Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Hebrews 6:4 Why is it impossible to repent?
I can't think of anything more painful and tragic than a believer who is confused and out of fellowship with God because he has been deceived and caught up in false teaching that creates doubt in his mind that God might not accept him again or that he must be saved again or that he might not be elect.
Many keep coming down at alter calls to be "saved again" because of false teaching. I believe Hebrews 6 teaches that this is impossible; a person who has been saved, been partakers of the Spirit(born again) cannot repent of unbelief or dead works again for salvation. That foundation cannot be layed again, its there. A foundation is the beginning of something, no one keeps laying foundation on foundation, especially not the Creator of the universe. Some who are coming to the alter may be getting back into fellowship if they are confessing sin, but if they think they are being saved again or are being told they must be saved again, they will find no relief or peace, they are falling away from grace, it is impossible to renew them to repentance of unbelief again, you cannot believe in Christ for salvation again, they are crucifying the Son of God again to themselves and putting Him to open shame. False teaching’s take this very same passage to prove a believer is not eternally secure, when it actually says the opposite. In fact if losing your salvation is true, then this passage says you cannot be saved again.
This is a great trouble to many. I don't think God will permit a person to continue to call Him a liar by not believing His promise that he was saved when he believed in Christ alone the first time. He will end up like the children in the wilderness who through unbelief refused to go into the land promised to them. He will wander in the wilderness and bear thorns and thistles instead of entering God’s rest that Christ provided. He has everlasting life but his life on earth will not be abundant because he did not continue in His word and believe that Christ has set him free from the penalty of hell forever and therefore free to live an abundant fruit bearing life. His continuing unbelief in the promises of God has angered God and has set his soul to wander here on earth until his death separates his soul from his body. That’s why the writer says in Hebrews 6:3 “if God permits”. We cannot go on to maturity if we fail to believe God’s promised foundation in Christ.
Hebrews 10: 26-29 expounds on this. If we keep on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth of Christ by not believing God’s promise that our sin is forgiven at the cross, then all that remains is a fearful expectation of judgement. There is no remedy for sin other than Christ. The believer is trampling underfoot the Son of God and insulting the spirit of grace. I believe this angers God more than the vilest sin of the flesh a person can participate in. God will do to the believer, His child, the same has He did to His children He saved out of Eygpt and let them wander & die in the wilderness never knowing a life or land of milk and honey in the presence of God here on earth. God still loved the children of Israel, he continued to feed and care for them for forty years, but they didn’t inherit the promised land because of their unbelief.
These passages in Hebrews are a serious and grave warning from God. It is so sad that some miss-interpret these passages to destroy the foundation of Christ in the life of a confused believer while failing to warn them of the consequences of not believing the promises of God. In fact their mis-interpretation and false teaching is, in a way, the result of not believing God themselves. Many men who mis-interpret tough passages in Hebrews and other scripture are just repeating what someone else has put in a commentary. They should study more, get more opinions and commentaries, and then trust the Spirit who is in them to guide them to all truth.
If you are a believer, be assured that God will keep His promise of everlasting life to in Christ. But because He is one that will not lie, I believe He will not stand for anyone to call Him a liar by not believing His promises.
I would encourage anyone to read and re-read the book of Hebrews. It is one of the most re-assuring, and at the same time, rebuking, books inspired by the Holy Spirit there is for a believer.
Many keep coming down at alter calls to be "saved again" because of false teaching. I believe Hebrews 6 teaches that this is impossible; a person who has been saved, been partakers of the Spirit(born again) cannot repent of unbelief or dead works again for salvation. That foundation cannot be layed again, its there. A foundation is the beginning of something, no one keeps laying foundation on foundation, especially not the Creator of the universe. Some who are coming to the alter may be getting back into fellowship if they are confessing sin, but if they think they are being saved again or are being told they must be saved again, they will find no relief or peace, they are falling away from grace, it is impossible to renew them to repentance of unbelief again, you cannot believe in Christ for salvation again, they are crucifying the Son of God again to themselves and putting Him to open shame. False teaching’s take this very same passage to prove a believer is not eternally secure, when it actually says the opposite. In fact if losing your salvation is true, then this passage says you cannot be saved again.
