Lewis W,
Here is an answer to your question about Hebrews 6:4-6 that I posted in another thread awhile back:
I will answer your question by posting Hebrews 6. The book of Hebrews was written by a Christian Hebrew to other Christian Hebrews encouraging them to live in the grace provided by Jesus, not the rituals and rites of Judaism.
In verses 1 -3 the writer of Hebrews is teaching the Hebrew Christians that the foundation of Jesus has been laid, so in leaving that foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, there is no need to lay the old ritualistic rites of the old way of repentance from dead works, faith towards God, baptism doctrines, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment, since all has changed due to the foundation of faith that Jesus laid. It was once possible with the old sacrifice routine whereby if the Jew missed a sacrifice for sin, he would make it up another day, but now since Jesus' sacrifice once for all, it is impossible for those to crucify Jesus Christ again for their new sin. The new sin has been paid for by Jesus first and only crucifixion. Those that were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers to come, if they fall away, there is no other sacrifice that can be made that can beat the one that Jesus made. Jesus' sacrifice paid the price one time for all sins to those who are born again. If a believer is to fall, there is not a repentance sacrifice that can be made other than the one that has already been paid by the Lord Jesus Christ.
If a believer is to fall, can he now repent and be redeemed from his sin? Yes. If that is the case then the verses in Hebrews must mean that as I explained otherwise there is no repentance for any sin that one commits. The scripture verses in Revelation to the seven churches tell six of the seven to repent otherwise their candlestick will be removed. That means that repentance is possible for believers otherwise their witness, their light, will not shine to an unbelieving world; the salt will lose its savor and what good is that?
We are exhorted in Hebrews 6 to abide in Christ so that we are fruitful in our Christian walk. We are exhorted to be diligent and not slothful, patient and not anxious so that we can continue to follow those of faith into our promises. We are promised rewards, tree of life, heirs with Jesus, etc.
Beginning in verse 17 we are told that God willingly and more abundantly shows the heirs of his promise the immutability of his counsel (counsel incapable of change) confirming it (his promise) by an oath. His oath is that those that are born again by believing in Jesus Christ will be saved and are sealed unto the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit, God himself.
Two immutable things guarantee this; 1) It is impossible for God to lie, and 2)that we have a strong consolation by laying a hold upon the hope of Jesus Christ who is the anchor of our soul, sure and stedfast, through the veil of the Holy of Holies he entered as a forerunner for us as the high priest forever.
We have been signed, sealed, and delivered into eternity for all time by the signature of blood from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 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, 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. 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: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6:1-20
I hope this helps your understanding. I too used to believe that you could lose your salvation, but it did not set right with me thinking that something that God does could fail. When I came to understand that it is not me saving myself, but God saving me, then I knew that I just could not mess it up. God continues to pick me up when I fall away, and after 22 years of salvation I must admit, I am not as spiritually mature as I would have been had I not fallen numerous times.
God's oath and His immutable counsel are immense confirmations to the health and welfare of the souls of his children, whom the devil will never break away from him.
Solo
