Devotional: Doctrines: Preservation

Reflection

Hebrews 6:4-6

• (Heb 6:4 ESV)  For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
• (Heb 6:5 ESV)  and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
• (Heb 6:6 ESV)  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Discussion

Is it possible to be sinful enough to lose your salvation?  It is an important question and I have wondered many times.  It is not uncommon to meet someone who believes they must meet a certain standard in order to keep their position with Christ.  This is called, among other things, “Works Righteousness.” The idea that we must act the right way to get saved and keep on acting the right way to stay saved.  Nothing is further from the truth.  The fact is that we will never be good enough to gain salvation and can never do enough good to keep it.  Our salvation is a gift from God that He grants to us and the preserves in us until He calls us to heaven. 

Hebrews 6:4-6 is a passage written to describe someone who is not saved, but has experienced the goodness of the gospel.  The idea is that the meal has been prepared, it has been presented, and they did not partake.  A myriad of theological questions arise from that picture, but the point for this time is that those who will not come to repentance cannot be restored to a new life. Those who will not believe cannot receive the gift. 

Connection

What leads to the notion that this passage is addressed to someone who is not yet saved?

What does it mean to have tasted and shared of the goodness of God?

How can we enlighten and encourage those who seem to be questioning the legitimacy of the gospel?

Expansion

God saves people by their faith in Him alone according to His grace alone through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone, not on the basis of any human work.  All of the redeemed are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit and justified before God beginning the transforming sanctification of the whole person the fruit of which is shown by their attitude and conduct.  Having been saved by faith, we are justified in Christ before God, forgiven of our sins, and held eternally secure by Christ alone forever where we will one day assume a glorified condition with Him forever.  From beginning to end the salvation of people is entirely a work of God to bring glory to His name.

Acts 8:27-30, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, John 1:12-13, Romans 6:16-18, Romans 9:10-24, John 6:43-45, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Ezra 18:23, Romans 10:10-21, 2 Peter 3:9, John 12:32, Romans 14:10-12