Hebrews 6:4-8 in context does not speak of an eternal sin?

I believe there are different forms of salvation to consider. There is the religious form where you can either say a passage or pray hard at an alter and "speak in tongues" and, in some case, you can just be good and give money to the church.....and then religion says you are "saved." After this religious salvation, there are rules you have to follow after, i guess you are still considered a sinner and just need to repent continuously etc.. Some say, if you follow these rules, you are save and will go to heaven....other say even if you break them you will go. But this is the salvation that you can get and then fall away from

I believe that the true salvation is when you are born from above....endowed with power from on high...It is a spiritual experience where you are filled with the holy spirit and put on the mind of Christ. you die to the flesh and pass from death to life. no more talk of dying anymore. you are caught up to meet the lord and there you shall forever be. This, I believe there is no falling away from.....and you can understand why Paul says that it is unlikly for someone to experience it and the leave and come back. When you are given the truth and set free, how can you ever again believe the lie? In that day, you will need no man to teach you anything. Jesus said in that day, you wont even ask Him for anything...

Many are called....only few chosen

To begin with; here are just 7 of many scriptures. That make it abundantly clear that salvation is eternal. (Jn 3:16 & 6:47; Jn 10:27-29; Rom 8:35; 38-39 & 10:9-13; Phil 1:6)

Some background: The main theme throughout the book of Hebrews is NEW ""BETTER"" COVENANT.

Christ is better: Better then angels, because they worship the Christ. Better then Moses, because He created Him. Better then the Aaronic priesthood, because Christ's sin sacrifice is once for all time. Better then the law, because Christ mediates a better covenant.

People that have herd the good news of a BETTER covenant. Are having trouble stepping out from total indoctrination in a legalistic religion.

These Jews who were having a hard time making a break from total indoctrination in a legalistic religion.

The Temple is Jerusalem is in full force, including daily sacrifices.

Many hearers are reversing course and choose to continue in their religion to avoid persecution and often being totally ostracized

Backgroung 2: The parable of the sower Matt:13 & Mk 4:5

4 Jesus said; a sower sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, the fowls came & devoured them

5 Some fell upon stony places, they had not much earth: they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 when the sun was up, they were scorched; because they had no root, they withered away

7 And some fell among thorns; the thorns sprung up, & choked them

8 Other fell into good ground, & brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some 60 fold, some 30 fold

Now lets parse Heb 6:4 (A) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened.
(Enlightened definition: having been showed a rational well-informed outlook. Just because a person has been shown how to get someplace. Doesn't mean they will choose to go there)

Heb 6:4b For it is impossible for those who have "tasted" (the Word)
(To taste something: Means just that, "TASTE IT" not consume or accept the whole meal. But, to "TASTE". And now you can decide if you want to eat it or not)

Heb 6:4c Were made partakers of the Holy Spirit
(Jn 14:6 Jesus saith; I am the way, the truth, & the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me)

Ok, Jesus sowed the Word (they TASTED), the Holy Spirit confirmed (enlightened) the truth into there hearts

After TASTING the WORD of God. Like the seeds that fell by the way side onto stony ground. They rejected Gods Grace/Word (Jesus Christ)

Again, Heb 6:4-6 scriptures are about the price of rejection & UNBELIEF! NOT loosing salvation!

Under the old covenant (Jews only) the only sin that couldn't be coverd thru sacrifice was, IDOLATRY

Under the new covenant (covers all believers) the only unforgivable sin is, UNBELIEF!

These Jews rejected the doctrine of By Grace thru Faith. They never were SAVED.

After HEARING & TASTING the WORD of ENLIGHTENMENT in UNBELIEF they REJECTED it. And returned to legalistic traditions & the law! Maranatha

GoldenKingGaze said:

I read from Hebrews 6:4-8 that there is a sin from which there is no repentance and the end of them is in fire. Only Christians who have become mature in the things of God then blaspheme and commit apostasy commit. But another Christian says, once saved, always saved. And a Christian cannot commit this sin. And that reading from Hebrews that the verse "therefore now it is impossible." follows the previous chapters and means that Christians cannot do this.

From the YLT, Hebrews 6:4-8.
Heb 6:4 for it is impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age,
Heb 6:6 and having fallen away, again to renew them to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.
Heb 6:7 For earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of blessing from God,
Heb 6:8 and that which is bearing thorns and briers is disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end is for burning;

What do other Christians say?

