One In Jesus

Why do we fall?

Why is it that we fall away when we deliberately continue to sin? Because “no sacrifice for sins is left.” This is obviously the opposite of 10:18, which says that once we’ve been saved, “there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.” You see, Jesus died but once. We enter with him into his death but once — at baptism. We are then resurrected with him — and can no longer re-enter his death. Continue reading →

We skip ahead to chapter 10, where we see the author recapitulate the thought of 6:4-6, but with additional explanation.

It’s important to realize that the first part of chapter 10 culminates a lengthy discussion going back to chapter 7 regarding the “once for all” and “perfect forever” nature of our salvation.

The author also concludes a midrash on Jeremiah 31, which began in Heb 8, in which Jeremiah explains how the new covenant will be superior to the Mosaic covenant. Therefore, chapter 10 begin in exultation for the wonders of the salvation we have. Continue reading →

As we considered in the last post of this series, Hebrews 6:4-6 teaches that it’s possible for a Christian to so rebel against God that he falls away, and this happens when the Christian can no longer be brought back to repentance. However, as noted in the previous post,

Therefore, we must be careful not to interpret this passage to say that someone who is sorrowful for his sins and wants to return to God will be denied by God. It plainly says no such thing! Nothing here contradicts the Parable of the Prodigal Son. God forgives … Jesus saves … if we are penitent.

We don’t need to imagine that God will reject a penitent believer, but neither do we need to imagine that it’s easy to give up your rebellion and return. Not only is there a point where it becomes impossible to repent, long before then, there’s a time when it’s very difficult to repent. Rebellion is nothing to toy with. It’s seductive, addictive, and extremely difficult to escape. Continue reading →

Hebrews 6 contains one of the most controversial passages in the New Testament (which says a lot!).

(Heb 6:4-8)  It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

We need to take this nice and slow. The passage seems to plainly say that not only can Christians fall away, but if they do so, they’ll never repent. Notice carefully that it doesn’t say that God will not accept and forgive those who repent. Not at all. The risk isn’t that God won’t forgive — it’s that we won’t ever repent. Continue reading →