1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Music 2 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,000 Alright, it is now time for children's church. 3 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:33,000 Thank you Jennings and Macy and Choir for those songs this morning. 4 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:44,000 Hebrews chapter 6, verses 4 through 12. 5 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,000 We have been going through the book of Hebrews for the last several months. 6 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:54,000 We take a little break here and there. We've been taking a break for the last few weeks. 7 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,000 We are back this morning. 8 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:03,000 Hebrews chapter 6, verses 4 through 12. 9 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:09,000 We have before us this morning a very heavy passage. 10 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:17,000 I have stated before on several occasions throughout my years here that the book of Hebrews is my favorite book. 11 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:23,000 And you may have wondered why it took me nine years to preach through the book of Hebrews. 12 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,000 Well, I'll be honest with you. There were two reasons why. 13 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,000 And this passage is one of them. 14 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:37,000 This is a very difficult passage. It's very heavy. You may be familiar with this passage. 15 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:43,000 You may not be familiar with it, but today we are going to be familiar with it. 16 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:49,000 And as we read through the text this morning, if you listen closely to the Word of God 17 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:56,000 and follow along in the Word of God, you will perhaps understand why this passage is so heavy 18 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,000 and so difficult for us to understand. 19 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,000 So we will do the best we can this morning with the help of the Holy Spirit 20 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:09,000 to understand God's Word and to grow in God's Word today. 21 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Hebrews chapter 6, verses 4 through 12. 22 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:28,000 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, 23 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:34,000 who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, 24 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:41,000 tasted God's good Word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away, 25 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:49,000 because to their own harm they are re-crucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt. 26 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,000 For ground that has drunk the rain that has often fallen on it, 27 00:02:53,000 --> 00:03:00,000 and that produces vegetation useful to those it is cultivated for, receives a blessing from God. 28 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:09,000 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed and will be burned at the end. 29 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,000 Even though we are speaking this way, dear friends, 30 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,000 in your case we are confident of better things connected with salvation. 31 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,000 For God is not unjust. 32 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,000 He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name 33 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,000 when you served the saints and you continue to serve them. 34 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:36,000 Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope 35 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,000 so that you won't become lazy, 36 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:44,000 but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. 37 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,000 Let's pray. 38 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Father God, we come to you this morning and we need you. 39 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:55,000 Dear Lord, I need you to be able to preach and teach in a way that is going to bring glory to you 40 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:56,000 and help us this morning. 41 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:03,000 God, this passage is big and it is heavy and its interpretation is not agreed upon, dear Lord, 42 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,000 even among Christians. 43 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,000 It is difficult, dear Lord. 44 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,000 So I pray, God, that you would be with me today, 45 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:15,000 that I would speak in the way that you would desire for me to speak, dear Lord, 46 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,000 that any fear that we may find in this passage today, dear Lord, 47 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,000 will be fear that leads to wisdom, dear Lord, 48 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,000 because God's fear of you is, in fact, the beginning of wisdom. 49 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:34,000 So I pray, God, that this text this morning, that as we read it and maybe even wrestle with it, dear Lord, 50 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,000 that maybe it'll get our attention. 51 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,000 God, that was the point, dear Lord. 52 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:44,000 The original author is trying to get the attention of its hearer, dear Lord. 53 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,000 And so it is for us today. 54 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,000 So God, I pray that you would hide me behind the cross, 55 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:52,000 that you would help me to preach and teach, dear Lord, as you would desire, 56 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,000 that your Holy Spirit would speak when my mouth opens, dear Lord, 57 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,000 that you would allow our ears to listen, God, 58 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,000 that you would allow us not to be distracted, dear Lord, 59 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,000 that we would listen closely to your Word and that we would grow in your Word today. 60 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,000 We need you this morning, God, and I pray that you be with us. 61 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:16,000 And I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 62 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:22,000 Throughout the book of Hebrews, the author of Hebrews gives his audience several warnings. 63 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,000 Now, a few verses back in the last chapter, 64 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:30,000 the author is really wanting to get on to the topic of Melchizedek and the priesthood 65 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:35,000 and Jesus being a better high priest, but he has had to stop for a moment. 66 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,000 And he stopped at the end of chapter 5, and he said, there's a problem. 67 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,000 I need to be able to teach you guys things. 68 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,000 You need to be able to grow in Christ, 69 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,000 even though you're regressing in Christ at the moment. 70 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,000 I'm writing this book so that you can refocus on Jesus 71 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,000 and realize he's better than everything else, 72 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,000 but you're immature, he tells them at the end of chapter 5. 73 00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:00,000 He says, you've become lazy. You're immature. You ought to be able to teach. 