Subject: "Once Saved Always Saved" |
Bible Note: Hank I believe that you may have taken Hebrews 6:4-6 out of context. In Luke 17:1-4, Jesus taught the Apostles (and us) forgiveness is infinite - with true repentence. Luke 17: 1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him. ---------------- Hebrews is a letter intended to to reinvigorate a dying church, and chapters 5-10, are specifically addressed to the priests of that church and their sacred responsibilities as teachers. With that thought in mind, I would like to invite you to read the continuous text beginning with Hebrews 5:11 all the way to Hebrews 6:6. Hebrews 6:4-6, Here, salvation is lost by sin. But because the priest has lost his church for lack of his enthusiasm, commitment and the improper teaching of the members of his church have left him. AND - it will be twice as hard for the next priest/teacher to try to re-introduce Christianity to these same people. Not everyone who listened to the first teacher, will listen to the 2nd - and those who will not listen to the 2nd teacher - will have lost salvation because they are no longer a member of the Church of Christ. This is the same message which Jesus gave to Peter about heavens loss, in Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." The teacher must teach the exact message of Jesus. This is why a priest/minister/teacher will be judged harsher by God, because his lack of thoroughness can prevent people from entering heaven. This truly is a sacred responsibility which each minister has accepted from God and it must be done right. Brian |