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In Heb 6:1-6, Paul is speaking to Christians seeking to grow into maturity (Heb 6:1-3).

They have seen the light (II Cor 4:6), ate of the heavenly gift (John 6:33), shared in the Holy Spirit (I Cor 12:13, II Peter 1:4, Eph 3:6, Heb 3:14, Col 1:12, Phil 1:7, Eph 4:4, etc), tasted the goodness of the word of God (Psalm 38:4) shared in spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:4), and have repented (Acts 2:38).

These are not traits of fakers, mere professors, or those with mere head knowledge of the way of salvation. For example, unbelievers have no share in the Holy Spirit.

These believers *should* have had a good handle on their Christian faith by now (yet are still struggling with the basics). As such, Paul gives them a dire warning: that there is no "do over" if one repents and is baptized in Christ, but then later rejects Christ, effectively returning to slavery to sin and rejecting all the promises of God.

In Heb 4:6, the verb for 'having fallen away' is 'parapesontas.' It is the second aorist active participle for the verb 'parapipto'. Parapipto literally means 'to fall from close beside,' that is, to desert something you were once a part of, or to apostatize. 'Close beside' is a stronger term in the Greek than in English - it denotes intimate participation or extremely close proximity.
Strong's Greek: 3844. παρά (para) -- from beside, by the side of, by, beside
Strong's Greek: 3895. παραπίπτω (parapiptó) -- to fall in, into or away, to fail

Unbelievers cannot 'fall away from close-beside' Christ - since they never walked with Him to begin with.

It is also important to note the exact sequence of the verses here in Heb 6:4-6. The warning Paul gives to the believers is about others who were, like them, believers - but fell away. Specifically, "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit....and then having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to a state of repentence."

There is nothing hypothetical in this warning - Paul describes that for those who had received the Holy Spirit and were repentant believers but then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.

[Side note: Beware of translations adding the word 'if' to Heb 6:6, such as 'if they should fall away' - as there is no 'if' or other conditional in the Greek manuscripts.]

To defect from Christ, falling away from a position of relationship with Him, is nothing short of the willful rejection of faith in the covering blood of Christ. It's not merely struggling with sin, addiction, selfishness, rebelliousness, stagnating, backsliding, doubting God, being angry with God, or other pitfalls Christians often fall into, but rather deliberately rejecting salvation by faith and in so doing reverting to our former state before Christ - without the spirit, slave to sin, under condemnation.

Jude 1:22, I Tim 1:18-20, Luke 15:11-31, Luke 8:13, Heb 10:26-31, and other passages give examples of these 'temporary' believers. II Peter 2:20-22 goes so far as to say that it would have been better for these people to have never had true knowledge (relationship - not mere head knowledge) with Christ then it is for them to have escaped the world by knowing Christ only to turn their backs on the gospel and return to the world. To receive Christ, but then later reject Him and trample underfoot Christ's blood (Heb 10:26-9), is to fall away from faith, relationship with Christ, and all the promises of God through the Holy Spirit.

These former believers, once begotten again in Christ as new creations (1 Peter 1:3, Gal 6:15) deliberately died to Christ, uprooting themselves from the source of life - uprooted and twice dead. (Jd 1:12)

There are several reasons a believer might defect from Christ back to the world, such as love of sin or fear of persecution, but the one Paul was most concerned about in Heb 6 was that some converts were seeking to return to being under the law, rather than under grace. However, for a Christian to reject the idea that faith in Christ is what saves and instead seek the fulfillment of God's promises through the law can only bring condemnation, for the law has no power to save. (Heb 7:18-22.) Under the law, we all stand condemned.

If someone enters, but then rejects, the new covenant, then they also reject the seal of the Holy Spirit and Jesus as their guarantor. They cannot claim any of the promises of God, such as eternal life, for they no longer have faith, and God only wills that those who believe (continuously, not in the past) in Christ receive eternal life (John 3:13-18.)

GoldenKingGaze said:

I read from Hebrews 6:4-8 that there is a sin from which there is no repentance and the end of them is in fire. Only Christians who have become mature in the things of God then blaspheme and commit apostasy commit. But another Christian says, once saved, always saved. And a Christian cannot commit this sin. And that reading from Hebrews that the verse "therefore now it is impossible." follows the previous chapters and means that Christians cannot do this.