74 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:06,000 You ought to have a proper understanding of the Word of God, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 75 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,000 but yet you have become lazy, 76 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:14,000 and you are beginning to turn from Jesus Christ in the midst of your persecution, 77 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,000 and you're being tempted to go back to your old way. 78 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:23,000 You are being tempted to try to find righteousness in the Old Testament law, 79 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,000 in the old sacrificial system, in the old priesthood, 80 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,000 and he is telling them, you need to wake up. 81 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,000 You need to wake up and not turn from Jesus Christ, 82 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,000 because there is not hope in anyone but Jesus Christ. 83 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,000 And so he's giving them this warning. 84 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:44,000 He's telling them not to become lazy, but to keep focused on Jesus. 85 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:48,000 And with that in mind, we see the words that we just read. 86 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,000 He said, you are in danger of falling away. 87 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:58,000 You're in danger of falling away from Jesus Christ and who he is. 88 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,000 And the most scary part of this passage is he says 89 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:07,000 that it is impossible to renew these people to repentance 90 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:11,000 once they have turned from Jesus Christ. 91 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,000 Now, what are we to make of this passage? 92 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,000 This is a heavy passage. 93 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,000 Are we in danger of falling away? 94 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:22,000 Who are the people that he is speaking of here? 95 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Well, I wish we had about four hours today to discuss this topic, 96 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,000 because I have studied this scripture, 97 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,000 probably more than any scripture in all of the Bible, 98 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,000 for 15 years I have studied this scripture, 99 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:37,000 and from time to time I go back and continue to study this scripture. 100 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:43,000 And it is a difficult and it is a heavy and it is a scary scripture. 101 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:48,000 Now, for centuries this passage has been debated among Christians 102 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,000 as to how are we to interpret this? 103 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,000 Is this as heavy and as disheartening as it seems? 104 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Is there something we're missing? 105 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,000 Is there another way that we can look at this passage? 106 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Well, we will briefly this morning, 107 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:08,000 we will briefly look at the three main interpretations of this passage. 108 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,000 Now, some of these splinter off into different ways. 109 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,000 I wish we could talk about all the ins and outs, 110 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 and you may say, but this or but that, 111 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,000 and I wish we could talk about all the buts this morning. 112 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,000 And I'll be glad to visit with you this week and talk about this passage, 113 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,000 and we can sit down and have a cup of coffee 114 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,000 and have a good time talking about it. 115 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,000 I know there's a lot here that we do not have time to discuss, 116 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:34,000 but there are three main views that have arisen through the years 117 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:39,000 of how this passage could be interpreted. 118 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:45,000 One of those views is that this passage is not speaking about Christians at all. 119 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:50,000 That it's speaking about those who were close to coming to Christianity. 120 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:56,000 They knew the Word of God, but they never actually came to faith in Jesus Christ. 121 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,000 Now, part of that view and many who hold that view 122 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:05,000 would hold to a doctrine that's often referred to as once saved, always saved. 123 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,000 Perhaps you've heard that phrase before. 124 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:12,000 This view was really popularized by a theologian back in the 1500s. 125 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,000 His name was John Calvin. 126 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,000 You may have heard of the term Calvinism before. 127 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 Now, we're not going to get too much into Calvinism today, 128 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:24,000 but one of those things that he taught was the perseverance of the saints, 129 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,000 or once saved, always saved. 130 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:33,000 And with that teaching, it is taught that once you come to faith in Jesus Christ, 131 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,000 your salvation can never be lost. 132 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,000 That you are in the hand of God, that God is holding on to you. 133 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:45,000 And so many who hold to that teaching of once saved, always saved, 134 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,000 would view this verse in a different way than some others. 135 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:55,000 They would say, well, based on Scripture, and based on the fact that it is impossible for us to lose our salvation, 136 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,000 then this passage cannot be speaking about Christians. 137 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,000 It's no way it can be speaking about Christians. 138 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,000 So some passages to support that view that once we are saved, 139 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,000 that there is nothing at all that can separate us from the love of God, 140 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,000 from our salvation in Jesus Christ, 141 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:17,000 there are several Scriptures that help support that view. 142 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,000 And these are good passages. We'll look at these today. 143 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,000 We're looking at a lot of Scriptures today, by the way, but it's okay. 144 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,000 It's a difficult passage. We need to. 145 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,000 One of those passages is Jude chapter 1 verse 24. 146 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,000 I'll go through these quickly for time's sake. 147 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,000 If you don't have time to find them, ask me afterwards. 148 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:39,000 I'll be glad to tell you where these passages are, and you can look them up yourself. 149 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Jude chapter 1 verse 24. 