Hebrews 6:4-6

Bumble Bee

Disciplemaker
Nov 2, 2007
27,518
5,304
33
Held together by Jesus and coffee
✟694,165.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Pastors out there...
I have a sin I have been trying to kick for 4 years now. And it's gotten to the point now where I have the ability to withstand the temptation, but I still fall at least once a week. My record is 8 days. I pray and repent over and over, and yet I still fall. It is tearing me up inside and leaves me feeling hopeless, and asking myself why. Usually I only do it when I'm tired or stressed. I was doing my devotions this morning and came across Hebrews 6:4-6 and panicked. I know I have been doing wrong, but does that mean I can no longer be accepted by Christ because I have kept doing it after being saved and knowing I am wrong?
 

SalvationAtYourFingertips

Regular Member
Jun 26, 2013
216
14
✟7,951.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Relax. You can only fall away if you decide you are done following God. God understands where you are at, and, in fact, the reason you have been able to get better at resisting is from the Holy Spirit! So don't worry, keep on having faith, and you will be out of the hold of this sin.
 
Upvote 0

OzSpen

Regular Member
Oct 15, 2005
11,541
707
Brisbane, Qld., Australia
Visit site
✟125,343.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
Pastors out there...
I have a sin I have been trying to kick for 4 years now. And it's gotten to the point now where I have the ability to withstand the temptation, but I still fall at least once a week. My record is 8 days. I pray and repent over and over, and yet I still fall. It is tearing me up inside and leaves me feeling hopeless, and asking myself why. Usually I only do it when I'm tired or stressed. I was doing my devotions this morning and came across Hebrews 6:4-6 and panicked. I know I have been doing wrong, but does that mean I can no longer be accepted by Christ because I have kept doing it after being saved and knowing I am wrong?
I have provided a rather lengthy exposition of this passage on my homepage in the article, 'Once saved, always saved or once saved, lost again: An exposition of Hebrews 6:4-8'.

The essence of these verses is that those who have known the Lord and lived a Christian life and then commit apostasy (repudiate the Christian faith), it is impossible to restore such people to repentance. Apostasy is a horrible sin to commit that leads to damnation.

I can't make a decision about your condition before God. I only know my own heart. If I were you, I'd be asking and answering what I ask of myself: Have I turned away from God to the point where I have committed apostasy? For me, the answer is, No. But I can't answer for you.

Oz
 
Upvote 0

RedHogRider

Newbie
Jun 29, 2013
10
0
✟15,120.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
I’ll add my two cents worth to this discussion. I was reminded about what Paul said in Romans 7:19:

For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (NASB)

The Apostle Paul struggled, so we can take comfort and learn from what he shared with the church in Rome. I would encourage you to read Romans 7:14-25. The fact that you’re concerned is evidence that you’re still His; the Spirit is convicting you of it.
 
Upvote 0

Dan61861

7 days without God, makes one weak.
Jul 21, 2012
839
366
Valparaiso, Indiana
✟102,026.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
I urge you to pray about this:

It is a difficult passage, I myself had a very hard time with it. I encourage you to read the chapters before and after this passage. Take them as a whole, instead of as a stand alone passage. To put this as simply as I could, we are under Grace. Not the law. This passage deals with this one question, righteousness by faith in Christ or righteousness through the law.

When we place ourselves under the law again, we are indeed applying this passage to our life. We cannot find righteousness in the law, we find it in the Grace of God through our Lord.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

19Duggarfan

Newbie
Jun 29, 2013
20
0
✟132.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
I think it really help to continue reading to verse 10 at least in this chapter. But these two verses really give a little better understanding; 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 nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:7-8. The writer of Hebrews here uses terms very similar to those of Jesus' parable--the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15). In this parable Jesus speak of 4 kinds of grounds three bad and one good. But the ground with thorns (Luke 8:7,14) would be ground that many in this world would call Christians, but Jesus will tell these I never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23), after reading Hebrews 6:4-6, we see that the writers states that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected.