From the YLT, Hebrews 6:4-8.
Heb 6:4 for it is impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age,
Heb 6:6 and having fallen away, again to renew them to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.
Heb 6:7 For earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of blessing from God,
Heb 6:8 and that which is bearing thorns and briers is disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end is for burning;

What do other Christians say?

Click to expand...

I don't think the passage necessarily means they can't repent. I've added 2 "interpretational brackets" to the passage that bears out an interpretation that I think the text allows for:

4 for {it is} impossible for [the sake of] those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit, 5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, [for us] again to renew {them} to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.

In other words it's impossible for us ("we", verses 4 & 9) to renew them to repentance by going back over the "principles" and "laying again the foundation" and not "going on unto perfection" (verse 1). It would be a waste of our time & effort to try to get them to repent that way and it would "hold up the rest of the class", so to speak. The reason it's impossible for us is because they have resolved to crucify and shame the Son of God and "we" have no power over their will.

shakewell said:

I don't think the passage necessarily means they can't repent. I've added 2 interpretational brackets to the passage that I think the text allows for:

4 for {it is} impossible for [the sake of] those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit, 5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, [for us] again to renew {them} to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.

In other words it's impossible for us ("we", verses 4 & 9) to renew them to repentance by going back over the "principles" and "laying again the foundation" and not "going on unto perfection" (verse 1). It would be a waste of our time & effort to try to get them to repent that way and it would "hold up the rest of the class", so to speak. The reason it's impossible for us is because they have resolved to crucify and shame the Son of God and "we" have no power over their will.

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1 John 2:
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

(NOTE: John who wrote 5 Holy Spirit inspired books. Say's they were not saved (Holy Spirit indwelt) in the first place)

2ndly:
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

(NOTE: Read vs 12-13-14)

Finally, There is only ONE UNFORGIVEABLE SIN = Rejection of the sin atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Christ = UNBELIEF

GoldenKingGaze said:

What do other Christians say?

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That which "appears" good and right to men, leads to destruction and death.

The "good" people may be deceived with, may be worse than the more obvious evils of the world, like nazi gestapo human experiements,
since
if people realize it is deadly or destructive, they might actually avoid it or repent of something,
but
if people do not realize their "comfort" and "ease" is fatal (eternally),
they won't change,
or will they ?

By God's Grace, we pray and hope and have our being !

I Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

(NOTE: John who wrote 5 Holy Spirit inspired books. Say's they were not saved (Holy Spirit indwelt) in the first place)

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John does not say they were never indwelt by the Holy Spirit or that they never had faith. He said they were not "of us" - for they did not continue!

There are several reasons someone in the church might not continue:

#1 They were faking for some reason, such as popularity, money, or social gain
#2 They weren't consciously faking but didn't really understand the gospel to begin with (such as many children who grow up in the church and think that makes them Christrians, rather than faith in Christ)
#3 They started in faith, but did not continue; they eventually rejected faith and apostasized
#4 Those whose faith is completely dead. They never synthesize it to bear fruit or actually take in nutrients from Christ.

To truly be 'of Christ' - one has to continue in faith, not have a merely one-time belief, but a continuous life of faith. Jn 3:16 and many other passages show that it is be active belief that one actively holds eternal life.

As for these temporary believers, they do not get 'partial credit' at the judgment. Jesus says 'I never knew you,' and their temporary belief was in vain.

Lk 8:13 - those who receive the word with joy and believe 'for a while' are among these, as well as others as shown in the many, many verses of this thread prior.

Finally, There is only ONE UNFORGIVEABLE SIN = Rejection of the sin atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Christ = UNBELIEF

Click to expand...

Unbelief is not more unforgiveable than other sins if we turn from them to Christ. All of us did not believe at some point before we first believed. Some even explicitly rejected Christ on their first, second, even tenth hearings of the gospel before later coming to Him in faith. Both of those - unbelief and rejection - are forgiven by Christ when we turn to Him in faith, like any other sin.

Now, if one dies in that unbelief, that is unforgivable - you can't then claim Christ's covering blood or His righteousness at the judgment.