150 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,000 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling 151 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:52,000 and to make you stand in the presence of his glory blameless and with great joy. 152 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,000 Okay, this is a real short and simple passage, 153 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,000 but the assurance there that many would see in this passage is that, 154 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:04,000 hey, God will not allow you to stumble, that once you have put your faith in God, 155 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,000 God will hold on to you. 156 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:12,000 So even if you get into a place where you may be even tempted to deny your faith in Jesus Christ, 157 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:16,000 God will not allow you to stumble in such a way. 158 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:21,000 The next passage, John chapter 10 verses 27 through 29. 159 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,000 This is Jesus speaking here. 160 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:28,000 He says, My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. 161 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,000 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, ever. 162 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,000 No one will snatch them out of my hand. 163 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,000 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. 164 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,000 No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 165 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,000 Okay, that's a pretty reassuring verse. 166 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:53,000 Jesus says, Once I've got you, there is nothing that can take you out of my hand. 167 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,000 Okay, that is a good verse. 168 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,000 If we're looking into this view, once saved, always saved, 169 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:07,000 if we hold this view and we believe the Word of God, this is a powerful verse to back that viewpoint up. 170 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:12,000 Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14. 171 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,000 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 172 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:22,000 and when you believed in him, you are also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 173 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,000 He is the down payment of our inheritance, 174 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:31,000 for the redemption of the possession to the praise of his glory. 175 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:36,000 Alright, another beautiful verse that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, 176 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,000 that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. 177 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,000 That's reassuring. The Holy Spirit has sealed us. 178 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,000 The Holy Spirit is our down payment, 179 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:49,000 and if God has given the down payment in Jesus Christ and by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell in us, 180 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,000 can God not afford to pay the rest of the payment? 181 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,000 Certainly, God can. God has sealed us with the Holy Spirit, 182 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:02,000 and he has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment until the day that our salvation is complete, 183 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:06,000 and we are with God for all of eternity. 184 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:14,000 A beautiful passage there. Romans chapter 8, Romans chapter 8 verses 38 and 39. 185 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:20,000 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, 186 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:25,000 things present are things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, 187 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:34,000 or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 188 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,000 Again, similar to the passage we just saw in John chapter 10, 189 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:44,000 that there is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God. 190 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:49,000 And so many who hold the once saved always saved view will use these passages 191 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,000 and certainly probably some others, but these get the point across. 192 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:59,000 And so there is one viewpoint that says we can never in any way lose our salvation, 193 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,000 and so this passage cannot be talking about Christians. 194 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,000 It in no way can be speaking of Christians. 195 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,000 These people came very close to the kingdom of God. 196 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:15,000 They knew of Jesus Christ, but they never put their faith in Jesus Christ. 197 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,000 And so this is one of the viewpoints, a very popular viewpoint, 198 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,000 both among those who are Calvinists and others who would not even claim to be Calvinists, 199 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,000 but would hold to the once saved always saved doctrine. 200 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:32,000 Okay, so some would say this passage is not speaking of Christians. 201 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Well, perhaps this is good news for us as Christians, but what about those who are unsaved? 202 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,000 There's a certain fear that comes from this passage, 203 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:46,000 because once you reject Jesus Christ and give up on Jesus Christ, 204 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:52,000 is this passage saying it is impossible to ever come to faith in Jesus Christ? 205 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,000 This is a heavy thing. 206 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,000 These types of things are scary as we read these things today, 207 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,000 and they should be, I believe. 208 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:04,000 I believe that the author of the book of Hebrews is trying to get his audience's attention. 209 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:09,000 Whether they are saved or unsaved, this is a scary verse. 210 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,000 It should be scary for us today as we consider this verse and think about these things, 211 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:18,000 and maybe God is trying to get our attention today, so we need to listen to the Word of God. 212 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,000 We need to listen to the Holy Spirit today. 213 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,000 So that's the first main viewpoint. 214 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:29,000 This passage is not speaking of Christians, so sigh of relief if we're Christians. 215 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:37,000 The second viewpoint is that it is certainly possible for a Christian to lose their salvation. 216 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:44,000 Now that viewpoint would argue that the things that are being said here are things that apply to Christians, 217 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:51,000 and throughout the whole book of Hebrews, it seems very clear that he's speaking to Christians. 218 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,000 He's giving these people warnings, and he's speaking to them, 219 00:15:54,000 --> 00:16:01,000 and he refers to himself and the audience as we, that is, Christians, numerous times throughout the book. 220 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,000 It seems at first glance, apart from this verse, 221 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:09,000 we would probably have no problem saying this book was written to Christians. 222 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:13,000 But then we read this passage and one other that we'll get to later, and we say, 223 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,000 well, wait a minute. It can't be talking about Christians. 