DEVOTION – DAY 370

Hebrews 6:4-6 “Warning Against Apostasy” 

Hebrews 6:4-6 “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. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.”

Is it possible to lose a person’s salvation? This is an important question that troubles many Christians. When they read Hebrews 6:4-6, it would seem to suggest that they could lose their salvation. However, there are many other sections of the Bible that teaches that a Christian’s salvation is based on the promise and work of God. It is not based on anything anyone has done or not done. Thus, it is impossible for someone who had genuinely called upon the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior to lose their salvation.

The writer of Heb.6:4-6 is telling us that sometimes, there are people who claim to be Christians. They might have enjoyed God’s blessings temporarily when they attended church –“tasting in the goodness of the word of God.” They were even aware of their own sins –“once been enlightened.” They might even have confessed and repented of their sins – “tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit.” But, they have now turned their backs on Christianity and went back to their idol worshipping ways. The writer concluded that it was impossible for that person to be brought back to repentance – such a person was likely, never a real Christian in the first place.

We know someone who was a devout Buddhist. We had tried to share with her about Jesus Christ on several occasions. One day, she felt a strong desire to go to church. There was a service in progress as she entered the church. She felt that the Pastor’s preaching was personally directed at her. She could not help the tears that fell from her eyes. At that moment, she wanted to surrender to Jesus. A few months later, she was baptized at that church. We advised her to join Bible studies for she had much to learn about Jesus. She politely declined our offer of help. We met up with her once every few months to see how she was progressing. Her enthusiasm for Christianity faded and became cold. She went back to worshipping Buddha. We told her she was in danger of facing terrible judgment for turning her back on Jesus, that she was behaving exactly as what Heb. 6:4-6 said. We can only pray for her.

Heavenly Father: We worship You, for You are patient and forgiving. Please search our hearts and cleanse us, so that nothing stands in the way of our relationship with You. May Your Holy Spirit continue to draw all Your children and keep them close to You, all the days of their lives. We humbly ask this in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. When and how did you become a Christian? Share your conversion experience.
  2. What changes have you and your family seen in you since you have become a Christian?
  3. How do you know that your salvation is secured?
  4. How can you pray for someone who had fallen away from Christianity? How can you help this person?