We start this discussion by stating unequivocally that there
are NO born again Christians who are not eternally secure in
the Lord Jesus Christ. However, there is a range of
consequences for Christians who commit sin. Those
consequences range from guilt to death. Unless we sin the
sin unto death, the first consequence of sin is the loss of
fellowship with the LORD. If we commit the sin unto death,
then God takes us out of this life as a consequence of that
sin unto death. We will deal with the sin unto death in more
depth later.
If we do not respond to Holy Ghost conviction when we sin,
we could come under the chastising hand of the LORD (Hebrews
12:5–11). We could also be delivered to physical death if we
do not repent (Romans 8:12-13, 1 John 5:16-17, 1 Corinthians
5:1-5 ). We will talk more about those later. If you are a
child of God, the first consequence of sin is the guilt that
comes from the convicting Spirit of the Holy Ghost. Guilt
lets you know that you have offended the Holy Ghost who is
in you. If after having been under conviction you do not
repent, God will break fellowship with you. That fellowship
will not be restored until you repent. You are still a child
of God, but you out of fellowship with him. God does not
disown a Christian when they sin. He deals with them as
sons. He has infinite compassion for those who sin. That is
why he sent his Son to the cross. I have a question for
those who believe God takes their salvation away when they
sin. If a man and women has a child that does something they
have told them not to do, in other words, that child has
sinned against them, are they still that child’s mother and
father? Of course, they are! That child’s disobedience did
not break that relationship that was established by birth.
That child’s disobedience broke the ideal fellowship between
themselves and their mother and father. That ideal
fellowship will be restored when they repent toward their
parents. That is exactly the way God operates. As a born
again child of God, we do not lose our eternal relationship
with God when we sin. We break fellowship with God until we
repent of that sin and forsake it. God gave us a roadmap to
restoration of that fellowship in 1 John. Let us see some of
what the Bible says about sin and the Christian.
(1) The sin of the Christian breaks fellowship with the LORD
Jesus Christ and his people (1Corinthians 5:11-13, Ephesians
5:11, 1 John 1:3-7):
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep
company, if any man that is called a brother be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such
an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to
judge them also that are without? do not ye judge
them that are within? 13 But them that are without
God judgeth. Therefore put away from among
yourselves that wicked person. 1 Corinthians 5:11–13
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:11
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with
his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we
unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is
the message which we have heard of him, and declare
unto you, that God is light, and in him is no
darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not
the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is
in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin. 1 John 1:3–7 |
(2) The sinning Christian loses rewards (2 John 8, 1
Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10):
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things
which we have wrought, but that we receive a full
reward. 2 John 8
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build
upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every 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. 14 If any man’s
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall
be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:11–15
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or
absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9–10 |
(3) When A Christian sins, they have an advocate with the
Father (1 John 2:1-2):
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My little children, these things write I unto you,
that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our
sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world. 1 John 2:1–2 |
(4) When a Christian sins, they are forgiven if they will
confess their sins (1John 1:9):
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9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 |
(5) The sinning Christian is chastened at the hand of the
Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:5-11):
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5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when
thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth
with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had
fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after
their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:5–11 |
(6) There is a sin unto physical death for a Christian
(Romans 8:12-13, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 1 John 5:16-17):
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the
flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live
after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall
live. Romans 8:12–13
It is reported commonly that there is fornication
among you, and such fornication as is not so much as
named among the Gentiles, that one should have his
father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not
rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed
might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily,
as absent in body, but present in spirit, have
judged already, as though I were present, concerning
him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered
together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan
for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1
Corinthians 5:1–5
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not
unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life
for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin
unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin
not unto death. 1 John 5:16–17 |
In Romans 8:12-13 and 1 John 5:16-17 the sin unto death is
not tied to a specific sin. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 the sin
unto death is identified as fornication by a step son with
his step mother. We may have an example of the sin unto
death in Acts 5:1-11 where both Ananias and his wife
Sapphira lied to God the Holy Ghost and the congregation
about something they sold and were going to give all the
proceeds to the church and instead held back part of the
proceeds.
Hebrews 5:9 refers to that which saved folk have in the Lord
Jesus Christ as “eternal salvation”. We have already shown
that the New Testament refers to that eternal salvation as
either “eternal life” or “everlasting life” at least 45
different times. Eternal or everlasting cannot be called
temporary life or conditional life. 1 Peter 1:3-4 refers to
this everlasting life as follows:
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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1 Peter
1:3–4 |
Peter said it “fadeth not away”. That is another way of
saying that it is eternal or everlasting. Before we proceed
further we need to look at how the words “save”, “saved”,
and “saving” are used in the New Testament.
The word “save” and its cognates occur 124 times in the New
Testament. That group of cognates includes the words “save”,
“saved”, and “saving”. We read and studied all of those in
context. In the context of our study on Eternal Security, it
is very important to understand that the use of the words
“save”, “saved”, or “saving” is not always about the
salvation of the soul. The word “save” is used 22 times of
the soul and spirit in the New Testament. The word “saved”
is used 43 times of the soul and spirit in the New
Testament. The word “saving” is used once of the soul and
spirit in the New Testament. The word “save” is used of the
flesh 18 times in the New Testament. The word “saved” is
used of the flesh 15 times in the New Testament. The word
“saving” is used of the flesh one time in the New Testament.
The word “save” is used in the sense of “except” 22 times in
the New Testament. The word “saving” is used in the sense of
“excepting” 3 times in the New Testament. Now, why did we do
all that research? Because Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13,
Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:13, and Mark 13:20 are wrongfully
used to teach that you must endure to the end to be saved.