224 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,000 Christians can't lose their salvation, so maybe these people aren't. 225 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:25,000 But it appears that as we read this book, that his audience is Christian. 226 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Now listen to the words that we saw to describe this audience when we read through the passage. 227 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:38,000 It says of this audience that they were, in verse four, that they were once enlightened. 228 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:44,000 They tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, 229 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:49,000 tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age. 230 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Now some would say, yeah, they were close. They tasted these things. 231 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:57,000 They almost bit them off. They almost chewed them, but not quite. 232 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:02,000 But we have to assume here that tasted means fully consumed, fully experienced. 233 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,000 And we can know that because in Hebrews chapter two, 234 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,000 the author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus tasted death. 235 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:14,000 Now Jesus didn't just nibble on death. Jesus died. He completely died in every way. 236 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:21,000 This is crucial to our salvation that Jesus Christ died for our sins. 237 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:25,000 He didn't just dabble with death. He didn't just almost die and lay in the grave for three days. 238 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,000 No, he died. He tasted death. That is, he died. 239 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,000 What does it say here about the Holy Spirit? 240 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:35,000 It says that they have become companions with the Holy Spirit. 241 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,000 Who becomes companions with the Holy Spirit? 242 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,000 If not those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. 243 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:45,000 Does the Holy Spirit dwell in those who are not Christian? 244 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:52,000 So one viewpoint, the second viewpoint here is that these people certainly are Christians. 245 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:58,000 These people are certainly Christians and it is possible for a Christian 246 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:03,000 who has genuinely come to faith in Jesus Christ to turn from Jesus Christ, 247 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:08,000 to renounce him as Lord and Savior, to turn to something else, to say, 248 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,000 I'm no longer trusting Jesus. I no longer believe that he is the Savior. 249 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,000 I am done with Jesus. 250 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:21,000 And some would say that it is certainly possible for a Christian to lose their salvation. 251 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,000 That once we come to faith in Christ, we must remain in faith in Christ. 252 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:30,000 There is obligation for us to continue to live in obedience to Jesus Christ. 253 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:37,000 Now, here are a few scriptures that we can look at to support that view. 254 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:43,000 Hebrews chapter 3, verses 5 and 6, we covered these a couple of months ago. 255 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's household, 256 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,000 as a testimony to what would be said in the future. 257 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,000 But Christ was faithful as a son over his household. 258 00:18:55,000 --> 00:19:04,000 And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope. 259 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,000 What does the author of Hebrews tell him in that warning? 260 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,000 He says, we are the household of God through Jesus Christ. 261 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:16,000 If we hold on to Jesus Christ, if we hold on to that hope, you're going to see that word if 262 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:20,000 in all of these passages that we're about to read. 263 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:26,000 Hebrews chapter 3, verse 14, for we have become companions of the Messiah. 264 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,000 Same word we saw there, companions of the Holy Spirit. 265 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,000 We, Paul included, or excuse me, the author of Hebrews included in that. 266 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:39,000 For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end 267 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:44,000 the reality that we had at the start. 268 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,000 1 John chapter 2, verse 24. 269 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:52,000 What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. 270 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,000 If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, 271 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:01,000 then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 272 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,000 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 1 and 2. 273 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:09,000 Now, brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaim to you. 274 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,000 You received it and have taken your stand on it. 275 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:19,000 You are also saved by it if you hold to the message I proclaim to you, 276 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,000 unless you believed for no purpose. 277 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:28,000 Colossians chapter 1, verses 22 and 23. 278 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:33,000 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death 279 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:38,000 to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him. 280 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:43,000 If indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith 281 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:49,000 and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. 282 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,000 Well, those are pretty strong passages. 283 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:58,000 And it seems pretty clear in those passages that he's speaking to Christians here. 284 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,000 Now, we have too many of these passages, including the one we're looking at, 285 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,000 that it's hard for us to deny that he's speaking to Christians. 286 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,000 And yet in each of these passages, even though he seems to establish 287 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:14,000 that they are companions with the Messiah, and they have hope in the Messiah, 288 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,000 and they have received salvation in the Messiah, 289 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:21,000 that there is some responsibility to them to keep the faith. 290 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,000 You remain in Jesus if you keep the faith. 291 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,000 What if you don't keep the faith? 292 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,000 Well, therefore, you do not remain in Jesus. 293 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:35,000 And so some would say this passage is certainly speaking of a possibility 294 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:41,000 that Christians can, in fact, lose their salvation. 295 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,000 Now, what about this loss of salvation? 