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NASB | Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
Bible Question: What does Heb. 6:4-6 and Heb. 10:26-27 mean if not an indication that it is possible for a saved person to choose to fall? |
Bible Answer: Greetings David, The topic of Eternal Security has been discussed before (#290, 1033, 14585, 15038, 15416, 23902, 95229).. Hebrews 6:4 and 10:26-27 are frequently cited passages when supporting a stance that a saved person could lose their salvation. Hebrews 6:4 "For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit," [ESV] Hebrews 10:26-27 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." [ESV] There are many interpretations that can and have been made of these verses.. I believe that these verses are largely a warning against apostasy (1 John 2:19). But basing a doctrine on two highly disputable passages of Scripture in no way constitutes a basis for any sort of doctrine, especially in regards to the salvation of a soul. But the problem with the view that you can lose your salvation is the lack of any Scriptural support against much Scriptural support for the view of eternal security (John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:27-30, 13:1; Jude 24; Hebrews 7:25, 13:5; 1 John 2:1; 1 Cor. 1:4-9, 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Romans 5:9,10, 8:1,28-39; 1 Peter 1:4,5). You have to 'assume' or 'interpret' certain passages to fit the view that you can lose your salvation, versus passages that state that "nothing can separate us from Christ" (Romans 8:28). Even if the doctrine of eternal security could not be found in the Bible, the theory that you can lose your salvation would still be faulty at best due to the extreme lack of biblical support. Also, to say that you can lose your salvation (like losing your keys) implies that you have to undo everything that happens AT SALVATION at the drop of a hat, such as: 1. God changes His mind about loving us (John 13:1), 2. God decides not to keep us (John 10:28-30), 3. God changes His mind about presenting us as faultless (Jude 24), 4. The Son stops interceding for us (Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1), 5. The Spirit has to take us out of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), 6. The Spirit has to 'unseal us' (Eph. 4:30), 7. And the Bible will have to be proven as faulty and contradictory, since we have, in effect, been separated from Christ (Rom. 8:28-39).. And the Bible nowhere even hints that any of the above is possible! Yes, I know, you have known people that claimed to have been saved, but have fallen away from the faith.. I contend that those who do so were never really saved in the first place (1 John 2:19). But once a person is genuinely saved and has faith, then that person is eternally secure in Christ, and can look forward to the blessed richness of being in His presence forever. Blessings to you, Makarios |