That is a big problem. Those verses have nothing to do with
the saving of the soul and spirit. Everyone of them is a
reference to the saving of the flesh. If the words “saved”
are interpreted in the full context of where they occur, it
is obvious that saved is talking about the flesh being saved
and not the soul and spirit. We will discuss those verses
later.
This part of our study is not intended to address every
passage that is, or could be, used to deny the doctrine of
Eternal Security. This section also will not address any
passages that are used to advocate for works based salvation
even though a denial of Eternal Security is an advocation
for works based salvation. If you believe through sin, or
through your evil works, or through your lack of good works,
that you can lose your salvation and then get it back, you
are putting the Lord Jesus Christ to open shame. You are
crucifying him again and again (Hebrews 6:4-6).
There are at least 21 verses that are wrongfully used to
teach that you can lose your salvation. They include:
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Matthew 7:21, Matthew 8:11-12, Matthew 10:22,
Matthew 24:13, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30,
Mark 13:13, Luke 9:62, John 15:6, Romans 11:19-23, 1
Corinthians 9:27, Philippians 2:12, Philippians
3:9-14, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 12:15,
James 2:24, 1 Peter 1:9, 1 Peter 4:18, 2 Peter
2:20-22, and Revelation 22:18-19. |
Of those 21, we are going to look at Matthew 7:21, Matthew
10:22, Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13, 1 Corinthians 9:27,
Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:29, and Hebrews 12:15:
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15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do
men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can
a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and
cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye
shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy
name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:15–23 |
In Matthew 7:15–23, we have very religious people who have
tried to work their way to heaven by performing religious
works. Notice they were boasting about the many wonderful
works they had done in Jesus name. Yet, the Lord Jesus
Christ called these religious folks ravening wolves, thorns,
thistles, corrupt trees, and evil fruit. After having
identified these religious people by their evil fruits, he
leaves no doubt that they were never saved to start with
when he said: “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity”. At the outset, these religious devils had no
salvation to lose. I want you to notice something else very
alarming about these religious folks! They were casting out
devils in Jesus’ name. That statement should bring into
focus a very vivid image of what we see, and have seen
happening now and historically in many of the meetings of
the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. They make a
mockery of the Lord Jesus Christ and the church of the
living God. They bring reproach upon the Lord Jesus Christ
and his church. Many of these heretics go about lightly
claiming they are rebuking Satan and casting out devils and
evil spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are
presumptuous. Those who do these things presumptuously
should hear the warning of the Holy Ghost from Acts 19:13-17
and Jude 8-10:
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists,
took upon them to call over them which had evil
spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We
adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And
there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief
of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit
answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know;
but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil
spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and
prevailed against them, so that they fled out of
that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known
to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus;
and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was magnified. Acts 19:13–17
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the
flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of
dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when
contending with the devil he disputed about the body
of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing
accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But
these speak evil of those things which they know
not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts,
in those things they corrupt themselves. Jude 8–10 |
There is a very strong message in these two passages of
scripture. Note that in Acts 19 that God allowed the man who
was possessed of an evil spirit to beat the living daylights
out of seven, unsaved religionists, and to strip them of
their clothes, and to run them off; what a scene. Notice in
Jude 8-10 that the archangel Michael dared not bring a
railing accusation against the devil. You had better
remember the example of the archangel Michael the next time
you presumptuously take it upon yourself (Acts 19:13) to
rebuke the devil. It is very doubtful that there has been
any Holy Ghost anointed fasting and prayer for the vast
majority of the meetings where the Charismatics and
Pentecostals claim to be casting out devils. There is a
Scriptural requirement for prayer and fasting when preparing
to deal with devils and evil spirits. See Matthew 17:14-21
and Mark 9:17-29 for proof of that. I would argue that
instead of the Charismatics and Pentecostals casting out
devils and evil spirits they are consorting with devils and
evil spirits. Before moving on, we state again that those in
Matthew 7:23 were never saved to start with. Next up, we
deal with Matthew 10:22:
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19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how
or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in
that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not
ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which
speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up
the brother to death, and the father the child: and
the children shall rise up against their parents,
and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall
be hated of all men for my name’s sake:
but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:19–22 |
Those who pull verse 22 out of context make a serious
blunder here. There is an old axiom that teaches that “any
text taken out of context is a pretext for teaching false
doctrine and heresy”. It is obvious from the context of
Matthew 10:19–22 that salvation of the soul and spirit are
not in view here. Verse 21 clearly states, “ And the brother
shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the
child”. That is talking about the death of the physical
body. It is not our physical body that is saved in
salvation. In speaking to the BRETHREN at Philippi, Paul
stated that the Lord Jesus Christ would “change our vile
body” so that it would be “fashioned like unto his glorious
body” (Philippians 3:17-21). The Rapture is the “redemption
of our body” (Romans 8:23). Next, we move on to Matthew
24:13:
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9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,
and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all
nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many
be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall
hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall
rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax
cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the
kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination
of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him
understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea
flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the
housetop not come down to take any thing out of his
house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field
return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto
them that are with child, and to them that give suck
in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be
not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world to this time, no,
nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should
be shortened, there should
no flesh be saved: but
for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:9–22 |
Matthew 24:9-22 is a prophetic Tribulation passage. It is
used by some to teach that some folks will be able to lose
their salvation during the Tribulation. That makes Eternal
Security a dispensational doctrine. We do not agree with
that, but we cannot take the time here to deal with it.