296 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,000 How does this happen? Is it because we sin too much? 297 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,000 Well, it's not because we sin too much. 298 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,000 If in fact it's possible for a Christian to lose their salvation, 299 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:59,000 the loss of salvation comes because we have denied Jesus Christ 300 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,000 and have turned from Jesus Christ. 301 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,000 We have known fully who he is. 302 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:08,000 We have trusted in him, and we have decided that Jesus is no longer 303 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,000 good enough to be our Savior. 304 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:16,000 And that seems to be what the audience of the book of Hebrews is struggling with. 305 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:20,000 And so he uses these strong words to get their attention. 306 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:24,000 You have become lazy, and you are in danger. 307 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:28,000 You are in danger of falling away. 308 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:33,000 This is a heavy passage, and there's no one or two scriptures for any 309 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,000 of these arguments that we can turn to that make it really easier, 310 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,000 at least not for me. 311 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,000 Maybe it is for you to say this is for sure what this passage means 312 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:45,000 because God's Word is right and is true in every way, 313 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:49,000 but it's sometimes difficult for us to understand not because God's Word 314 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,000 is difficult but because we have a hard time sometimes. 315 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,000 Now, I'm going to go back to the beginning of the book of Hebrews. 316 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:02,000 Now, within the view that it is possible for a Christian to lose their salvation, 317 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,000 there's splinters off into a couple of views there. 318 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:10,000 One group would say once someone has come to Christ and renounced their faith in Christ, 319 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,000 they can no longer be saved again. 320 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,000 It's impossible to renew them to repentance, as the passage said. 321 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:17,000 That's one view. 322 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,000 That once you've given up on Christ, your opportunity is done. 323 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,000 And that's a very scary thing. 324 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,000 The other view is that for those who turn away from Christ, 325 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,000 they can come back to Christ. 326 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,000 That view would argue that it is impossible to renew to repentance 327 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,000 those in this passage because what does it say of them? 328 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,000 It says that they are re-crucifying Jesus. 329 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,000 So what it's saying in some interpretation is that, look, 330 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:50,000 these people are not going to be saved because they are just as bad as the crowd 331 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,000 who nailed Jesus to the cross and who crucified Him. 332 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,000 They are denying Jesus in the same way. 333 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:01,000 And so long as they continue to deny Jesus and continue to re-crucify Him, 334 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:05,000 that is to reject Him and deny that He is the Son of God, 335 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,000 so long as that is their heart and their attitude, 336 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:13,000 they cannot repent and come back to Jesus Christ until they change, 337 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:18,000 until they realize, wait a minute, Jesus is the Son of God, I was wrong, 338 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,000 and then they can come to repentance. 339 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,000 And so some would say it's impossible to lose your salvation, 340 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,000 but it's possible to get it back. 341 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,000 Now, that view was popularized by Jacobus Arminius, 342 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,000 who oftentimes had an opposing view to that of John Calvin. 343 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,000 These are things you can study if you care about them this week. 344 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,000 But this is the second viewpoint, that it is possible. 345 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,000 Some would say you cannot ever come back once you've lost your salvation. 346 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:50,000 Some would say you can once you turn around and repent of your sins 347 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,000 and trust in Jesus Christ. 348 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,000 Those are the first two main views that we are going to look at this morning. 349 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,000 The third view is that this is a hypothetical, 350 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,000 that He's not really saying that they can lose their salvation. 351 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,000 He's just using this language to shock them. 352 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000 He's looking for the shock factor, that He's saying, hey, wait a minute, 353 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,000 this is a really serious thing, you guys have become lazy, 354 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,000 and it's going to be impossible to renew you to repentance, 355 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:21,000 because you know of Jesus Christ and you are re-crucifying Him. 356 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:25,000 But as we read through the passage, He kind of softens the blow. 357 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,000 So some would say, well, this is just a hypothetical. 358 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:31,000 He's not saying that they can lose their salvation. 359 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:35,000 Now, one argument for that would be in chapter 6, verse 6. 360 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:39,000 Some of your translations, if you're reading the King James or a New King James, 361 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,000 it says, and if they shall fall away. 362 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,000 And some would say, there you go, it says if. 363 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,000 He's not saying that they have or that they will. 364 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,000 He's saying that if they did, not that it's possible to, 365 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,000 but if they did, they couldn't come to repentance. 366 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,000 Well, there's one problem with that, 367 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,000 and that is the word if is not there in the original language. 368 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,000 Now, I don't know why the King James and New King James 369 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,000 and possibly other translations put that word in there, 370 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,000 but it doesn't say if they shall fall away. 371 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,000 It says who have fallen away is what the text actually says. 372 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,000 So that blows that argument out of the water. 