CAN YOU LOSE YOUR SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE?

[LoveGodsWord]

YOu need to take that up with Jesus,
Matt. 22:40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Whom should I believe- Jesus or you? He said all , not just 10!

As for you r refusal to accept teh truth with your weak rebuttasl? Those answer to loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength!



Yes ONE purpose of teh ten laws written in stone which are a ministry of death is to define some sins (Paul defined a whole lot more for the church!)

But also to empower sin to work in us to bring death!

Romans 7:
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.


Also sin gets its strength by teh commandments!

1 Corinthians 15:55-57
King James Version
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is why Paul wrote this:

2 Corinthians 3:7
King James Version
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

And then Praise God this wonderful truth:

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

these are the Inspired Words of God without a denominational spin on them!

Hope this helps!

Thankyou but I already have. He tells me that we cannot separate God’s Law of love from the 10 commandments because they are connected to each other. There is no need for confusion here. God’s Word makes it very clear. Let's look at the scriptures.

MATTHEW 22:36-40
[36] Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
[37], Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38], This is the first and great commandment.
[39], And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
[40], ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

NOTE: Jesus when asked this question from the Lawyer is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Finishes by saying that on the two great commandments of LOVE hang all the law and the prophets.

What does v40 mean?

LUKE 10:25-28
[25], And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tested him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
[26], He said unto him, what is written in the law? how read you?
[27], And he [the Lawyer] answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.
[28], And he said unto him, you have answered right: this do, and you shall live.

NOTE: The lawyer knew what it means to love God and love his neighbore. How? Notice the question that the lawyer starts os by asking Jesus; "WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?". Now notice that the very same question is asked again and look how Jesus answers...

MATTHEW 19:16-19
[16], And, behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
[17], And he said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but IF YOU WILL ENTER INTO LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.
[18], He said to him, Which? Jesus said, YOU SHALL DO NO MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT LIE, [19], HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.
Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

NOTE: Notice in that the question from the rich young ruler is the very same question as asked by the lawyer "WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?" but both were answered by Jesus in a different way. When the Lawer asked the question he answered his own question by saying LOVE to GOD and LOVE to his neighbor (from Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Jesus said he answered correctly. When the rich yound ruler asked the same question Jesus answered by saying keep the 10 Commandments and starts out quoting them as his duty of LOVE to his neighbor.

Is this a contradiction of scripture? In no way the answer has already been given in MATTHEW 22:36-40. ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS (LOVE TO GOD and LOVE TO MAN) HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

When we LOVE GOD and our NEIGHBOUR it is expressed through our actions.

If we LOVE our neighbor...

* We will honor our parents,
* We will not kill them
* We will not commit adultery with thier spouse
* We will not steal from them
* We will not lie to them
* We will not covet what they own.

If we LOVE our God...

* We will not have other Gods
* We will not make idols and worship them
* We will not take his name [follow] him in vain
* We will remember his Sabbath and keep it holy.

ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS [OF LOVE] HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

PAUL understood what JESUS was talking about...

ROMANS 13:8-10
[8], Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. [9], For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [10], Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore, love is the fulfilling [DOING] of the law.

Notice what PAUL says here? LOVE is fulfilling [doing] God's Commandments. God's Commandments or duty towards your neighbor is summed up as you shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself v9. [On these two commandments hang ALL THE LAW and the prophets Matthew 22:40].

PAUL agrees with Jesus that if you LOVE you will fulfill God's LAW. What about JAMES?

JAMES 2:8-12
[8] If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself [Sums up our duty of love in the 10 Commandments Romans 13:9] , you do well: [9], But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convicted of the law as transgressors. [10], For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. [11], For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law. [12], So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

James is using the second great commandment of LOVE which hangs all the commandments of our duty of love to our neighbour and quotes the commandments showing our duty towards our neighbor. This is why Jesus says “On these two commandments hang ALL THE LAW and the prophets” Matthew 22:40. and again..

JOHN 14:15 [15], IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.

You cannot separate LOVE from God’s LAW. Love is the FULFILLING of it and is demonstrated by OBEDIENCE to Gods’ LAW as our duty of LOVE to God and man. [“On these two commandments [of LOVE] hang ALL THE LAW and the prophets]

...................

