Monday's Message: Impossible

Impossible: Hebrews 6:1-8

If you are dealing with doubt concerning your salvation, passages like this may strike fear into your soul. That could be a sign of conviction from the Holy Ghost. You may be convinced you could lose your salvation because you know your life is not currently in line with Scripture. Your doubt could also be an indicator of spiritual immaturity: to give one statement more weight simply because it is not easily or immediately understood.

Recently, I along with several others, took a trip on a plane. All of the passengers boarded the same airplane; some of those folks, like me, felt secure and confident in the pilot and the aircraft. We enjoyed the trip far more than those who spent the entire time worried about everything that could go wrong! All of us, who have claimed the gift of salvation, are on our way to Heaven, but those who struggle with the full assurance of their eternal hope don’t enjoy the journey as much as they could. Some of this is due to a believer’s need to further discover truth; while, some are dealing with guilt and conviction. Much of this issue is due to a lack of faith in the lives of so many. It is not the amount of faith that is required to save, but the focus of that faith that is paramount!

Please allow me to quickly clarify one thing – Hebrews Chapter Six does not deal with initial conversion of believers. We know this based on some clear phrasing found here, such as: “leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ” and “not laying again the foundation of repentance.”  The focus of this passage is clearly defined: “let us go on unto perfection.” With that in mind, let’s take a look at Hebrews 6:4-6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” To “renew” would be to renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair. You see, there are consequences for our actions. Let me be clear, we are made new after salvation, and when we confess our sins we get a clean slate with God! However, we do NOT get to go back to a state as if our rebellion is non-existent. Though the grace of God allows for us to be forgiven and our reproach wiped away, we must still deal with the situations we have caused. We were saved from eternal hell, but we were not saved from “hell on earth”! I read this quote while studying this passage, and though I don’t know who originally said it, it is worth mentioning: “We either crucify or crown the Lord Jesus by our lives”

Hebrews 6:7-8 “For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.”

Though our sins are expunged from our records and we are fully pardoned from the eternal punishment for sin by the wonderful grace of Jesus, we are informed here in this passage that will be consequences for our actions here in this life. The very same sunshine and rain that produces herbs also produces thorns. The question for you and me is, are we allowing the Holy Spirit to dress the “garden” of our lives in the way that He deems necessary? Believer, you and I have been called to Christ for a purpose that far exceeds escaping punishment!

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.