For we see the true Christians being the good ground (Luke 8:8, 15). 9) But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10) For God is not unrighteous to forget you labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:9-10 Notice that the writer of Hebrews never mention anything about, sin here, but reassure us that our labour of love will not be forgotten by God. This labor of love is what James would called the work of faith, James 2:8; 14-17; 26. Paul even tells us that faith worketh by love (Galatians 5:6). Jesus never say we would be know by our sinlessness but by our love, John 13:34-35. For the only way we can truly love as Jesus does is by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5; I Peter 1:22).
 
Upvote 0

Don Maurer

^Oh well^
Jun 5, 2013
424
136
Pa, USA, Earth, solar system, milky way, universe.
✟53,230.00
Country
United States
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
I think it really help to continue reading to verse 10 at least in this chapter. But these two verses really give a little better understanding; 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 nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:7-8. The writer of Hebrews here uses terms very similar to those of Jesus' parable--the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15). In this parable Jesus speak of 4 kinds of grounds three bad and one good. But the ground with thorns (Luke 8:7,14) would be ground that many in this world would call Christians, but Jesus will tell these I never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23), after reading Hebrews 6:4-6, we see that the writers states that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected.

For we see the true Christians being the good ground (Luke 8:8, 15). 9) But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10) For God is not unrighteous to forget you labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:9-10 Notice that the writer of Hebrews never mention anything about, sin here, but reassure us that our labour of love will not be forgotten by God. This labor of love is what James would called the work of faith, James 2:8; 14-17; 26. Paul even tells us that faith worketh by love (Galatians 5:6). Jesus never say we would be know by our sinlessness but by our love, John 13:34-35. For the only way we can truly love as Jesus does is by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5; I Peter 1:22).
I am just looking to express my agreement with the poster above.

The important part is that verse 9 is a transition. In verse 9 the English text (word order in Greek is a little different) the writer begins with the word "But," and then he speaks addresses the beloved. Verse 9 must be speaking to believers. Believers practice "better things" and "things that accompany salvation." The word "But moves us from unbelievers to believers.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:
So then, verses 3-8 are about unbelievers, and verse 9ff moves it to believers.


Now those who deny that the passage in verses 3-8 is about unbelievers are going to quote verses 4-5.
4 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,
Remember that many of the Hebrew synagogues converted as whole synagogues. Paul is writing to those in danger of return to Judiasm. Some will return. John later wrote in 1 John 2
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.
There were those Hebrew unbelievers among the Hebrew believers together in synagogues and the unbelievers were taught the same Christian doctrines as the believers and so unbelievers were once enlightened. The unbelievers also saw miraculous powers in the early Hebrew Churches and Synagogues (tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit) and were blessed by the miraculous powers in the early Church. They tasted the heavenly gift, but did not swallow it. They partook of the Holy Spirit as the had relatives, friends and neighbors who may have experienced Kingdom powers. Then as 1 John 2:19 says, the went out from the Early Church back into Judiasm, because they never really believed and never actually were one of the Lords. Their fruits showed this to be true because in Hebrews 6:8 they bring forth "thorns and thistles" and "whose end is to be burned."

The people in 3-8 were among believers, but apostatized. But they were never really the Lords. 1 John 2:19 speaks of the apostasy of the people in Heb 6:3-8 when it says 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us.

There is a reason for the apostasy... " but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us."
 
Upvote 0

OzSpen

Regular Member
Oct 15, 2005
11,541
707
Brisbane, Qld., Australia
Visit site
✟125,343.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
Being in the poster's position many times myself, verses like Hebrews 10:26, 1 John 3:9-10, and 1 John 5:18 worry me to death. It does make me question the validity of salvation in regards to sin struggle.
98,

They should cause us all to be concerned about our continuing to 'go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth' (Heb. 10:26). This verse, along with Heb 6:4-8, confirm that apostasy is a genuine possibility for some who have been Christian but choose to sin deliberately and reject the Lord.