It is also true that a Christian can commit many sins which, while bad, are not 'unforgivable' - but cannot be forgiven for returning to unbelief, since unbelief takes one outside of the covering blood of Christ, and so there is no one we can call on to forgive that sin.

shakewell said:

I don't think the passage necessarily means they can't repent. I've added 2 interpretational brackets to the passage that I think the text allows for:

4 for {it is} impossible for [the sake of] those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit, 5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, [for us] again to renew {them} to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.

In other words it's impossible for us ("we", verses 4 & 9) to renew them to repentance by going back over the "principles" and "laying again the foundation" and not "going on unto perfection" (verse 1). It would be a waste of our time & effort to try to get them to repent that way and it would "hold up the rest of the class", so to speak. The reason it's impossible for us is because they have resolved to crucify and shame the Son of God and "we" have no power over their will.

Click to expand...

Interesting interpretation - intriguing, even. I have not seen that interpretation before, but it does fit with the context of the first few verses. I am a bit wary of adding interpretational brackets where they significantly change the meaning of a text, however the additions might not actually be necessary. Context alone can imply the passage is not giving a dogmatic teaching that those who fall away can never again come back to faith, but rather is focusing on the inability of preaching/teaching to bring them back - they are in God's hands.

Elicott's Commentary for English Readers seems to take a similar view: Hebrews 6:6 Commentaries: and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Jennifer Rothnie said:

Interesting interpretation - intriguing, even. I have not seen that interpretation before, but it does fit with the context of the first few verses. I am a bit wary of adding interpretational brackets where they significantly change the meaning of a text, however the additions might not actually be necessary. Context alone can imply the passage is not giving a dogmatic teaching that those who fall away can never again come back to faith, but rather is focusing on the inability of preaching/teaching to bring them back - they are in God's hands.

Elicott's Commentary for English Readers seems to take a similar view: Hebrews 6:6 Commentaries: and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Click to expand...

In hopes of communicating more clearly, I just slightly edited my post to say: I've added 2 "interpretational brackets" to the passage that bears out an interpretation that I think the text allows for.

Jennifer Rothnie said:

John does not say they were never indwelt by the Holy Spirit or that they never had faith. He said they were not "of us" - for they did not continue!

There are several reasons someone in the church might not continue:

#1 They were faking for some reason, such as popularity, money, or social gain
#2 They weren't consciously faking but didn't really understand the gospel to begin with (such as many children who grow up in the church and think that makes them Christrians, rather than faith in Christ)
#3 They started in faith, but did not continue; they eventually rejected faith and apostasized
#4 Those whose faith is completely dead. They never synthesize it to bear fruit or actually take in nutrients from Christ.

To truly be 'of Christ' - one has to continue in faith, not have a merely one-time belief, but a continuous life of faith. Jn 3:16 and many other passages show that it is be active belief that one actively holds eternal life.

As for these temporary believers, they do not get 'partial credit' at the judgment. Jesus says 'I never knew you,' and their temporary belief was in vain.

Lk 8:13 - those who receive the word with joy and believe 'for a while' are among these, as well as others as shown in the many, many verses of this thread prior.



Unbelief is not more unforgiveable than other sins if we turn from them to Christ. All of us did not believe at some point before we first believed. Some even explicitly rejected Christ on their first, second, even tenth hearings of the gospel before later coming to Him in faith. Both of those - unbelief and rejection - are forgiven by Christ when we turn to Him in faith, like any other sin.

Now, if one dies in that unbelief, that is unforgivable - you can't then claim Christ's covering blood or His righteousness at the judgment.

It is also true that a Christian can commit many sins which, while bad, are not 'unforgivable' - but cannot be forgiven for returning to unbelief, since unbelief takes one outside of the covering blood of Christ, and so there is no one we can call on to forgive that sin.

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1st, My post didn't claim John sais the following:

(NOTE: John who wrote 5 Holy Spirit inspired books. Say's they were not saved (Holy Spirit indwelt) in the first place)

I wrote NOTE & placed it in parenthesis.