373 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,000 However, if we are going to look at the hypothetical view 374 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,000 in Hebrews chapter 6, verse 9, it said, 375 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,000 even though we are speaking this way, dear friends, 376 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:27,000 in your case we are confident of better things connected with salvation. 377 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,000 Okay, so he's softening the blow here. 378 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,000 He's saying, look, you guys are so bad 379 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,000 that if it were possible for you to lose your salvation, 380 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,000 you could do it and you'd be lost forever. 381 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,000 But, but you can't really lose your salvation. 382 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,000 I know you're better than that. I know you're not going to do that. 383 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,000 If it was possible, you'd be in bad shape, but it's not possible. 384 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,000 I'm just trying to get your attention. 385 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,000 Now, that doesn't really make much sense to me. 386 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,000 That doesn't seem like much of a warning. 387 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,000 That doesn't seem to carry much weight. 388 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:59,000 A warning like that doesn't seem to fit the passage at all, in my opinion. 389 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:04,000 However, there are certainly Christians who would hold to that interpretation. 390 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,000 It seems as though this is a serious warning. 391 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,000 He's not just trying to get their attention. 392 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:13,000 He's trying to warn them of something that could really happen to them. 393 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:16,000 Now, whether you decide that these were not Christians 394 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,000 who were in danger of losing any opportunity to come to Christ, 395 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,000 or whether you decide that these were Christians 396 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,000 and it was possible for them to lose their salvation, 397 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:31,000 I believe that the author of Hebrews is giving a strong warning here. 398 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,000 He's given a strong warning. 399 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:38,000 And so for those who hold the once saved, always saved teaching here 400 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,000 and believe that that is true in Scripture, 401 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:46,000 then oftentimes it is said that, well, these people might have been close, 402 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,000 but they were never really saved. 403 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,000 They couldn't fall away from the faith. 404 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:56,000 And the view of eternal security or once saved, always saved, is just that, 405 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,000 that we cannot fall away. 406 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,000 And so oftentimes people who hold that view say, 407 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,000 boy, there's a lot of peace and there's a lot of strength 408 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:07,000 and there's a lot of comfort because I know that I can never fall away. 409 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,000 And you may say, to counterpoint that view, 410 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,000 well, what about people who have walked with Jesus Christ 411 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:16,000 or presumed to have walked with Jesus Christ and professed to Him 412 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,000 and even produced good fruit for 30, 40, 50 years of their life, 413 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:23,000 and then at some point something changes and they denounce Jesus Christ 414 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,000 and decide, you know what, I don't believe in any of this. 415 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,000 Well, the response to that would be, well, 416 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:32,000 they were never really saved to begin with. 417 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,000 And so is there really any security in that view? 418 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,000 Because perhaps I could say to you, well, how do you know that you're really saved? 419 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,000 Because if you had asked those people who walked with Jesus for 30, 40, 50 years, 420 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,000 if they were genuinely saved, if Jesus was the Son of God, 421 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,000 if they had put their faith in Him, they would have said absolutely. 422 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,000 And I could say, would you ever turn on Him? 423 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,000 They would say absolutely not, yet there are some who have. 424 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,000 And you could say, well, they weren't really saved to begin with. 425 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,000 That's why they presumably fell away. 426 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,000 It's interesting you use this word there, have fallen away. 427 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,000 Have fallen away from what? 428 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,000 Have fallen away from not being a Christian? 429 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,000 Have fallen away from being close to Jesus Christ? 430 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:13,000 That type of language implies that there's something they are falling away from, 431 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,000 that they have fallen away from Jesus Christ. 432 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,000 So how can we be sure? 433 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,000 How can we be sure that we'll never lose our salvation, 434 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:25,000 whether we are walking Christ for 30 or 40, 50 years, 435 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,000 whether we believe in once saved, always saved, 436 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,000 or whether we believe it's possible for us to lose our salvation? 437 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:35,000 How can we be sure without a shadow of a doubt 438 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:41,000 that in all ways and everything that we will not lose our salvation? 439 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:46,000 The only way is if we remain in Jesus Christ, 440 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:51,000 if we keep faith in Jesus Christ, if we come to faith in Jesus Christ. 441 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,000 Praise God, if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you 442 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:56,000 and has been wrestling with you today, 443 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:01,000 then do not turn away from Jesus Christ. 444 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,000 The only way that we can be assured of our salvation 445 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,000 is through faith in Jesus Christ. 446 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,000 That's where our salvation comes from. 447 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,000 That's where our security is today. 448 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,000 Do you have faith in Jesus Christ today? 449 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,000 And if you've got faith in Jesus Christ, then praise God. 450 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,000 You've got security. 