will not be because I have not tasted of the word of God and the Spirit of God and the miracles of God. I have drunk of his word. The Spirit has touched me. I have seen his miracles and I have been his instrument for a few.
But if, over the next ten or twenty years, John Piper begins to cool off spiritually and lose interest in spiritual things and become more fascinated with making money and writing Christless books — if I buy the lie that a new wife would be exhilarating and that the children can fend for themselves and that the church of Christ is a drag and that the incarnation is a myth and that there is one life to live, so let us eat, drink, and be merry — if that happens, then know that the truth is this: John Piper was mightily deceived in the first fifty years of his life.”
And to his point: If this happened, then John Piper never really knew Jesus. That is what we have to understand. People may have “spiritual experiences” and never really know Jesus.
For us: I want you to be reminded of this important truth. Tim says it all the time, but, “You cannot come into contact with the resurrected Christ and remain unchanged.” Are you 100% sure that if you died today that you would go to be with Jesus? If you are wrestling with this question or have some doubts in your life, please email me at brice@cpclex.org. I would love to help you with any question you might have.
If you want to better understand Hebrews 6:4-8, check out this article from John Piper (it will take about 10-15 minutes to read).
What stood out to you from Hebrews 6?
By: Brice Stockton
8 Comments
When life is not going well, we could all use a little assurance from God. A word of comfort from our Father. A grace from our Savior to strengthen our resolve.
Verse 11 offers some guidance so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end. The prescription is diligence, whether you are a believer, or whether you are one who is convinced of the gospel but not yet saved. Either person has been given access to "the good word of God" (v.5) which contains all the assurance, consolation, and medicine to cure what ails you.
"Then He opened their understanding--that they might understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45
Cannot deny the power of God's Word!
I am so glad that God allowed me to go through such a hard period of brokenness and sin prior to my conversion. He has used the fruit His Spirit has produced in me often to deepen the assurance I have. I am very feeble in my assurance sometimes and passages like this help me greatly.
Very encouraging to hear! Thanks Jordan!
Great devotion Brice. Other than revelation I have yet to find a tougher book to read and grasp than Hebrews. My study Bible mentions at least 4 different interpretations of verses 6-9. I believe that we can all at times allow our eternal security to be questioned by the devil. Those are typically thoughts of condemnation not conviction. I believe this chapter tends to lean itself more towards our endurance of our faith throughout our lives and spiritual maturity and that those that have fallen away and denounced our Lord and Savior did not experience the sealing of the Holy Spirit and therefore rejected truth from the start.
I completely agree with you Joey! Thanks for sharing that!
I think it’s incredibly hard to see someone fall away when they seemed to be doing all the “right” things. I have to remind myself over and over that I can’t change someone, that’s for God to do through the Holy Spirit. But I can pray and encourage! Thanks Brice for digging deeper on a confusing piece of scripture
It is undeniably tough, but you are right, it is not our job to save people. Thanks Rachel!