Here is more help on the indwelling Holy Spirit given at salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and """given the earnest""" of the Spirit in our hearts.
("""EARNEST""" means down payment. WHOEVER ACCEPTS CHRIST ""HAS"" BEEN SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT PLACED IN OUR HEARTS)

Ephesians 1:
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the "gospel of your salvation", and believed in him (JESUS CHRIST), were ""sealed"" with the Holy Spirit promised
(WHATS THE "GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION"? PLACING YOUR FAITH IN THE SIN ATONING DEATH, BURIAL & RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Also see 1st Corinthians 15:1-4)

14 Who is the ""guarantee"" of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
(YOUR SALVATION WAS SEALED & IS GUARANTEED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. AT THE MOMENT YOU PLACED YOUR FAITH/BELIEF/TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST)

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted (Jesus), after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ""ye were sealed"" with that holy Spirit of promise
(AS SOON AS YOU CONFESS JESUS AS LORD. AND BELIEVE GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE GRAVE. YOU"RE SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT)

2 Corinthians Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the """earnest""" of the Spirit.
(GOD HAS GIVEN US THE """EARNEST"""(earnest means down payment).

Ephesians 4:30
30 grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ""you are sealed"" to the day of redemption
(BELIEVERS YOU """ARE"""SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! SEALED UNTIL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION!!)

2 Tim 1:14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Romans 11:29 The "gifts" & calling of God are """irrevocable"""
(GOD DOESN'T WITHDRAW WHAT HE HAS GIVEN, NOR DOES HE CHANGE HIS MIND, ABOUT THOSE TO WHOM HE HAS GIVEN HIS GRACE OR TO WHOM HE SENDS HIS CALL)

AJTruth said:

(GOD DOESN'T WITHDRAW WHAT HE HAS GIVEN, NOR DOES HE CHANGE HIS MIND, ABOUT THOSE TO WHOM HE HAS GIVEN HIS GRACE OR TO WHOM HE SENDS HIS CALL)

Click to expand...

Just like the CAPTAIN did not revoke ANYONE'S passage or ticket for a complete trip,

.
.
.
on the titanic.... ?

Or any other likewise, but IF THEY JUMP OVERBOARD, freely of their own choosing, they shall almost surely PERISH>

GoldenKingGaze said:

What happened to the anointed cherub, Son of the Morning's anointing, gifts and call?

Click to expand...

The main theme throughout the book of Hebrews is BETTER.

Christ is better:
Better then angels, because they worship the Christ. Better then Moses, because He created Him. Better then the Aaronic priesthood, because Christ's sin sacrifice is once for all time. Better then the law, because Christ mediates a better covenant.

"BETTER SACRIFICE or NEW BETTER COVENANT"

The word testament means covenant. New covenant is BETTER then & SUPERCEEDS the Old Covenant.

Hebrews 9:
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
(NOTE: CHRIST THE TESTAOR DIED)

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
(NOTE: No place in scripture is any angelic covenant. Cut in the BLOOD OF GODS SON!)

ANSWER TO YOUR ANGEL QUESTION:
1 Cor 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
(New Testament saints, are under a NEW BETTER COVENANT and will judge angels)

At salvation God gives us the HOLY SPIRIT as:
A Seal, A Down Payment, A deposit, A Guard, A pledge. ITS A SALVATION GUARANTEE!

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit'' of promise
(NOTE: When you believed, you were "SEALED" by the HOLY SPIRIT, a promise of God)

Eph 1:14 Which is the down payment of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(NOTE: The HOLY SPIRIT the you were SEALED with is GODS down payment on your salvation)

Eph 4:30 grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are "sealed" unto the day of redemption
(NOTE: GODS HOLY SPIRIT IS A SEAL given unto you receive your incorruptible heavenly body (1 Cor 15:42-44-53) on the day of redemption)

Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(NOTE: God gives us the HOLY SPIRIT as a deposit. To guard us until the final day of redemption)

2 cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(NOTE: God has SEALED us with a down payment of the HOLY SPIRIT)

2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us "the earnest" of the Spirit
(NOTE: God have given us the HOLY SPIRIT as a down payment = the ernest)

Vines Expository Dictionary Earnest:
"arrabon", noun, Strongs ref #728
originally, "earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser. In general usage it came to denote "a pledge" or "earnest" of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge" of all their future blessedness, 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Cor 5:5; in Eph 1:14,

In modern Greek arrabona is an "engagement ring

At salvation God gives us the HOLY SPIRIT as:
A Seal, A Down Payment, A deposit, A Guard, A Pledge. ITS A SALVATION GUARANTEE!