Others include Matthew 24:13 in a list of verses that they
falsely claim prove you can lose your salvation. Anyone who
claims that Matthew 24:13 proves you can lose your salvation
is wrong. Matthew 24:9 uses the phrase “and shall kill you”.
Matthew 24:22 says, “except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved”. It is obvious that what
both of those verses are referring to as being saved is the
bodies of flesh. Matthew 24:13 is pulled out of context on
the pretext of proving a false doctrine that says you can
lose your salvation. Once again, “any text taken out of
context is a pretext for teaching false doctrine and
heresy”. Next, we will consider Mark 13:13:
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9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall
deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye
shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before
rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them. 10 And the gospel must first be
published among all nations. 11 But when they shall
lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought
beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye
premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in
that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that
speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12
Now the brother shall
betray the brother to death, and the father the son;
and children shall rise up against their parents,
and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye
shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake:
but he
that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved. 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of
desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth
understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to
the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the
housetop not go down into the house, neither enter
therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And
let him that is in the field not turn back again for
to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are
with child, and to them that give suck in those
days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the
winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction,
such as was not from the beginning of the creation
which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those
days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s
sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the
days. Mark 13:9–20 |
Mark 13:9–20 is another prophetic Tribulation passage. It is
also used by some to teach that some folks will be able to
lose their salvation during the Tribulation. That makes
Eternal Security a dispensational doctrine. We do not agree
with that, but we cannot take the time here to deal with it.
Others include Mark 13:13 in a list of verses that they
falsely claim prove you can lose your salvation. If you look
closely at Mark 13:12, you will notice that it refers to
those put to physical death for the gospel’s sake. Mark
13:20 states that except the days of the Tribulation be
shortened that “no flesh should be saved”. Once again, that
word “saved” is being used in this context to refer to the
death of the physical body and not to the soul and spirit.
Mark 13:13 is pulled out of context on the pretext of
proving a false doctrine that says you can lose your
salvation. Once again, “any text taken out of context is a
pretext for teaching false doctrine and heresy”. Next, we
will discuss 1 Corinthians 9:27:
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18 What is my reward
then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may
make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I
abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be
free from all men, yet have I made myself servant
unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto
the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the
Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the
law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law,
(being not without law to God, but under the law to
Christ,) that I might gain them that are without
law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that
I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for
the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof
with you. 24 Know ye not that they which run in a
race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run,
that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth
for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the
air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1
Corinthians 9:18–27 |
The whole context of 1 Corinthians 9 is Christian service.
It has nothing to do with Paul’s personal salvation. If we
look at 1 Corinthians 9,one of its themes is the
responsibility of congregations to financially take care of
the man of God who preaches the gospel. It is also about
what the attitude of a preacher should be toward those lost
folks that he preaches the gospel to. The preacher is not to
be prejudicial as to who he will preach the gospel to. Up to
chapter 9 in 1 Corinthians, Paul has preached and taught
against the carnality of the church at Corinth. His whole
point in 1 Corinthians 9:27 was that he had to be very
careful that he would not become a hypocrite to those things
that he had preached and taught against. He acknowledge that
if he allowed it, carnality could become an issue that could
result in his becoming a castaway from his ministry of
preaching the gospel. He acknowledged that if he did not
keep his body in subjection he could be put on the shelf and
not be used of God to preach the gospel. His fear was being
cast away from service: not being cast away from salvation.
Those who believe you can lose your salvation pull the word
“castaway” COMPLETELY out of its doctrinal context and use
it to teach false doctrine and heresy. Once again,
“any text
taken out of context is a pretext for teaching false
doctrine and heresy”. We next move to the book of Hebrews
which is considered to be the fortress of those who believe
that we can lose our salvation. We will look at Hebrews
6:1-9 first. It reads as follows:
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Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of
baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3
And this will we do, if God permit. 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.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that
cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet
for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing
from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers
is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is
to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded
better things of you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we thus speak. Hebrews 6:1–9 |
Believe it or not folks, the majority of professing
Christians are taught that you can lose your salvation, give
salvation back, or that you can never have assurance of
salvation. The book of Hebrews is the go to book for those
who teach that you can lose your salvation. They use Hebrews
6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26, and Hebrews 12:15 to teach that you
can lose your salvation. THE BOOK OF HEBREWS DOES NOT TEACH
THAT YOU CAN LOSE YOUR SALVATION. Rightly divided, the book
of Hebrews is one of the strongest defenses of eternal
security in the New Testament. As we get to Hebrews 6:4-6,
Hebrews 10:26, and Hebrews 12:15, we will deal with them in
context. We are now in Hebrews chapter 6 in our study.
Satan rears his ugly head when we pull a passage of
Scripture out of its immediate context, or out of its
doctrinal context, and use it to teach false doctrine. That
is exactly what happens in Hebrews 6. Hebrews 6:9 destroys
any idea that Hebrews 6 is about losing your salvation. That
verse says: “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of
you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus
speak”. Verse 9 says that verses 4-8 are all about
unbelievers. For years, I have taught that Hebrews 6:4-6
destroys any doctrine that states that that you can lose
your salvation and get it back again. I still believe that.
Hebrews 6:4-6 says that if you could lose your salvation it
would be IMPOSSIBLE to be renewed unto repentance again.