CONCLUSION: It is very clear that JESUS, PAUL and JAMES are all in agreement that the two GREAT COMMANDMENTS of LOVE that JESUS quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 were used and known in the OLD Testament scripture to sum up our duty of LOVE to God and man in the 10 Commandments.... God's LAW (Ten commandments) is not separated from LOVE it demonstrates it. You cannot have LOVE without fulfilling God's Ten Commandments. [On these two Commandments of LOVE hang all the LAW and the prophets].

 

[LoveGodsWord]

LOVE is the NEW COVENANT promise to OBEY God's LAW *HEBREWS 8:10-12; ROMANS 13:8-10. WE enter into God's NEW COVENANT to LOVE unless we are BORN AGAIN...

JOHN 3:3-7
[3], Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

WHY do we need to be born again? As shown through the scriptures we have no LOVE.

1 JOHN 4:7-8 [7], Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. [8], He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.

NOTE: Sound familiar? 1 JOHN 2:1-4; 1 JOHN 3:6; 1 JOHN 3:9 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets *MATTHEW 22:36-40.

1 JOHN 4:12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 JOHN 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.

1 JOHN 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar [JESUS says they gave committed murder in their heart -Matthew 5:20-22] for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1 JOHN 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. [ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS - MATTHEW 22:36-40]

Continuing.

[4], Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
[5], Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
[6], That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[7], Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again.

He that is BORN of GOD does not commit sin because sin is breaking how God's LOVE is EXPRESSED through OBEDIENCE to God's WORD. This is expressed in a different way in 1 JOHN 3..

1 JOHN 3:3-10 [3], And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
[4], Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
[5], And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
[6], Whoever stays in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
[7], Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

[8], He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
[9], Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

[10], In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.

NONE LOVE GOD or their fellow man while breaking any of God's 10 COMMANDMENTS as LOVE is an EXPRESSION of OBEYING them. You cannot separate the 10 Commandments from LOVE they are the very expression of what LOVE is and LOVE is the fulfilling of them under the NEW COVENANT promise * HEBREWS 8:10-12

Everything written in these last two posts are the CONTEXT you leave out of 1 JOHN 3:23.

RIGHTESOUSNESS comes from LOVE because LOVE is the fulfilling of God's LAW and the very expression of what LOVE is *ROMANS 13:8-10. He that does not LOVE does not KNOW GOD for GOD IS LOVE * 1 JOHN 4:8. All those who are BORN AGAIN have a NEW HEART TO LOVE and FOLLOW GOD *1 JOHN 4:7. This is the NEW COVENANT promise *HEBREWS 8:10-12. Those who are BORN AGAIN do not practice SIN (breaking God's Commandments) *1 JOHN 3:4-9. This is why JOHN finishes on this subject by saying; For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous *1 JOHN 5:3 and is why JESUS says IF you LOVE me KEEP my commandments *JOHN 14:15. UNLESS we are BORN AGAIN under the NEW COVENANT to LOVE we will not enter the KINGDOM of HEAVEN *JOHN 3:3-7. We need to be changed from the INSIDE OUT.

.............

God's 4th commandment is one of the ten (Exodus 20:8-11) If we knowingly break it when God asks us not to we stand guilty before God of committing sin (James 2:8-12). If we do not seek him in repentance and forgiveness we are in danger of the Judgement (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Sunday worship is a tradition and teaching of man that has led many to break the commandments of God. Jesus says that if we follow the traditions of man that break the commandments of God we are not following God (Matthew 15:3-9)

There is not one scripture in all of God's Word that says that God's 4th Commandment is now ABOLISHED and we are now commanded to KEEP Sunday as a Holy day.

Who should we follow the teachings and traditions of men or the Word of God? Who should we believe the Words of men or the Word of God?

In times of ignorance God winks at but now, <when a KNOWLEDGE of the truth has come> calls all men everywhere to REPENT (FOLLOW) (Acts 17:30-31).

Hope this helps

 

[Der Alte]

...