451 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,000 Your salvation is secure in Jesus Christ, 452 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:27,000 who died and was crucified and was resurrected for your sins. 453 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,000 That is where our assurance comes from. 454 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:31,000 People will often say, 455 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,000 well, I didn't do anything to earn my salvation, 456 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:35,000 and I can't do anything to lose it. 457 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,000 Well, that's not entirely true. 458 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,000 You certainly didn't do anything to earn your salvation, 459 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,000 but you did do something to obtain it, 460 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,000 and that is you put faith in Jesus Christ. 461 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,000 That's the determining factor. 462 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:50,000 That's what determines whether we are a Christian or not, 463 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,000 whether we are God's child or not, 464 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:56,000 is whether or not we have come to faith in Jesus Christ. 465 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,000 And if we have not come to faith in Jesus Christ, 466 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,000 then we are not a child of God. 467 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,000 And if we have come to faith in Jesus Christ, 468 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,000 then we need to remain in that faith. 469 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,000 We need to wake up. 470 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:10,000 Perhaps there are times that we are lazy. 471 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,000 Perhaps there are times that we begin to get into sin, 472 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:16,000 and that begins to draw us away from God. 473 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,000 And the author of Hebrews says, wake up! 474 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:23,000 He stresses the importance of faith throughout the book, 475 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,000 and as we get to the end of the book, 476 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:27,000 he stresses the importance of faith, 477 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:31,000 and that's where our assurance of salvation comes from today. 478 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:34,000 For those of you who have never put your faith in Christ, 479 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,000 that's where your salvation will come from. 480 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,000 For those who have put your faith in Christ, 481 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,000 that's where your salvation rests in Jesus Christ 482 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,000 and Christ alone this morning. 483 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,000 Let's look at a few passages. 484 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:51,000 Matthew chapter 19, verses 24 through 26. 485 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:56,000 We see the word at the beginning of this passage that it is impossible. 486 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,000 What are we to make of this passage? 487 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,000 Can a Christian lose their salvation or not? 488 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:05,000 Well, I can't stand here this morning and tell you with 100% certainty 489 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,000 one way or another. 490 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,000 I believe God's word is very difficult in this particular instance. 491 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,000 I told you I have studied this passage in great detail for 15 years. 492 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,000 Now, you may have studied it for 10 minutes and came to a conclusion, 493 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,000 and you know your conclusion is right, and if so, so be it. 494 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,000 I can't tell you this morning, though, as I stand here before you 495 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,000 to preach the word of God, that I can say with 100% certainty 496 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,000 one way or another on this passage. 497 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:32,000 Perhaps there is some fear that has come on us today 498 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,000 when you read this passage about the impossibility 499 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:39,000 of being renewed to repentance. 500 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:45,000 Well, I'll read this passage to you from Matthew chapter 19, verses 24 through 26. 501 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,000 There was a rich man who had came to Jesus, 502 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:52,000 and he didn't want to give up his possessions, and Jesus says this. 503 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,000 Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 504 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:59,000 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 505 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,000 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished 506 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,000 and asked, Then who can be saved? 507 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:10,000 But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, 508 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:14,000 but with God all things are possible. 509 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:18,000 We serve a God that can do impossible things. 510 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:22,000 Perhaps the impossibility rested in some way on the audience. 511 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:25,000 Perhaps it was an impossibility for those who were hearing the book 512 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:30,000 to bring people back to repentance, but for God he is very patient, 513 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:36,000 he is very powerful, and God can do things that are impossible. 514 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,000 Continuing on, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8. 515 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:47,000 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves. 516 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,000 It is God's gift. 517 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,000 Hebrews chapter 11, verses 1 and 2. 518 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,000 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, 519 00:33:54,000 --> 00:34:00,000 the proof of what is not seen, for our ancestors won approval by it. 520 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,000 And so will you and I today. 521 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:06,000 We will win approval by our faith in Jesus Christ. 522 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:09,000 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6. 523 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:13,000 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, 524 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,000 for the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists 525 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,000 and rewards those who seek him. 526 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:25,000 Hebrews chapter 6, verse 12. Be imitators of those who inherit the promise 527 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:29,000 through faith and perseverance. 528 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,000 Romans chapter 5, verse 1. 529 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:37,000 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, 530 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:43,000 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 531 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,000 We have peace this morning. 532 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,000 If you read this passage or read passages like this, 533 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:51,000 it can certainly bring about some fear. 534 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,000 And praise God, I think on some level it should. 