Hebrews 6:6 says that if it were possible to renew someone
to repentance, then the Lord Jesus Christ would have to be
crucified for them again. Hebrews 6:6 also states that if
you believe someone can be renewed to repentance after they
supposedly fall away, then you put the Lord Jesus Christ to
open shame. That is a very strong statement.
Repentanceless faith sends you to hell. Faithless repentance
sends you to hell. If you have not repented, that is
evidence you have not exercised saving faith. Repentance is
direct proof from the Holy Ghost that you have not believed
a lie leading to a counterfeit salvation. Our churches are
full of members who have made false professions. If you have
been led in a faithless sinner’s prayer, you have a
repentanceless, false profession that is going to lead you
straight into the pits of hell. Faithless sinner’s prayers
have become the Nehushtans of most churches in America. By
the time of King Hezekiah, that brasen serpent of Numbers
21:6-9 had become Nehushtan and was worshipped as an idol.
The sinner’s prayer is a deceptive religious symbol that
needs to be destroyed just as the brasen serpent was in 2
Kings 18:4. No one would deny that the brasen serpent was a
good thing until Israel turned it into an idol. The real
sinner’s prayer is a good thing until it is turned into an
idol that replaces the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a damnable
heresy that has lost sinners place their faith in a sinner’s
prayer rather than the Lord Jesus Christ.
False professions
have become the leprosy of Independent Baptist churches.
That brings me to a second application of Hebrews 6:4-9.
In looking at Hebrews 6:6 in my Bible, I noticed a cross
reference to Hebrews 10:29. Why do you think that cross
reference is there? Both verses are a severe warning to
those who chronically reject the work of the Holy Ghost in
attempting to bring them to salvation. It is a severe
warning to those who claim you can lose your salvation. It
is a severe warning to those who claim their habitual sin is
backsliding when they are lost and they know they are lost.
The Holy Ghost has told them that they are lost many times.
Their problem is not backsliding. They never slid up to
start with. I used to work with a lady who was a Pentecostal
out of the Assemblies of God who said you Baptists believe
you can get saved and live any way you want to because you
believe in “once saved always saved”. I told her that I did
not believe you could get saved and live like you want to
because if you did, you never got saved to start with. All
of those who claim to be saved whose conduct screams “Hey, I
am going to hell” are putting the Lord Jesus Christ to open
shame. Their unholy conduct proves that they count the blood
of Jesus to be an unholy thing. They are constantly trodding
under foot the Son of God. I would argue in 2026 that
unsaved professors have gone past trodding under foot the
Son of God and moved on to stomping all over the Son of God.
Hebrews 6:4-15 also addresses three types of church goers.
The first two types are those who say they are Christians
and are not and those who have sit year after year on the
pews of Bible believing churches under Holy Ghost anointed
preaching and are still lost and on their way to a Devil’s
hell. In the first group, we have those who claim to be
saved and are not. In the second group we have those who
have been preached to for years and have never made a move
toward God. In verse 7, they have the water of the word
poured on them year after year after year and they produce
nothing but thorns and briers whose end is to be burned
(verse 8). That is a picture of hell. Put another way,
instead of producing works that are the fruits of the
repentance required in verse 6 they produce the thorns and
briers of verse 8. Verse 9 is what drives the point home. It
contrasts the fruits of the unsaved from verse 8 with the
fruits of the saved in verse 7 and verses 11-15. What is the
common denominator between these three groups: those three
being (1) the saved Christian, (2) the unsaved professing
Christian, and (3) those who have never made a move toward
God? Can we also say who is the common denominator. That
common denominator is the Person and work of the Holy Ghost.
All three groups have seen the power of God manifested
through the ministry of the Holy Ghost. They have felt the
presence of the Holy Ghost. The light of the glorious gospel
was shed upon them by the Holy Ghost. They tasted the
sweetness of the fruits of that repentance that is the
heavenly gift of the Holy Ghost. Saving repentance is both a
work and a gift of the Holy Ghost. These folks in Hebrews
were also made partakers of the convicting and drawing power
of the Holy Ghost. These folks have also tasted the good
word of God whose author is the Holy Ghost. Through the
presence of the Holy Ghost, they have tasted but a little of
the powers of the world to come. When we sense the presence
of God through the power of the Holy Ghost, we are sensing
the presence of pure love “because the love of God is shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us”.
It is love without dissimulation.
That Holy Ghost here in Hebrews 6 is that same Holy Ghost
that works mightily in any congregation that will not resist
him. It is that same Holy Ghost that uses the sword of the
Spirit to strike down the sword of contention, the sword of
division, the sword of strife, the sword of bitterness, and
the sword of unrepentant and unconfessed sin all of which
are designed and wielded by Satan to cut a church asunder.
Brother Sammy Allen use to start out many of his services by
making people promise that they would not do anything to
grieve the Holy Ghost because he was the most sensitive
person on the congregation. Will you yield to the work of
the Holy Ghost?? Or, will you be an offense to the Holy
Ghost??
