Title: What We Know
“What We Know”
“What We Learn”
I’d like to take a moment to share how I have decided to handle these three verses. There were many different ways and approaches I considered but ultimately what I decided on was two perspectives.
The first perspective is going to be the 30,000 ft. view: “What we know which is the title of today’s sermon. The reason I called it this is because I want to focus on what we already know from other parts of scripture as we head into this difficult passage. This will focus us on things that we see repeated over and over again specifically and and repeated themes in scripture about the nature and character of God and the way that he works.
The second perspective is going to be “What We Learn” and that is about what we see in this particular passage. This is going to focus on specifically versus 4-6. We will break down the language will get into some molecular levels of pulling apart the linguistics to make sure that we absolutely understand what the text is and is not saying, and we will compare that with what we already know.
In other words, we will go to the extreme to put this into context to not just in the book of Hebrews, but against the backdrop of the rest of scripture.
I think we will be much more comfortable with this passage in a few weeks
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Earlier this week, Shawna reached out to me through text and asked a really great question that I think would serve us well as we begin our journey into this text. I asked Shawna’s permission to share a little bit of our conversation because I think it will set the table well for why this particular passage has been so controversial in church history and frankly incredibly formative to once theology. How you interpret this passage says a lot about how you understand god’s sovereignty or lack there of.
Here’s what Shawna said:
I’ve been reading through Hebrews and I noticed we already have come across two verses that seem to allude to falling away from the truth. 3:12 and 4:6. I’m curious, what sets 6:4-6 apart from these previous two verses, as we look at the much anticipated question “can someone lose their salvation?”
First of all, I love questions like this, and I love that you guys feel comfortable enough, asking me this. Secondly, it’s incredibly helpful to get questions like this prior to preaching through difficult text because it helps me anticipate and understand what some of the hiccups and speed bumps might be. With that being said let’s take a quick look at these other two verses, and I’ll show you my response to Shawna.
Hebrews 3:12
Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
Hebrews 4:6
Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience…
Before I offer my answer, does anyone (NOT named Shawna) want to offer an answer of what separates these two verses from the passage we are studying over the next few weeks?
(Take Answers)
My short answer:
In chapter 3 and 4 the warning is against “falling away“ in context that doesn’t necessarily mean hopeless to all salvation. It means that you are on the wrong path or struggling in sin. We might use the terms like “a season of struggle” or in “a backslidden state.”
What differentiates chapter 6 is that the author says it is impossible for one to be saved a second time should they fall away.
So chapters 3 and four worn against falling away, but chapter 6, takes it to the next level and says that if should they “fall away”, which we will define, they cannot be saved a second time.
This is an excellent question and I think Shawna for asking me. Before we move on does anyone want any further clarification on why this versus unique or does anyone else have any other starter questions before we dig into the text?
Ok then, let’s pray.
(Pray)
Chuck Smith: (read)
I know that this is a passage of scripture that Satan loves to use. Satan loves to use scripture. He came to Eve with scripture, “Hath God said you could eat of any of the trees?”
He came to Jesus with scripture. “It is written He will give His angels charge over Thee to carry Thee in all Thy ways lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone.”
He came to Jesus with scriptures, but what Jesus then did was balance scripture with scripture. Taking a scripture out of its context, you can make it mean something else. Taking scripture and isolating it, you can make it mean something else. We must compare scriptures with scriptures.
What do we know that the scripture teaches? That a man may fail, that a man may even blaspheme and still find forgiveness. For we remember that Jesus said to Peter, “Before the cock crows, you are going to deny Me three times.” Peter said, “If they would kill me, I would never deny You.” After the cock crowed twice, Jesus turned over and looked at Peter and Peter realized he had denied Him three times. The last time was blasphemy, saying, “I don’t know the man.” And he went out and he wept bitterly, but Peter found forgiveness. He found restoration and he became one of the pillars of the early church, an apostle, a leader of men. So it doesn’t mean that if I falter or if I fall or if I fail that I’m out, that God puts me out and I have no hope of redemption. It’s impossible that I might be renewed unto repentance.
“We must compare scriptures with scriptures”
(Let’s take stock of what we know already and make sure we are in agreement on this principles of the faith.)
We know that God is gracious.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We know that God is merciful.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know, then, that the Lord, your God, is God: the faithful God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments.
We know that God is long-suffering.
1 Timothy 1:16
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long-suffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
We know that He is patient and He has not rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our guilty deeds.
Those are the “easy” ones, the “clean” ones…now let’s get muddy
We know that God is sovereign over all things, and thus, sovereign over our salvation.
Acts 13:48,
When the gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of God. And as many as were for ordained to eternal life believed.
Romans 11:7,
Israel failed to obtain what is sought. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened.
John 6:37,
All that the Father gives to me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out.
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
Full confession: the 22-year-old Christian in me wants to keep violently driving this point home with all the subtlety of a bull in a China shop. The 48 year-old Christian in me has learned to let the Scriptures make my point and then have a reasonable conversation with somebody who may be coming at this from a different perspective.
I began this message by offering a ferry. Excellent question that Shawna texted me. But she also asked the second question in our conversation and I didn’t necessarily think that the answer to that question was going to come up in this sermon series, but through study I think it’s certainly has and I would like to share that question with you and then offer one final observation from Chuck Smith because I think it goes a long way to unpacking her second question.
How would you respond to someone that fully accepts the doctrine of election, that there is nothing in their power to add to salvation, even accepting that the faith to believe comes from God, believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, know they are filthy sinner bound for hell, but fears God didn’t choose them.
(What an excellent question!!!)
Here was my answer:
The answer to your second question is somewhat theoretical. Anybody who is honestly asking themselves those types of questions and is heartbroken by it is probably saved or on their way to being saved. The unregenerate don’t acknowledge biblical truth and such doctrine.
Example: Four of my closest unsaved friends intellectually understand, not only the gospel and salvation, but they also intellectually understand the doctrine of election. They understand it, but they do not believe it, and therefore it is not binding to them, and therefore they are not concerning themselves and fearing that they are not saved. The person that you described in that hypothetical situation does have that fear and therefore I believe is Most likely either already saved or on the path to salvation. The differentiator is the belief not just the knowledge.
But I think Chuck Smith explains it even better when we writes:
But as high as the heaven is above the earth so high is the mercies of God towards those who fear Him. Satan often uses this verse to a person who has backslidden.
He says, “Man, you are out. Do you see what it says here in Hebrews? You’ve had it. That was the unpardonable sin that you committed and there is no way to renew you to repentance. You are out of the game.”
This is one of those scriptures that we have to deal with often as a pastor as people come and they have… you can tell it, you can see it in their eyes, and they say, “I think I’ve committed the unpardonable sin.”
We even have them calling on the phone long distance. “I believe I’ve committed the unpardonable sin.” And I always tell them, “I know you haven’t.” “Well, how do you know?” “Because you called.” If you committed the unpardonable sin you wouldn’t care. The Holy Spirit wouldn’t be dealing with you at all. You’d be so cold, callous and indifferent that you wouldn’t even care if you did. The fact that you’re concerned and care is the sign that you haven’t. God’s Spirit is still dealing with you.
But Satan loves to use this as a club over people’s head and he beats them to death with it.
Pray/QA