Thursday, June 19, 2008

Eternal Security

Today's chapter 6 in Hebrews is a complicated passage, because there are so many views as to what the Lord is trying to say here.

It starts off with "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about CHrist and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement."
I think what the author was trying to say here is that once we become believers, we need to get the foundations laid for the basic principals of Christ, then once we have those - to move forward - go from milk to meat, so to speak.

It's the section following the previous one that is so controversial. Verses 4 - 6 say,
"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, 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".

I was raised and still believe that "once saved, always saved". I do not believe that one can do anything that would cause them to lose their salvation, but I do believe that a person can make a conscience decision after he's saved, to turn completely around and denounce the Lord and who he is - therefore leaving him in a place of no return - no chance for redemption.

How anyone, after being in a personal relationship with Jesus - talking with him, knowing his grace, mercy and love, feeling his presence - could ever turn away from that and to the evil one is beyond me.

I hope you'll take the time to read this passage for yourself, and ask the Holy Spirit to shed light on your heart as to what he's trying to say. Sometimes when we hear or read what someone says about a certain passage of scripture, the Holy Spirit confirms it in our hearts, but then there are times when we need to get alone with him and hear him directly - without someone else's take on what it means.

I hope you have a blessed day - remember to pray for our troops, who put their lives on the line daily for our freedom.



Janelle

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