The consequences of the Jewish people rejecting the work of
the Holy Ghost is one of the great themes of the book of
Hebrews. We see it in Hebrews 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12. What we
see happening here in Hebrews 6 is somewhat akin to the
events in Matthew 12:22-32 where the blasphemy of the Holy
Ghost is dealt with. Wow! I made that statement before I saw
the marginal reference for Hebrews 6:4 that cross referenced
it to Matthew 12:31. I will deal with that issue in greater
depth later when studying Hebrews 10. Next in our study, we
turn to Hebrews 10:15-29:
HEBREWS 10:15-29
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:
for after that he had said before, 16 This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those
days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their
hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And
their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to
say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over
the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which
shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised
Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose
ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified,
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:15–29 |
Hebrews 10:28-31 is a dire warning of impending judgment
specifically directed at the Jews who had defamed and
rejected the work of the Holy Ghost in trying to bring them
to faith and repentance. Read again Hebrews 10:28-31
followed by all the following passages: Matthew 12:31-32,
Acts 7:51-52, Hebrews 3:7-8, and Hebrews 6:4-6:
Matthew 12:31–32
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be
forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word
against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him:
but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it
shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world,
neither in the world to come.
Acts 7:51–52
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and
ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your
fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have
not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain
them which shewed before of the coming of the Just
One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and
murderers:
Hebrews 3:7–8
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye
will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in
the provocation, in the day of temptation in the
wilderness:
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.
Hebrews 12:15–17
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace
of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest
there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau,
who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have
inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he
found no place of repentance, though he sought it
carefully with tears. |
Matthew 12:31-32 is a teaser. To get full benefit of those
two verses, you need to read and study Matthew 12:22-32 and
Mark 3:22-30. Take a close look at the first four passages
just quoted and add Hebrews 10:29 to them. That is five
passages total. Each of those passages involve some aspect
of the ministry of the Holy Ghost to the Jewish people. In
Matthew 12:31-32, they did despite to the work of the Spirt
of grace by blaspheming the Holy Ghost who is the possessor
of the Spirit of grace. The Jews blasphemed the Holy Ghost.
Folks, put simply, blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is giving
credit to the Devil for the works that the Holy Ghost has
accomplished. The Jews rejected the works of the Holy Ghost.
What followed in Matthew 27:24-25 is the most tragic
application in the history of the world of the warning that
you had better be careful what you ask for: They asked that
the blood of Jesus be on them and my how it has been.
To reap the full benefit of Acts 7:51-52 , you need to read
Acts 7:37-54. In Acts 7:51-52, the Jews did despite to the
Spirit of grace by resisting the work of the Holy Ghost. The
Jews well understood the consequences of their actions when
Stephen called out their uncircumcised heart and their
uncircumcised ears. That would have immediately driven their
thoughts back to Jeremiah 6:10-19 where we see one of the
most tragic consequences in the Bible of rejecting the word
of God. Jeremiah 6:10 says that they could not harken unto
the warning of the prophet because they had uncircumcised
ears. Those uncircumcised ears were the fruit of an
uncircumcised (unbelieving) heart. What followed their
rejection of the word of God was death. What eventually
followed the Jews resisting the Holy Ghost in Acts 7:51-52
is the judicial blinding of the NATION of Israel and all the
bloodshed and death that has followed the Jew in the last
2,000 years.
In Hebrews 3:7–8, the Jews in the wilderness hardened their
hearts against the work of the Holy Ghost in the wilderness.
The consequence of that hardening was once again death. All
the Israelites but two died in the wilderness being denied
entry into the Promised Land. The cause of the hardness of
their heart was that they had again rejected the word of
God. In unbelief, they rejected the preaching of the word of
God. Hebrews 4:2 says that the preached word of God did not
profit them because it was not mixed with faith. When you
continuously reject the word of God it works in a vicious
circle of condemnation. “So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). But, you
have rejected the word of God. So, where is the faith coming
from? That is the vicious circle. When you reject the word
of God, it is a soul damning offense to the Holy Ghost who
is the author of the word of God. To reject the word of God,
does despite to the Spirit of grace. If you do not repent of
your rejection of the word of God, you will die and go to
hell. To get a better understanding of the consequences of
Israel hardening their hearts against the Holy Ghost read
and study Hebrews 3:7 through Hebrews 4:11. We have already
spoken in much more detail on Hebrews 3:7 through Hebrews
4:11.
In Hebrews 6:4–6, we see an offense to the Holy Ghost that
is closely akin to that in Hebrews 10:29. In both cases
severe judgment is pronounced upon those guilty of rejecting
the Holy Ghost because in the one case their rejection puts
the Lord Jesus Christ to open shame and in the other case
they have trodden under foot the Son of God by counting his
blood as an unholy thing. Rejecting the blood of Jesus puts
us under the damnation of HELL FIRE.
It is either the blood
of Jesus or hell. In 2 Peter 2:20-22 we have a parallel to
Hebrews 6:4-6:
|
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of
the world through the knowledge of the Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with
them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after they have known it, to turn from the
holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is
happened unto them according to the true proverb,
The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the
sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2
Peter 2:20–22 |
Now, Let us move on to Hebrews 10:38-39 which says this:
|
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man
draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38–39 |
Part of Hebrews 10:38 is quoted from Habakkuk 2:4. Habakkuk
2:4 is also quoted in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11. It
states that “the just shall live by faith”. Justification
(the just) is by faith. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin”
(Romans 14:23). The faith that is talked of in Hebrews 10:38
is soul saving faith. It is a warning to those who are
unbelieving false professors. They will be drawn back into
perdition because they have never exercised saving faith.
