In our last study, we began to look at a Scripture that is very troubling for some born-again believers.
Here it is: “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, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, (it is impossible) to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV)
There are those that think that this Scripture is talking about unforgivable sin in the life of a believer. That it essentially voids all the other promises of God in His Word about forgiveness of sins … when those sins are committed AFTER a person is saved. But, is THAT true?
What does Hebrews 6:4-6 really say?
Consider the CONTEXT.
- First, look at the top of the page. To whom is this letter written? To the Hebrew Church—Jewish believers.
- This chapter begins by encouraging Jews who have converted to The Way to grow up in their faith—to move beyond the foundational guilt for past deeds that are already dead, buried, and forgiven. (6:1)
- It is also a strong warning (6:4-6) to those Jews who may have second thoughts after embracing Jesus as their Messiah. IF they were to “fall away” from their new faith—to start over and go back to trusting in the ceremonial law of the Torah to save them—they would be rejecting God’s ultimate Redemption Plan that was set in stone from the beginning. The epistle writer says that this would be “impossible.” (Don’t forget that Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost—that he gave with no disclaimer—was to JEWS.)
“Throughout the Epistle to the Hebrews, the writer warned the saints about going back to the Law; they simply could not mix the old with the new. They could not claim an allegiance to Christ, and yet wallow in the mire of Law-keeping. They had to completely leave Judaism.” —Gideon Khoo, Assembly Testimony Magazine
Once in time for ALL people—Jews and Gentiles—God robed Himself in the flesh of Jesus, walked among humanity, took on our sins, and died as the payment for them ALL. Once for ALL. He’s not going to do it again. There is no other salvation. There is “none other name.” (Acts 4:12) There’s no turning back to look for a better way. Jesus is the ONLY WAY.
Scripture states forty-two times that the mercy of the Lord endures FOR EVER. When does FOREVER start and end? When is the mercy of the LORD ever exhausted? “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us … so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:4-8 NIV)
I believe the TRUTH of the matter is this: The Blood of the KING covers ALL sin—past, present, or future—and MY repentance applies that Blood to MY sin. The ESSENCE of what He IS has already far exceeded the worst thing that I can ever do. No matter how vile, detestable, or deviant, there is NO SIN stronger than the Blood of Jesus. There is NO transgression that has the power to withhold God’s grace from me, nor can it cast my soul beyond where His mercy can reach.
“The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him.” (Psalm 103:17 KJV)
His grace and mercy exist concurrently and eternally—and their power is unlocked by repentance. Nothing I do can outrun His mercy or disqualify me from His grace even though I sinned when “I knew better.” The all-powerful Blood of the I AM causes whatever sin that I DID, whenever I did it, to melt and vanish … WHEN (and IF) I truly confess and repent.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (BUT) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:6-9 KJV) NOTE: there’s a period at the end of that statement.
There are times in our lives when we see things as they really are, and we know we need to make changes. Those changes may be painful, and that’s when the TRUTH hurts. But, the false assumption that Jesus would EVER fail to forgive a truly repentant heart—this is NOT one of those times, because that is NOT TRUTH. That is NOT our SAVIOR.
When gloom and sadness whisper
“You’ve sinned. No use to pray.”
I look away to Jesus,
And He tells me to say —
I see a crimson stream of blood;
It flows from Calvary.
Its waves which reach the Throne of God
Are sweeping over me.
—G.T. Haywood
To the fearful believer comes the still small voice of the Gentle Shepherd: “Why are you frightened at my WORD? You’ve been listening to voices that try to twist the TRUTH. Don’t be confused. That’s why I gave you My WORD in writing. Compare. Read ALL of it. Let every Scripture be interpreted in the light of ALL Scripture, and if what you hear doesn’t match what my WORD says—TRUST MY WORD.”
“For this is the covenant that I will make, saith the Lord; … I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:10-12 KJV)
(Part 2 of 2)