This is a great trouble to many. I don't think God will permit a person to continue to call Him a liar by not believing His promise that he was saved when he believed in Christ alone the first time. He will end up like the children in the wilderness who through unbelief refused to go into the land promised to them. He will wander in the wilderness and bear thorns and thistles instead of entering God’s rest that Christ provided. He has everlasting life but his life on earth will not be abundant because he did not continue in His word and believe that Christ has set him free from the penalty of hell forever and therefore free to live an abundant fruit bearing life. His continuing unbelief in the promises of God has angered God and has set his soul to wander here on earth until his death separates his soul from his body. That’s why the writer says in Hebrews 6:3 “if God permits”. We cannot go on to maturity if we fail to believe God’s promised foundation in Christ.
Hebrews 10: 26-29 expounds on this. If we keep on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth of Christ by not believing God’s promise that our sin is forgiven at the cross, then all that remains is a fearful expectation of judgement. There is no remedy for sin other than Christ. The believer is trampling underfoot the Son of God and insulting the spirit of grace. I believe this angers God more than the vilest sin of the flesh a person can participate in. God will do to the believer, His child, the same has He did to His children He saved out of Eygpt and let them wander & die in the wilderness never knowing a life or land of milk and honey in the presence of God here on earth. God still loved the children of Israel, he continued to feed and care for them for forty years, but they didn’t inherit the promised land because of their unbelief.
These passages in Hebrews are a serious and grave warning from God. It is so sad that some miss-interpret these passages to destroy the foundation of Christ in the life of a confused believer while failing to warn them of the consequences of not believing the promises of God. In fact their mis-interpretation and false teaching is, in a way, the result of not believing God themselves. Many men who mis-interpret tough passages in Hebrews and other scripture are just repeating what someone else has put in a commentary. They should study more, get more opinions and commentaries, and then trust the Spirit who is in them to guide them to all truth.
If you are a believer, be assured that God will keep His promise of everlasting life to in Christ. But because He is one that will not lie, I believe He will not stand for anyone to call Him a liar by not believing His promises.
I would encourage anyone to read and re-read the book of Hebrews. It is one of the most re-assuring, and at the same time, rebuking, books inspired by the Holy Spirit there is for a believer.
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Great stuff...
I used to think that verse in Hebrews meant if you keep on sinning "willfully", God will eventually lose His patience and throw you out of the Kingdom. Then I stopped thinking it meant that, and thought it was referring to those who have heard the mesaage of the Gospel, and were close to being saved, but turned it down. Then came my 3rd understanding of the passage, which is how you explained it. I couldn't agree more. It makes the most sense, looking at it through the lens of God's Grace.
I used to think that verse in Hebrews meant if you keep on sinning "willfully", God will eventually lose His patience and throw you out of the Kingdom. Then I stopped thinking it meant that, and thought it was referring to those who have heard the mesaage of the Gospel, and were close to being saved, but turned it down. Then came my 3rd understanding of the passage, which is how you explained it. I couldn't agree more. It makes the most sense, looking at it through the lens of God's Grace.
So many preachers play on emotions to get people to question their salvation. In some cases, people haven't truly been saved, but in others, it's a real heretic look at salvation.
Once I embraced the teachings of 1 John and understood them completely, I see more clearly God's working in my life
Once I embraced the teachings of 1 John and understood them completely, I see more clearly God's working in my life
God will do to the believer, His child, the same has He did to His children He saved out of Eygpt and let them wander & die in the wilderness never knowing a life or land of milk and honey in the presence of God here on earth. Great point!!! Funny and quite interesting article kinda on the same line here
Kris, I really appreciate your support, more than my comment suggested! I've ben kind of wired from all the interaction.
About this post, very interesting reading of this. I'll have to give it some thought. I'd never thought of this perspective before. I love Hebrews.
Blessings!
:)
About this post, very interesting reading of this. I'll have to give it some thought. I'd never thought of this perspective before. I love Hebrews.
Blessings!
