I would like to share my understanding of Hebrews 6:4-6 because there are many teachers that use this text to show that a believer can lose their salvation, not understanding that the writer of Hebrews is talking to people who have been listening and receiving the truth, and understanding the truth, but then ready to go back and not make that final surrender to Christ. They say that you can't be enlightened unless you're a Christian. And that is not true.
This may be a little lengthy, but I believe that when it comes to salvation, no words should be spared. I hope that you would take 5 or 10 minutes to read what I have to say here. That's all I ask.
(Part 1)
Hebrews 6:4 says, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,"
The writer says first of all in verse 4, for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened. Notice past tense verbs. The word enlightened means to have your mind illuminated to the truth. And as I said, there are those who say that only believers can be enlightened.
Well, John tells us in John 1:9 that the light, who is Christ, enlightens every man coming into this world. Every person is enlightened to the truth.
Paul says in Romans Chapter 1, beginning at Verse 18 that no one has an excuse when standing before God, because even creation testifies to the very attributes of God.
In other words, the Holy Spirit uses creation as an initial enlightenment for every human being. That doesn't mean that every human being hears the gospel message.
I emphasize, and I'm not trying to belittle the gospel or its importance on preaching or teaching, but the gospel of John is presenting to us that the light of the world has come into this world, and the emphasis is the difference between light and darkness.
Well, does man have free will to chose to love God and obey him or does God control us to the point where we can't do otherwise?
Did Adam have a choice? Yes. He chose badly and paid the consequences.
Did Noah have a choice? Well, he could have joined the others and would have died in the flood.
Did the ancient nation of Israel have a choice? Well, at times they chose to obey and were blessed. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, they chose to disobey and paid by destruction from Babylon and then Rome.
Christians have a choice to obey or not. God can help us, but he will not make us obey automatically. That is why we have so many warnings given throughout the New Testament by the Apostles to Christians in the Church.
Galatians 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Hebrews 10:26 "For if WE sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"
Paul includes himself in that statement. If WE sin willfully...
Romans 2:6-8 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,"
I would like to share my understanding of Hebrews 6:4-6 because there are many teachers that use this text to show that a believer can lose their salvation, not understanding that the writer of Hebrews is talking to people who have been listening and receiving the truth, and understanding the truth, but then ready to go back and not make that final surrender to Christ. They say that you can't be enlightened unless you're a Christian. And that is not true.
This may be a little lengthy, but I believe that when it comes to salvation, no words should be spared. I hope that you would take 5 or 10 minutes to read what I have to say here. That's all I ask.
(Part 1)
Hebrews 6:4 says, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,"
The writer says first of all in verse 4, for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened. Notice past tense verbs. The word enlightened means to have your mind illuminated to the truth. And as I said, there are those who say that only believers can be enlightened.
Well, John tells us in John 1:9 that the light, who is Christ, enlightens every man coming into this world. Every person is enlightened to the truth.
Paul says in Romans Chapter 1, beginning at Verse 18 that no one has an excuse when standing before God, because even creation testifies to the very attributes of God.
In other words, the Holy Spirit uses creation as an initial enlightenment for every human being. That doesn't mean that every human being hears the gospel message.
I emphasize, and I'm not trying to belittle the gospel or its importance on preaching or teaching, but the gospel of John is presenting to us that the light of the world has come into this world, and the emphasis is the difference between light and darkness.
Well, does man have free will to chose to love God and obey him or does God control us to the point where we can't do otherwise?
Did Adam have a choice? Yes. He chose badly and paid the consequences.
Did Noah have a choice? Well, he could have joined the others and would have died in the flood.
Did the ancient nation of Israel have a choice? Well, at times they chose to obey and were blessed. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, they chose to disobey and paid by destruction from Babylon and then Rome.
Christians have a choice to obey or not. God can help us, but he will not make us obey automatically. That is why we have so many warnings given throughout the New Testament by the Apostles to Christians in the Church.
Galatians 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Hebrews 10:26 "For if WE sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"
Paul includes himself in that statement. If WE sin willfully...
Romans 2:6-8 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,"
Kindly.
You are very welcome. The Lord is good!
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