Bible Question (short): Still...can WE know this? |
Question (full): Dear JVH0212, I very much agree with you that Hebrews 6:4 seems to say that one cannot be 'born again again.' My question was not disputing this at all, nor was I trying to put words in your mouth. The following: "This much is clear: whoever openly and consciously rejects Jesus Christ is unregenerate even if he seemed to have been saved earlier." (note at Heb. 6:4ff, NRSV Harper Study Bible) was also written in your statement, "Once lost, always lost." This is clearly a statement to us, because of the word 'seemed.' God knows, there is no 'seemed' to Him. Unless I misread this quote from Harper's note, it implies that men with limited knowledge, relying on their senses and instincts, which sometimes fail, are to discern when someone is fallen, by observing if the said person 'openly and conciously rejects Jesus.' My question simply asked if WE have this kind of righteousness? Ideally, the church is made of saints of integrity and Holy Spirit revelation to discern such evil people. But to 'proclaim' them as 'unregenerate' and condemn the possibility of salvation in them seems to be out of our area of authority. When we begin to label people in this manner, we usurp God's vantage, and COULD do a great disservice to someone God MAY forgive. There are several examples in the Old Testament that would back this up (David certainly comes to mind), and I cannot imagine that the New Testament expounds a more severe judgement than the Old Testament. To sum up, I believe that your comments regarding Hebrews 6 are true, but we on earth do not have the authority to act upon this judgement. In Christ Jesus. |