1 John 5:13 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.
(NOTE: If you believe in the Son of God. You "HAVE" eternal life.)

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is "God-breathed" and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
(NOTE: All Scripture is God breathed)

AGAIN I POST TO YOU:
Rom 11:29 The gifts & calling of God are irrevocable!

GoldenKingGaze said:

Salvation can be forfeited as in Hebrews 6. There is a condition. That is why I mentioned Son of the Morning, who no longer lives in glory and grace, and outside God's presence. No sacrifice was made for him on the cross. And we can lose the power of the cross work by the sin of breaking the condition, we can forfeit, if we make the right then the wrong choices.

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I strongly disagree with your position on salvation. I presented many scripture that say different.

Though, I've sure more won't help. I leave you & this discussion with a couple more.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 18:
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

I find it sad when people say: repentance, confession and what Jesus SUFFERED ON THE CROSS just isn't good enough. Peace

GoldenKingGaze said:

One idea is that if God uses all avenues of His grace to bring you to repent, living water, the blood of the lamb, anointing, fire, the free gift of salvation, understanding and believing God's word very well... and then you harden your to all that, then what is left to soften it again so you repent?

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Jesus died for ALL our sins and stands ready to receive and restore us. Whether we left like the Prodigal son, just missed it, or have failed miserably, in some area of our life.

No sin is to big for the Lords Sin Atoning payment, Jesus blood removes all sin. All we need to do is ask Him. (Matt 18:22)

The Prodigal son leaves his Fathers Grace & goodness. Goes out recklessly sins & squanders his inheritance. (Luke 15:11-32) Based on human nature, I'm guessing lots of alcohol, fornication, drugs etc?

When The Prodigal Son broke & hungry comes to the realization he has REALLY SCREWED UP. He goes back to his Fathers house to asked his Father's forgiveness.

He was the son before he left home. He was the son while he was away. And although he really messed up, he was still the son when he came back home.

HERES WHAT THE FATHER DOES:
Luke 15:
20 When his son was yet a great way off, his father saw him, & had compassion, & ran, & fell on his neck, & kissed him.
(DOES THE FATHER SIT & WAIT FOR HIM TO GET HOME? AND CONFESS ALL HIS FAILURES, SIN BY SIN? NO! THE FATHER SEES HIM COMING, RUNS TO HIM, HUGS & LOVINGLY KISSES HIM)

21 The son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, & in thy sight, & am no more worthy to be called thy son
(NOW THE SON MAKES HIS CONFESSION OF FAILURE)

22 The father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, & put it on him; & put a ring on his hand, & shoes on his feet:
(THE FATHER COMMANDS THE SERVANTS: BRING HIM A (ROYAL) ROBE.

AND A RING (IN THAT DAY THE RING CARRIED THE FATHERS INSIGNIA) TODAY WE WOULD CALL THAT A CREDIT CARD. WE'VE BEEN LEFT SOMETHING MUCH BETTER. THE NAME OF JESUS!

HE ORDERS SHOES TO BE PLACED ON HIS SONS FEET. SO HIS SON CAN STAND TALL IN HIS FATHERS PRESENTS. REMEMBER MOSES HAD TO REMOVE HIS SHOES.

23 Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry
(NEXT ITS PARTY TIME. THEY JOYFULLY EAT & DANCE BECAUSE HIS SON HAS RETURNED)

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

THE FATHER:
Gives his son: Loving kisses, Royal Robe, Credit Card, New Shoes & a Joyfully Feast. His father received him with open arms

Lesson: God loves you. He's waiting with open arms for you. The Father will receive & restore you, Right Now!

Matt 18:
21 Peter asks Jesus how many time must I forgive my brother. If he sins against me? As many as seven times?”

22 Jesus said, I say not only seven, but seventy times seven
(70x7 THATS ALOT OF CHANCES)

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)
(THIS VERSE SAYS """ALL""" UNRIGHTEOUSNESS)

The unforgiving you proclaim would cast the prodigal son into everlasting separation. Just sad!

How many people do you believe you have driven away from a loving Gods arms. With this unforgiving unscriptural doctrine you proclaim? Again, just sad!