:)
Bush and the Republicans were not protecting us on 9-11, and we aren't a lot safer now. We may be more afraid due to george bush, but are we safer? Being fearful does not necessarily make one safer. Fear can cause people to hide and cower. What do you think? How does that work in a democracy again? How does being more threatening make us more likeable?Isn't
the country with the most weapons the biggest threat to the rest of the world? When one country is the biggest threat to the rest of the world, isn't that likely to be the most hated country?
What happened to us, people? When did we become such lemmings?
The more people that the government puts in jails, the safer we are told to think we are. The real terrorists are wherever they are, but they aren't living in a country with bars on the windows. We are.
the country with the most weapons the biggest threat to the rest of the world? When one country is the biggest threat to the rest of the world, isn't that likely to be the most hated country?
What happened to us, people? When did we become such lemmings?
The more people that the government puts in jails, the safer we are told to think we are. The real terrorists are wherever they are, but they aren't living in a country with bars on the windows. We are.
# posted by 
: 12:10 AM
: 12:10 AM
Bro. Kris,
This is just awesome. It certainly makes sense in light of the Book itself, its readership, & the rest of Scripture. Thanks so much for letting God use you brother!
Now, a favor. Please pray for me that I will not disbelieve God's promises. I have such an evil heart (Jer.17:9) that so often just stubbornly refuses to believe. It makes me mad! I am thankful that the Lord has given me a new nature, but that old one just keeps hanging on!
This is just awesome. It certainly makes sense in light of the Book itself, its readership, & the rest of Scripture. Thanks so much for letting God use you brother!
Now, a favor. Please pray for me that I will not disbelieve God's promises. I have such an evil heart (Jer.17:9) that so often just stubbornly refuses to believe. It makes me mad! I am thankful that the Lord has given me a new nature, but that old one just keeps hanging on!
Thank you for your comments, David.
I know exactly how you feel about disbelieving. I battle that also, but not as much. In fact early on in my Christain life bad bible teaching and preaching sent me into many days of dispair through legalism. Then the legalism caused me to receive the grace of God in vain for a period of almost 9 years because of my unbelief.
Something that really helped me get a better prespective was an anaolgy about an aircraft breaking the sound barrier; just before breaking through the barrier the plane starts to shake and feel likes it going to fall apart. But as soon as it breaks through there is a smoother ride than at any of the lower speeds. Faith or belief is kinda like that. I was trusting what I felt instead of what God said and would fail to trust the outcome once the barrier was broken. God was showing me that faith in Him is not a feeling but that feelings come from faith in Him.
Anyway have a great day and thanks for commenting.
Grace & Peace
Kris
I know exactly how you feel about disbelieving. I battle that also, but not as much. In fact early on in my Christain life bad bible teaching and preaching sent me into many days of dispair through legalism. Then the legalism caused me to receive the grace of God in vain for a period of almost 9 years because of my unbelief.
Something that really helped me get a better prespective was an anaolgy about an aircraft breaking the sound barrier; just before breaking through the barrier the plane starts to shake and feel likes it going to fall apart. But as soon as it breaks through there is a smoother ride than at any of the lower speeds. Faith or belief is kinda like that. I was trusting what I felt instead of what God said and would fail to trust the outcome once the barrier was broken. God was showing me that faith in Him is not a feeling but that feelings come from faith in Him.
Anyway have a great day and thanks for commenting.
Grace & Peace
Kris
Thanks bro. Kris. Good analogy. The Lord allowed me to go through a deep depression lasting nearly 6 months about 10 years ago. I had been very dependent on feelings before then, & He used that to force me to depend on HIs promise alone. I have not arrived as of yet, but praise His Name, I am on the road! God Bless you!
Bro. Kris,
I was reading through this post again, & have actually saved it into my favorites! Excellent. It really makes Biblical sense & is helpful. Just wanted to mention that once more. God Bless.
I was reading through this post again, & have actually saved it into my favorites! Excellent. It really makes Biblical sense & is helpful. Just wanted to mention that once more. God Bless.
OK, bro. Kris, I'll try not to say anymore! But I had to thank you for this great statement: "...Christ has set him free from the penalty of hell forever and therefore free to live an abundant fruit bearing life."
God Bless.
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God Bless.
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