These are like the disciples of John 6:66 that no more
walked with Jesus. It is obvious that Paul is talking about
those who say they are saved and are not. Hebrews 10:38-39
destroys the idea that Hebrews 10:26-39 is about losing
one’s salvation. Listen again very carefully and meditate
upon those two verses:
|
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man
draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38–39 |
We now move on to Hebrews 12:5-17 where it is written:
|
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when
thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth
with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had
fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after
their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands
which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make
straight paths for your feet, lest that which is
lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be
healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking
diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be
any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for
one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye
know how that afterward, when he would have
inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he
found no place of repentance, though he sought it
carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:5–17 |
Hebrews 12:15-17 warns us that if you are an illegitimate
child that claims to be saved that you will eventually find
yourself in the place of Esau who sinned away his day of
grace: Esau failed of the grace of God. Esau failed of the
grace of God because he never put his faith in God. It was
not that he was saved and then fell away. When the Holy
Ghost said that Esau was a PROFANE PERSON, that means that
Esau was an unsaved man. Esau sought repentance with tears,
but it could not be found because the Holy Ghost was not in
him. Neither would the Holy Ghost ever be in him. He was
condemned to hell. He had been rejected and turned over to a
reprobate mind. If you are under my voice today, and if you
have rejected the conviction of the Holy Ghost over and over
again, where will it end? Will it end at the Great White
Throne judgment where the unsaved, death itself, and hell
itself are cast into the lake of fire where they will burn
for ever, and ever, and ever, and ever?? Isaiah 33:14 asks
the question: “ Who among us shall dwell with the devouring
fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”.
Am I talking to you today friend. Be not deceived; God is
not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap (Galatians 6:7). If you sow unto hell, you are going to
be reaped into hell and the lake of fire. The apostle Paul
also issued the following warning in Hebrews 10:26-27 and 2
Thessalonians 1:7-8:
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which
shall devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 10:26–27
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his
mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on
them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thessalonians 1:7–8 |
If you have any doubts about the reality of hell, I would
encourage you to read, study, and meditate upon Revelation
20:11-15 and Luke 16:19-31 again and again letting those
verses and the Holy Ghost rattle your spiritual cage. If you
do not put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of
your sin, you are going to die and go to hell where you will
burn for ever. Is that what you want?? Will you be the one
of those among us that dwells in the everlasting burnings.
The doctrine of hell is mentioned 54 times in the King James
Bible. When we include hell, the doctrine of eternal
punishment is mentioned at least 88 times in the King James
Bible. Are you ready for hell? The next time you start
thinking hell is not real why don’t you turn on the largest
burner on your kitchen stove, sit down on it, and meditate
upon hell for a while!! Do you know for sure that if you
were to die today that you would not go to hell? You can
know. “These things have I written unto you that believe on
the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son
of God” (1 John 5:13). I was not going to do this, but God
has impressed upon me the need to present the following
observations on Hebrews 3:7–4:11:
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye
will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in
the provocation, in the day of temptation in the
wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved
me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was
grieved with that generation, and said, They do
alway err in their heart; and they have not known my
ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not
enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren,
lest
there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one
another daily, while it is called To day; lest any
of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold
the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the
end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did
provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by
Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years?
was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases
fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that
they should not enter into his rest, but to them
that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not
enter in because of unbelief.
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being
left us of entering into his rest, any of you should
seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the
gospel preached, as well as unto them:
but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have
believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were finished from the foundation
of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of
the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the
seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place
again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing
therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,
and they to whom it was first preached entered not
in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a
certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long
a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had
given them rest, then would he not afterward have
spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a
rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered
into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own
works, as God did from his. 11
Let us labour
therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall
after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 3:7–4:11 |
Hebrews 3:7 proves that the Holy Ghost was in existence in
the Old Testament because it credits him with having stated
the words of Psalm 95:7-11. Remember that the Holy Ghost is
the author of all Biblical scriptures. A point of order is
necessary here. I do not want you to have a heart attack
here, but in the King James Bible the “Holy Spirit” is not
the third person of the theological Trinity. In the King
James Bible, the HOLY GHOST is the third person of the
Godhead. In the King James Bible, the theological Trinity is
called the Godhead. The work of the HOLY GHOST in any body
of flesh is the work of “the Spirit” with the word “Spirit”
being capitalized. The term “Holy Spirit” only occurs seven
times in its various cases throughout the King James Bible.
In Psalm 51:11 both words are lower case. In Isaiah 63:10,
Isaiah 63:11, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30, and 1
Thessalonians 4:8 “holy” is in lower case and “Spirit” is in
upper case. The only place where both words are in upper
case, “Holy Spirit”, is in Luke 11:13. The phrase “Holy
Ghost” occurs 90 times in your King James Bible. The Holy
Ghost does not show up in any of the modern English
perversions of the Bible. There is an unequivocal message in
that also. The phrase “Holy Ghost” came to us from the
Anglo-Saxon Gospels whose roots are in the Germanic
languages. The word “spirit” came to us from one of the
Latin versions. Let us get back to Hebrews chapter 3.
Hebrews 3:7 through Hebrews 4:11 destroys the whole idea of
a works based salvation because it proves that if you are
working for your salvation, then you have not come to rest
in the Lord Jesus Christ who is our rest and our Sabbath.
