It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance
Hebrews 6:4-8
Many have misunderstood this verse and it has been the subject of many debates for a LONG, LONG, TIME. This verse is not talking about true Christ followers or people who have truly surrendered their heart to God, but rather those who have merely tasted it, been involved in ministry or been around true Christians, church goers if you will. It is saying to someone who has been given the FULL KNOWLEDGE of Christ...in other words they have been told all there is to tell, there is nothing else that can be added to the message they have heard...if this is the case, and they still reject submitting to God through brokenness, THEN AND ONLY THEN, it is impossible for them to come to repentance as there is nothing more that can be said that would lead them to repentance.
Hebrews 10:26-27 tells us, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God"
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. He also tasted the goodness of God, He walked with Jesus for several years and was involved in Jesus' ministry, Judas preached and witnessed miracles and yet never surrendered his heart to Christ. Did he lose his salvation?
The Bible leads us to believe he never had it, for his heart was motivated by greed. The apostle John portrays Judas Iscariot as “a devil” John 6:70 and a “thief” John 12:6, as one who was motivated and possessed by Satan John 13:2, 27, and as “the son of perdition” (an unrepentant person destined for eternal damnation) John 17:12
The Bible leads us to believe he never had it, for his heart was motivated by greed. The apostle John portrays Judas Iscariot as “a devil” John 6:70 and a “thief” John 12:6, as one who was motivated and possessed by Satan John 13:2, 27, and as “the son of perdition” (an unrepentant person destined for eternal damnation) John 17:12
But can a True Christian Lose Salvation?
1 John 2:18-19 tells us, "...even now many antichrists have come...They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.
For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us;
but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."
For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us;
but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."
There are those that look and act like Christians but are not surrendered, and when they walk away from their human faith, never having had saving faith from above, people want to say they lost their salvation, but scripture really tells us they never had it.
How can you tell a true Christ follower? The Bible say's in many places (I'm paraphrasing here), "Those that have surrendered their heart to Christ Jesus will continue growing in knowledge of Him and continue growing in faith and obedience to the very end" The verse 1 John 2:19 tells us those that have fallen away we're never truly saved, they never belong to us (the Christian Family)
Jesus Himself said in John 8:31, "To the Jews who had believed in Him, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" Implying not all who said they believed were really Christ followers, there were and are those who have proclaimed belief, who are acting the part, but never truly surrendered in their hearts
Now be careful though before passing judgment because "Fallen Away" does not mean someone who is backslidden or has had a moment of weakness in their life, it means a true Apostate or a denouncing of ones faith in Christ and the Bible.
Jesus Himself said in John 8:31, "To the Jews who had believed in Him, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" Implying not all who said they believed were really Christ followers, there were and are those who have proclaimed belief, who are acting the part, but never truly surrendered in their hearts
Now be careful though before passing judgment because "Fallen Away" does not mean someone who is backslidden or has had a moment of weakness in their life, it means a true Apostate or a denouncing of ones faith in Christ and the Bible.
Christians. Those who truly believe, will continue growing in Christ,
not by their own might but by the Holy Spirit.
As True Christ Followers, Romans 8:38-39 so clearly encourages us to believe God Himself, the One who called us, will keep us, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you have truly surrendered to Christ and are growing in your relationship with Him, not perfect, but humbled and living a repentant lifestyle... rest assured,
You are Safe in the Hands of Jesus.
As True Christ Followers, Romans 8:38-39 so clearly encourages us to believe God Himself, the One who called us, will keep us, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you have truly surrendered to Christ and are growing in your relationship with Him, not perfect, but humbled and living a repentant lifestyle... rest assured,
You are Safe in the Hands of Jesus.
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