CONCLUSION: It is very clear that JESUS, PAUL and JAMES are all in agreement that the two GREAT COMMANDMENTS of LOVE that JESUS quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 were used and known in the OLD Testament scripture to sum up our duty of LOVE to God and man in the 10 Commandments.... God's LAW (Ten commandments) is not separated from LOVE it demonstrates it. You cannot have LOVE without fulfilling God's Ten Commandments. [On these two Commandments of LOVE hang all the LAW and the prophets].

Anybody can make scripture say almost anything they want it to by quoting selective scripture out-of-context.
The Sabbath was given exclusively to Israel as an everlasting covenant.

Leviticus 24:8
8 Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.
Leviticus 24:8
8 Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.​

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Anybody can make scripture say almost anything they want it to by quoting selective scripture out-of-context.
The Sabbath was given exclusively to Israel as an everlasting covenant.

Leviticus 24:8
8 Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.
Leviticus 24:8
8 Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.​

I agree. Context matters and that is why it has been provided. Where your argument falls down however is that there was no Jews and no ISRAEL when God made the Sabbath for all mankind *Mark 2:27; Genesis 2:1-3. The name ISRAEL is only a name given by God to His people. In the new covenant God's ISRAEL are all those who believe and follow God's Word *Romans 9:6-8. If you are not a part of God's ISRAEL you have no part in God's new covenant promise *Hebrews 8:10-12. Gentile believers are now grafted in *Romans 11:13-27. In the new covenant there is no more Jew and Gentile believers. We are all one in Christ *Galatians 3:28-29

Blessings.

 

[Basketball]

You cannot lose something eternal.

 

[d taylor]

​

 

[LoveGodsWord]

You cannot lose something eternal.

Eternal life and all of God's promises are conditonal on believing and following God's Word *Matthew 7:21-27; John 3:16-21; John 10:26-27; 1 John 2:3-4 (more scripture?)

 

[LoveGodsWord]

View attachment 282720
​

Hmmm Yep!

 

[Micaiah-Imla]

While agree with the OP regarding the salvation issue; I'm curious as to why the Sabbath was not mentioned in Acts 15:28 as one of the necessities/burdens of the faith for the gentiles.

"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well."

A mention of keeping the Sabbath would have been mentioned here if it were a necessary thing to do (or not keep from observing)?

No?

This was in regards to:

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment"

 

[nolidad]

Thankyou but I already have. He tells me that we cannot separate God’s Law of love from the 10 commandments because they are connected to each other. There is no need for confusion here. God’s Word makes it very clear. Let's look at the scriptures.

Well now ou are parsing teh law just like a gentile 2000 years removed from the Master speaking those words. Everyone around Him knew "ALL the LAW" meant all 613 commandments. Not just the ten which minister death!

The law is aka "the Torah" and it is all 613 commands. It is a fools errand to sayi that this time it means just the ten when another time it can mean the 603 apart from the ten and another time it means all 613.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

While agree with the OP regarding the salvation issue; I'm curious as to why the Sabbath was not mentioned in Acts 15:28 as one of the necessities/burdens of the faith for the gentiles.

"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well."

A mention of keeping the Sabbath would have been mentioned here if it were a necessary thing to do (or not keep from observing)?

No?

This was in regards to:

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment"

Hi Micaiah-Imla, welcome dear friend and nice to meet you. Great questions. Sorry for my slow replies as I have been away for a while and just returning today. My understanding if you look at the context in ACTS 15:1-2 is that the question being discussed and the topic of conversation was "IS CIRCUMCISION A REQUIREMENT OF SALVATION". This was the question they went up to discuss and answer at Jerusalem.

The question was never "Is God's 10 commandments still a requirement for Godly living. That would contradict what Paul says elsewhere throughout the new testament for example here after the decision of ACTS 15 that circumcision is not a requirement for salvation Paul writes...
1 CORINTHIANS 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT KEEPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

If Paul was talking about the 10 Commandments in Acts he is contradicting what the scriptures say after the decision of ACTS 15. Also you might note that the Gentile here are new believers and the reason for the decision was that MOSES is read in the synagogue every Sabbath where the gentiles could listen (not go in) to the Word of God and learn more about God.

In the new testament God's 10 commandments have the same role they always have and that is to give us the knowledge of what sin is when broken *Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4 and to lead us to Christ that we might be forgiven through faith *Galatians 3:22-25.