The events mentioned in these 24 verses refer back to Psalm
95:7-11. Both Psalm 95:7-11 and Hebrews 3:7 through Hebrews
4:11 refer to the rebellion of the children of Israel in
Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 14:1-36. In Hebrews 3:7 through
Hebrews 4:11, there is not a good work of man mentioned
anywhere in the context of those 24 verses. All of their
works were evil. If the motivation and source of our works
are not built upon a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, you will hear the following at the Great White
Throne judgment:
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21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:21–23
|
God the Father’s will is that you would accept his Son’s
works for your salvation. God’s will is that you would obey
the gospel. God’s will is that everyone would come to
repentance and do faith based works that are evidences of
repentance. Without faith it is impossible to please God
with your works (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible says that “The
sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD....how
much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind”(Proverbs
15:8/Proverbs 21:27). It is God’s works and not man’s works
that is the emphasis in Hebrews chapters 3 an 4. The problem
in Hebrews 3:7 through Hebrews 4:11 is not just the
deception of faithless good works. It is a heart problem.
They had a hardened heart problem. They erred in their
hearts in Hebrews 3:10; had an evil heart in Hebrews 3:12;
and had a hardened heart in Hebrews 3:15, 3:18, and 4:7. It
was their hardened hearts that was the root cause of their
unbelief. Their lack of faith is identified in Hebrews 3:12
as “an evil heart of unbelief”, as having not believed in
Hebrews 3:18, as unbelief in Hebrews 3:19, as not having the
preaching being mixed with faith in Hebrews 4:2, and finally
as unbelief again in Hebrews 4:6. In these 24 verses, we
have a very heavy emphasis upon rest. Rest indicates an
absence of work and works. Twelve different times the word
“rest” is either directly stated or inferred in these 24
verses. If you try to work for salvation, you are going to
get very tired and at the end of it all you will discover
that your works were in vain as you are cast into hell. That
seventh day of rest in Hebrews 4:4 is an eternal day of
rest. That day of rest is not just a time period. It is a
person; the eternal Son of God. Thank God for that eternal
day of rest. Your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is your
rest unlike the works of the Israelites in the wilderness
that this extended passage refers to.
Three different times the preaching of the gospel and the
word of God are mentioned in Hebrews 4. In Hebrews 4:2, we
see both the believer and the unbeliever. In the first case,
Paul and his Christian brethren heard the preaching,
received it, believed it, and are saved and on their way to
heaven. In the second case, those that had hardened their
hearts heard the preaching, in unbelief rejected it, and are
lost and on their way to an everlasting lake of fire.
Hebrews 4:12 is a powerful statement that the word preached
did not return void. The word preached had discerned the
thoughts and intents of the hearts that had rejected it.
In summary, in the book of Hebrews, the charge laid to the
Jews was not that they had lost their salvation, or that
they could lose their salvation, but that they had never
believed to start with. Hebrews 3:7–4:11 forms a rock solid
foundation for rejecting the false teaching that you can
lose your salvation. You cannot lose that which you never
had to start with. The theme of Hebrews chapters 3, 4, 6,
10, and 12 is the history and consequences of the Jews
having rejected the ministry of the Holy Ghost in his
attempts to bring them to faith in God the Father and God
the Son. Those chapters are a dire warning to any who would
trust in their works to get them to salvation, or to keep
them in salvation. Their works were identified as being
totally corrupt and in wilful, confrontational rebellion
against God the Holy Ghost. After having warned the Jews in
Hebrews chapters 3, 4, 6, and 10 of the great danger of
hardening their hearts to the work of the Holy Ghost in
bringing them to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy
Ghost follows those warnings with the single greatest
passage in the Bible on “FAITH”.
Why? Because there was no
saving faith evidenced in those Jews that he condemned in
Hebrews chapters 3, 4, 6, and 10. In Hebrews 11 the word
“faith” is used 25 times. In Hebrews 11, the Holy Ghost is
adding his exclamation point to the lack of saving faith in
the unsaved Jews who resisted the Holy Ghost. In Hebrews 11,
the Holy Ghost gave the unsaved Jews 21 separate examples of
what saving faith should look like. The purpose in that was
to remind them that their wicked works did not meet God’s
standards because without faith it is impossible to please
God. There was no faith in those Jews who were the subjects
of his warnings.
In this concluding session, we are going to repeat our
discussion on 1 John 3:9. You need to do a deep dive on that
verse, meditate upon it, and ask the Holy Ghost to help you
understand and apply it. On the surface there is obviously a
very serious conflict between 1 John 3:9 and 1 John 1:8-10:
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for
his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin,
because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not
sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in
us. 1 John 1:8–10 |
In fact, to the unsaved and Christians who have consumed a
diet of doctrinal milk, there exists an in your face
contradiction. How do we resolve the apparent contradiction?
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. What follows is a
repeat and quote of what we talked about from pages 29-30 of
this document.
We have those who argue that we can lose our salvation if we
sin. In its many forms, that is really the doctrine held to
by most of professing Christianity today. Many refer to it
as Arminianism. It is a denial of every eternal and
everlasting that is applied to the life that faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ brings to every born again believer.
Conditional eternal life or conditional everlasting life
makes salvation based upon something you do or do not do.
Life that can be taken back or given back is not everlasting
or eternal. Conditional eternal life and conditional
everlasting life are contradictions in terms and logic. 1
John deals with sin in a manner that no other book in the
Bible does. There are some things in it that are hard to be
understood and hard to be received. For those who believe
that anyone can lose their salvation because of sin, I would
like to ask them how they apply 1John 3:9 to that doctrine.
There is a group among the Methodists called Wesleyans that
teach the false doctrine of “entire sanctification” and one
of their proof texts for it is 1 John 3:9. That doctrine is
also referred to as “sinless perfection”. The doctrine says,
“I have not sinned today and will not sin tomorrow. I cannot
sin”. How does that line up with 1 John 1:8–10?
