I hope that you will be joining me and many other people for the “A Woman Inspired Conference” this week. I’ll be speaking on Wednesday morning at 9:30 am EST/8:30 am CST. See the link on the side bar or click here.
In the Sunday school class that I teach we are walking through the book of Hebrews this summer. Hebrews is a wonderful book that can challenge everyone from the beginner Bible study student all the way to the well-studied Bible scholar. I am closer to being the former rather than the latter!!
The book of Hebrews is all about ‘better things’ and the writer’s goal was to convince the Jewish Christians living in 68 A.D. that there was no reason to keep clinging to the Old Jewish Covenant when they had accepted Jesus as Lord and were living under the New Covenant.
One of the greatest interpretive challenges in the entire Bible lies in two verses in Hebrews chapter 6. I am diligently studying and preparing to teach this passage in a couple of weeks, but I thought it might be enlightening to get your thoughts on it. I am convinced to the very marrow of my bones that once we are saved, we CANNOT lose our salvation. I simply cannot believe that God would do EVERYTHING necessary to provide us with salvation and then make retaining our salvation dependant upon us. NO!! He knows that we would never be able to retain our salvation for even one single minute if it was up to us. We would screw up so fast that the Holy Spirit wouldn’t even have time to take up residence in our hearts.
So, with that said, what do you think about Hebrews 6: 4-6. I’ve given you two translations of these verses below. I really would love to hear your thoughts. Don’t be shy with your answers.
Hebrews 6: 4-6 (NLT)
4 For it is impossible to restore to repentance those who were once enlightened –those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come – 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people to repentance again because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to public shame.
Hebrews 6: 4-6 (NIV)
4 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.