We are not saved by keeping God's law we are saved by God's grace through faith and not or ourselves and not of works lest any man should boast *Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith however does not abolish God's law in the life of those who have been born again in the new covenant to love *John 3:3-7; 1 John 3:6-9; Hebrews 8:10-12; Romans 13:8-10 it establishes Gods' law in the heart through love *Romans 3:31; Hebrews 8:10-12; Romand 13:8-10. This is why Jesus says if you love me keep my commandments *John 14:15.

God bless

 

[renniks]

"Believers" are indeed sealed with the Holy spirit but if one departs the faith they are no longer "believers" but have become "unbelievers" who have departed the faith. The scriptures teach that at this point we can grieve God's Spirit and he will leave us e.g. PSALMS 51:10-13. Why are we warned in the scriptures not to grieve God's Spirit? Do those who depart the faith giving heed to doctrine of devils have Gods' Spirit? *1 TIMOTHY 4:1

Correct. We can not lose our salvation but we can throw it away by falling into unbelief.

 

[Neogaia777]

God will tell us who was responsible for what, and not for what, in the end and when we all get there, and that is enough to suffice for me...

But how dare a mere man to think they can know that for sure right now, and draw those lines in the sand for both themselves, and most especially for others, in spite of himself, etc...

God Bless!

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Correct. We can not lose our salvation but we can throw it away by falling into unbelief.

Exactly nenniks. That is what the OP is about! Good summary. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Billy93]

God does not seal those who continue in known unrepentant sin and unbelief. Those who continue in known unrepentant sin and unbelief according to the scriptures are the children of the devil *1 JOHN 3:6-10. Sin is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil *1 JOHN 3:9-10.
If God's Spirit can not depart those who were once sealed if we continue in sin and unbelief why are we warned in the scriptures not to greive *EPHESIANS 4:30 and quench (means put out) the Spirit of God *1 THESSALONIANS 5:19. If we continue in known unrepentant sin Gods' Spirit is on the outside pleading with us to return to God. According to the scriptures we are only sealed with Gods' Spirit as we continue to believe and follow Gods' Word (present tense participle). Those who profess Christ or have once known God and depart the faith are no longer in the faith according to the scriptures but have greived and quenched (put out) God's Spirit and are no longer following God according to the scriptures *HEBREWS 6:4-8; HEBREWS 10:26-39; 1 JOHN 2:3-4; 1 JOHN 3:6-10 unless they repent and by faith seek God's forgiveness.

Hope this helps.

Hi, I know this is an old comment but I’ve been scouring the site for commentary about Hebrews 6:4-6 & 10:26-27 and have been reading this thread tonight. I’ve just came across these passages the other day and have been struggling with them a lot (and obsessing and freaking out) ever since. The other day I was lying on my couch practically paralyzed in fear that I might be now beyond saving. Here, I wrote a post detailing my story if you’re curious for more context.

I guess what I am wondering is, am I a “child of the devil” even though I don’t want to be? :/ Are my attempts at repentance going unheard/unrecognized, because God has shut himself off from me? I “got saved” (or so I thought) back when I was a child living in a Christian family. I thought it was genuine, and I did believe in God and Christ’s saving grace and all. I probably seemed like a decent enough kid on the outside, though in middle/high school I fell into some habitual sins in my private life.

And then, not really having much in the way of an actual foundational relationship with God, when I went off to college out-of-state I totally went astray and entered 6-7 years of a sinful lifestyle, during which time I didn’t give much thought to God - largely because I felt bad and knew what I was doing was wrong; I felt that I was a “lost cause” because of some specific sins I committed, and was extremely demoralized and thought it was pointless to try and avoid sin. (What a lie straight from the devil!!!)

Anyways, long story short, in 2020 something changed for me in a big way; since July/August I’ve been reading my Bible every day and praying. I’ve been asking God for forgiveness, asking him to change me and rid me of any sins in my life, and to show me his will for me. I’ve asked him to mold me to look more like his Son, I’ve asked him to give me more faith, I’ve asked him to give me strength to endure to the end, I’ve asked him to give me enough strength that I would be willing to die for my belief in him if it ever came to it, etc.