The Apostle John said that if we say we have no sin, then we
are liars and the truth is not in us. That means that John
had sin. Does that mean that John lost his salvation? If so,
how many times did John lose his salvation. That raises
another question: how many times did the Apostle John have
to get re-baptized after getting re-saved? We know that the
Apostle Paul had a serious battle with sin from Romans
7:4-25. Does that mean that Paul lost his salvation each
time he sinned? If so, how many times did Paul lose his
salvation. Did Paul get re-baptized every time he was
re-saved? What a impossible scenario! That is where false
prophets and false doctrine take you and leave you: in a
ball of confusion.
So, pray tell, what exactly does 1 John 3:9 mean?!?
Admittedly, it is a difficult passage. If we take it quite
literally, in its immediate context, then no one has ever
been, or ever will be, born of God because all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God. That cannot be.
Furthermore, as John has said, if we say we have no sin then
we are liars. I do not normally use commentaries because
most of them are corrupt. In this case, I ran 1 John 3:9
through many of them. Without exception all of them wanted
to add the word “HABITUAL” in front of sin to make it read
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit HABITUAL sin”. I
reject that because it adds to the word of God. Here is what
I believe about that passage. If you resort to nothing but a
cursory reading of the passage, you will get an ulcer from
the frustration caused by your continued lack of
understanding. I did for a long time. It is imperative that
we understand what the new birth does for a born again
believer. When anyone is born again, they receive a new
nature. If you are born again, that new nature is the
“Spirit” of the Holy Ghost that forever dwells in you. That
“Spirit” of the Holy Ghost is “his seed that remaineth in”
you. Let us add a little more detail. In 1 John 3:9, the
words “Whosoever”, the word “him”, and the two words “he”are
applied to the born again believer. The word “his” in the
phrase “his seed remaineth in” is applied to the Spirit of
God [the Holy Ghost]. If you are looking for the ultimate in
assurance of salvation, there it is! Hallelujah! I believe 1
John 3:9 is the strongest verse in the New Testament that
refutes any doctrine that says you can lose your salvation.
It is quite possibly the strongest verse in the New
Testament that proves Eternal Security
What we are talking about here is some of the “strong meat”
and “deep things of God” that are “hard to be uttered” and
“hard to be understood” because we Christians are “dull of
hearing” because we will not “study to show ourselves
approved unto God”. These things cannot be received and
understood by the unsaved, “natural man”. Listen to what the
Apostles Paul and Peter have to say in 1 Corinthians 2:9-14,
Hebrews 5:8-14, 2 Peter 3:15-16, and 2 Timothy 2:15:
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that
love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by
his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man,
but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not
the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for
they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1
Corinthians 2:9–14
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by
the things which he suffered; 9 And being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation
unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an
high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11 Of
whom we have many things to say, and hard to be
uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when
for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need
that one teach you again which be the first
principles of the oracles of God;
and are become
such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the
word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But
strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,
even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews
5:8–14
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written
unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking
in them of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned
and unstable wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter
3:15–16
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 |
All four of the passages of Scripture that we have just
quoted are directed to Christians. Why do so many Christians
succumb to so much false doctrine? Why are they blown “about
with every wind of doctrine”? It is because their senses
have not been exercised by the word of God so that they can
discern between both Godly doctrine and evil doctrine. The
verses we have just read explain why Christians are so
doctrinally shallow in the deeper things of God that are
hard to be understood. That shallowness comes from an
unwillingness to study and rightly divide the word of God.
Your level of understanding of the word of God is directly
proportional to how much of a workman you are in the word of
God. Many Christians are unable to move on from the milk to
the strong meat of the word of God because they have
teachers and preachers that give them the pacifier of
compromise. They are dull of hearing because their spiritual
senses have not been sharpened by the two-edged sword of the
uncompromising word Of God:
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12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 |
The word of God discerns our thoughts and intents. It should
be our intent to meditate upon the word of God and dwell in
its precepts. One of the biggest reasons our preachers and
teachers cannot teach us the deeper things of the word of
God is because of our yielding to our carnal sin nature. In
admonishing the church at Corinth our Brother Paul had this
to say:
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And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in
Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with
meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet
carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and
strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk
as men? 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
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What Paul is saying, is that when we are struggling to
receive the meat of the word of God, it is because we are
walking as the natural man rather than the spiritual man.
When we walk as the natural man we offend he who is our
greatest teacher. The Apostle John said:
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26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John
14:26 |
If we do not live holy lives, the sin that we yield to
grieves the Holy Ghost that is in us, and that clogs up the
pipe of communication that is between him and us so that we
cannot be sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water
by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). In most Christians that water
has slowed down to a drip... drip.........
drip................. drip. For many, the water of the word
has been turned off.
The Holy Ghost is our teacher of teachers. We must have a
deep relationship to the word of God that is enlightened by
the power of the Holy Ghost. We need to yield to him so that
we can receive a greater understanding of the word of God.
If we rightly divide the word of God because we are in full
fellowship with the Holy Ghost, we will have the power of
God in us and radiating from us! Bless the Lord, O my soul:
And all that is within me, bless his holy name!
So, why have I put so much emphasis on the word of God in
these closing comments of our series on Eternal Security? It
is because once the word of God has made you wise unto
salvation, it is also able to make you wise unto Eternal
Security. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God. Faith and repentance are the foundation of
Eternal Security. Thank you for joining us in this series.
It has been a blessing and a joy to preach and teach it.
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