These verses and the others you quoted cannot be excluded when continuation or loss of salvation is considered.

In Christ, Oz
 
Upvote 0

OzSpen

Regular Member
Oct 15, 2005
11,541
707
Brisbane, Qld., Australia
Visit site
✟125,343.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
We all sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth.
Therefore, this is what we can expect from God if that is what we :
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies (Heb 10:26-27 NLT).
The NLT has gotten the essence of the Greek present tense with 'continue sinning' and this is deliberately. This is deliberate sinning that continues on and on.

Oz
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Hammster

Psalm 144:1
Christian Forums Staff
Site Advisor
Supporter
Apr 5, 2007
140,012
25,179
55
New Jerusalem
Visit site
✟1,718,562.00
Country
United States
Faith
Reformed
Marital Status
Married
Therefore, this is what we can expect from God if that is what we :
The NLT has gotten the essence of the Greek present tense with 'continue sinning' and this is deliberately. This is deliberate sinning that continues on and on.

Oz

Okay. We all continue sinning deliberately. Every one of us.
 
Upvote 0

OzSpen

Regular Member
Oct 15, 2005
11,541
707
Brisbane, Qld., Australia
Visit site
✟125,343.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
Okay. We all continue sinning deliberately. Every one of us.
I don't. And I know of many other Christians who do not continue sinning deliberately. So where does your "we all ... Every one of us" come from?

So are you denying the truth of the content of Hebrews 10:26-27?
 
Upvote 0

Hammster

Psalm 144:1
Christian Forums Staff
Site Advisor
Supporter
Apr 5, 2007
140,012
25,179
55
New Jerusalem
Visit site
✟1,718,562.00
Country
United States
Faith
Reformed
Marital Status
Married
I don't. And I know of many other Christians who do not continue sinning deliberately. So where does your "we all ... Every one of us" come from?
Most Christians don't hold to sinless perfectionism. But if you and these many others have stopped sinning, then kudos.
So are you denying the truth of the content of Hebrews 10:26-27?
Nope. I just understand it correctly.
 
Upvote 0

MWood

Newbie
Jan 7, 2013
3,881
7,990
✟122,541.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Why are we always worrying about our sins? Don't we know that Jesus died on the Cross for ALL the sins of the world? Don't we know that we will never be sinless? ALL sins are covered by the Blood on the Cross. Since we are in Christ and He is in us, we should live a life that is sinless, but we will sin just the same. As the Scripture says, there will never be another sacrifice for sins. The best that we can do is live our life in a Christ like manner and quit worrying and preaching that our sins will be held against us at the Judgement Seat of Christ. They will not be. We will be judged according to our works. So live your life filled with all good works.

It's not about sin any more. It's about your Ambassadorship.

May God Bless
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

OzSpen

Regular Member
Oct 15, 2005
11,541
707
Brisbane, Qld., Australia
Visit site
✟125,343.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
Most Christians don't hold to sinless perfectionism. But if you and these many others have stopped sinning, then kudos.

Nope. I just understand it correctly.
Nowhere at any time have I stated that I believe in sinless perfection. I do not.

So in this response you have erected a straw man logical fallacy to misrepresent my position. Please quit your misrepresentation of my theology.

I understand Heb. 10:26-27 correctly as well:
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies (Heb 10:26-27 NLT).
The New Living Translation has correctly translated the essence of the Greek present tense with 'continue sinning' and this is deliberately. This is deliberate sinning that continues on and on. For these people, their sins are no longer covered by Jesus' shed blood and they can now expect God's judgment.

That's Bible and it is what Heb. 10:26-27 teachers. This harmonises with those who committed apostasy according to Heb 6:4-8 and it is impossible to restore them again to repentance (Heb. 6:4).

Oz
 
Upvote 0