I’ve *never* in my life read the Bible or prayed this consistently before, so I thought that this was a really good sign that I was changing. However I stumbled across these Hebrews passages and now can’t help but wonder if I am beyond saving, and that I’m totally lost forever because I previously slipped into a lifestyle of sin. Or do you think that those passages are referring to people who become apathetic and lose the will to repent of their sins - people whose hearts get totally hardened and have no desire to get right with God?

I hope it’s not too late for me… I have been loving reading the Bible and I never thought I would enjoy it like this. So far I’ve read the entire New Testament the whole way through for the first time ever, and I have also read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job; currently in Genesis. I have also noticed some small but positive changes in my life which I attribute to some involvement by the Holy Spirit, but I hope it’s not just wishful thinking on my part. I guess it’s also quite possible that I’m on the right track, and that Satan is using these verses to try and accuse me/scare me back off-course/make me feel hopeless? Anyways, thanks for reading. Sorry to resurrect such an old thread! God bless.

 

[GenemZ]

Hebrews 6:4-6.....


Jewish believers in Jerusalem were returning to offer animal sacrifices for their sins. In doing so? They were declaring the Cross to be of none effect. And, also by offering the blood of lambs, they were (symbolically) crucifying the Son all over again. It was a mockery of the atonement of the Cross!

The warning was... If these believers had been regenerated (partaking of the Holy Spirit) and they once entered into repentance, revealing that they already knew enough to know better? Its now impossible to bring them back to repentance because they are defying what they already knew what was needed for their repentance!

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have
tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have
tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming
age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To
their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and
subjecting him to public disgrace. Hebrews 6:4-6​

The writer of Hebrews was appealing to the faithful believers who had been anguished in attempting to get these apostates back into doing God's will - to stop trying! Leave them be! For its impossible for them to return to walking in truth, for they are willfully denying what they already know.

grace and peace.......

 

[Neogaia777]

Hi, I know this is an old comment but I’ve been scouring the site for commentary about Hebrews 6:4-6 & 10:26-27 and have been reading this thread tonight. I’ve just came across these passages the other day and have been struggling with them a lot (and obsessing and freaking out) ever since. The other day I was lying on my couch practically paralyzed in fear that I might be now beyond saving. Here, I wrote a post detailing my story if you’re curious for more context.

I guess what I am wondering is, am I a “child of the devil” even though I don’t want to be? :/ Are my attempts at repentance going unheard/unrecognized, because God has shut himself off from me? I “got saved” (or so I thought) back when I was a child living in a Christian family. I thought it was genuine, and I did believe in God and Christ’s saving grace and all. I probably seemed like a decent enough kid on the outside, though in middle/high school I fell into some habitual sins in my private life.

And then, not really having much in the way of an actual foundational relationship with God, when I went off to college out-of-state I totally went astray and entered 6-7 years of a sinful lifestyle, during which time I didn’t give much thought to God - largely because I felt bad and knew what I was doing was wrong; I felt that I was a “lost cause” because of some specific sins I committed, and was extremely demoralized and thought it was pointless to try and avoid sin. (What a lie straight from the devil!!!)

Anyways, long story short, in 2020 something changed for me in a big way; since July/August I’ve been reading my Bible every day and praying. I’ve been asking God for forgiveness, asking him to change me and rid me of any sins in my life, and to show me his will for me. I’ve asked him to mold me to look more like his Son, I’ve asked him to give me more faith, I’ve asked him to give me strength to endure to the end, I’ve asked him to give me enough strength that I would be willing to die for my belief in him if it ever came to it, etc.

I’ve *never* in my life read the Bible or prayed this consistently before, so I thought that this was a really good sign that I was changing. However I stumbled across these Hebrews passages and now can’t help but wonder if I am beyond saving, and that I’m totally lost forever because I previously slipped into a lifestyle of sin. Or do you think that those passages are referring to people who become apathetic and lose the will to repent of their sins - people whose hearts get totally hardened and have no desire to get right with God?

I hope it’s not too late for me… I have been loving reading the Bible and I never thought I would enjoy it like this. So far I’ve read the entire New Testament the whole way through for the first time ever, and I have also read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job; currently in Genesis. I have also noticed some small but positive changes in my life which I attribute to some involvement by the Holy Spirit, but I hope it’s not just wishful thinking on my part. I guess it’s also quite possible that I’m on the right track, and that Satan is using these verses to try and accuse me/scare me back off-course/make me feel hopeless? Anyways, thanks for reading. Sorry to resurrect such an old thread! God bless.

Much of the book of Hebrews, and the sins in those specific passages you are mentioning was because of the more specific sin of "apostasy" more specifically, etc...

I did a google search for you and found some of these things about it/them, etc, that can probably already lay it out more for you specifically than I can, etc...

Here is the main link from the search I used...

My main search criteria was "context of the book of Hebrews", etc...

This was probably one of the most useful ones I found, and one of the more accurate ones I found, etc...

The Background and Purpose of Hebrews (high definition video)

I'd encourage you to look through the whole thing, or input the search criteria into google for your own self, etc...

But, if you scroll down in that link under the the heading of "PURPOSE", etc, it will use a line that says this, etc:

PURPOSE...

"The author of Hebrews wrote to exhort his audience (Christians and Jews) to reject local Jewish teachings and to remain faithful to Jesus."

And I would add also, not to "apostatize", and go back to those teachings or doctrines also, etc... And some say back to the ways of the law and/or works, etc... For they had already tasted "the heavenly gift" already, etc, those Jews who had converted to Christianity, but were now in danger of rejecting Christ and going back, etc...

Which is under the heading "Near Apostasy" in that same link/page, etc...

Near Apostasy...

Fifth, as the audience of Hebrews (a mixture of Christians and Jews) faced persecution, at least some of them were near apostasy. Rather than simply being discouraged or weakened by sufferings, they were in danger of turning away from Christ entirely. For instance, in Hebrews 10:26-27 we read this warning:

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God (Hebrews 10:26-27).



But I would encourage you to do your own research, etc, and learn how to use google very wisely and very, very well, etc, and the right questions for searches are the most important thing in a google search, etc...

You can type in specific verses into google, like "meaning of" (specific verse or set of verses), etc... Or "context of" (specific book or chapter or verses, etc)...

But you really need to learn to use google and search for your own information and do your own research, etc, but just know "context" is always, very, very important, etc, and it will keep other people from befuddling or confusing you or using scare tactics by leaving context out, and using verses out of their context against you, etc... Or twisting them for their own agenda and/or means, etc...

And there is so very much on google or available on the internet, that you need to learn to use it, and use it right, etc...

And don't just go with just only one link, or only just the very first information that pops up, etc, but examine multiple different ones/links, etc...

Anyway, good hunting...

God Bless!

 

[GenemZ]

Paul himself came within an inch of losing his life when he got sucked into the apostasy of those written about in Hebrews 6:4-6. These were Jewish believers that could not resist going back into religion. We have Christians today who can not resist going under the Law as well. They keep kosher and the Sabbath, etc.

Here in Acts 21 is where Paul went back into the Temple to go through a ritual of purification that would take days to finish, and then end with an animal sacrifice. God had Paul dragged out of the Temple before the day of the sacrifice part could ever be implemented ....

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.

What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law." Acts 21:20-24
​

Paul went back into the temple like the apostate Jewish believers found in Hebrews 6:4-6, and if a riot did not break out one day, Paul would have found himself taking part of special sacrifice (very expensive one) involving either an oxen or heifer.... (I do not recall which one it was).

Yup. Paul could have been a part of the Hebrews 6:4-6 crowd, if God let him go through with the animal sacrifice. God was not pleased. Paul came withing an inch of losing his life when the religious Jews found Paul in the Temple.

​

The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them.
Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of
purification would end and the offering would be made for each of
them." Acts 21:26

​

I remember how stunned I was when I first learned this about Paul's backsliding! He was following and submitting to the pressure to conform to the Hebrews 6:4-6 apostate Jewish believers!


grace and peace!

 

[Danthemailman]

You cannot lose something eternal.

Salvation is not probation.
Eternal life is not temporary life.
Jesus is the door. He is not a revolving door.

 

[GenemZ]

Salvation is not probation.
Eternal life is not temporary life.
Jesus is the door. He is not a revolving door.

God is not "renting" us with an option to buy.

We have been purchased with the Blood of Christ.

Omniscience does not pay for something that He knows he will be losing.