535 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,000 It should stir us. 536 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,000 It should get our attention when we read passages like this. 537 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,000 It should shake us up. 538 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,000 But we do not need to be those this morning that walk and live 539 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,000 in fear of passages like these, 540 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:13,000 because there is peace through faith in Jesus Christ. 541 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:17,000 There is peace in Jesus Christ for you this morning. 542 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,000 Maybe the Holy Spirit is convicting you today. 543 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:22,000 Maybe the Holy Spirit has really spoken heavy to you. 544 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,000 Maybe hearing these words today has gotten your attention. 545 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,000 If the Holy Spirit has spoken to you in some way 546 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,000 and grabbed your attention today, 547 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:34,000 then do not leave this place without responding to God. 548 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,000 Do not leave this place without repenting of your sin. 549 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:41,000 Perhaps you are in the same danger as the people of the book of Hebrews, 550 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:46,000 and you are being tempted to turn from Jesus to other things of the world. 551 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:50,000 And maybe this passage today, God is saying you need to wake up. 552 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:53,000 You need to stop being lazy in your walk with me. 553 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:54,000 You need to listen to me. 554 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:58,000 And for some of you today that has never put your faith in Jesus Christ, 555 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,000 the same message is true for you. 556 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,000 That we need to wake up this morning. 557 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,000 That we need to be people who hear the Word of God. 558 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,000 And even though there is fear sometimes in the Word of God, 559 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,000 the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. 560 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:14,000 And true wisdom is Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected. 561 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:20,000 And salvation comes through Him alone when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. 562 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:24,000 And so today we can be those, even when we read a tough passage, 563 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:29,000 that can leave here with peace and strength and comfort 564 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,000 if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. 565 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:34,000 Let us today be those who put faith in Jesus Christ, 566 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:38,000 and let us be those who live in that faith this morning. 567 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,000 Let's pray. 568 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,000 Father God, this is such a heavy passage. 569 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:45,000 I pray, dear Lord, that your Holy Spirit would do the work. 570 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,000 God, I know that my words probably were insufficient. 571 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:52,000 But God, I pray that your Holy Spirit through your work would lead and guide us 572 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:55,000 and to understand as best we can, dear Lord. 573 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:58,000 We can't answer all the questions of difficulties with this passage. 574 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:02,000 God, people have debated this for hundreds and hundreds of years. 575 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,000 So we're not going to solve the question today in 30 minutes. 576 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:10,000 But dear Lord, I pray today that we would trust in your goodness. 577 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,000 That if the difficulty of the passage has rattled us, dear Lord, 578 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:18,000 that in that rattling, God, that we would seek you today. 579 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:22,000 That if any have been rattled this morning, dear Lord, 580 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,000 by the heaviness of your Word, 581 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:28,000 that your Holy Spirit would work in their heart today. 582 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:32,000 God, maybe there are some here today, and they have never put their faith in Jesus Christ. 583 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:36,000 Maybe there are some who have come really close to your kingdom. 584 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,000 They have come really close to putting faith in you. 585 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:42,000 They know your Word. They know all about you. 586 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:46,000 And maybe they come to church, and maybe they even do some good works here and there, dear Lord, 587 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:50,000 but they've never put their faith in you. 588 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:54,000 God, I pray today that there is one in this room that has been fighting you, God, 589 00:37:54,000 --> 00:38:01,000 that today, that if there is any feeling of repentance in their heart, God, 590 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:04,000 that they would not turn that away, that they would repent of their sins 591 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:08,000 and trust in Jesus Christ, God, that they would come to faith in Jesus Christ, dear Lord. 592 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,000 That is our strength. That is our comfort. That is our peace today. 593 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,000 It's faith in Jesus Christ. 594 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,000 God, maybe there are some here today, and they are yours. 595 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:24,000 And as yours, dear Lord, maybe they too have been rattled by your Word. 596 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:30,000 God, maybe we look at our own lives and we realize that we have become somewhat lazy. 597 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:36,000 Perhaps we ourselves have become in danger to turning to things of the world, 598 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,000 to turning from you, dear Lord. 599 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:42,000 But I pray, God, that for those who are yours today, that they would come to you, 600 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:46,000 that they would seek you, that they would hold strong in the faith, God, 601 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:51,000 that they would repent of their sins, that they would know without a shadow of a doubt 602 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,000 that there is salvation in none other, dear Lord. 603 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:59,000 There is no one from us to turn to other than Jesus Christ. 604 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:03,000 God, I pray that as we leave this place today that we can leave in peace. 605 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:08,000 I pray that as we leave this place today that we can leave in faith to you, dear Lord. 606 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:12,000 I pray, God, that if you spoke into somebody today that now, God, 607 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,000 as we get ready to have this invitation, that they would come, 608 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,000 that they would kneel down and pray before you, God, if they need to. 609 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,000 God, I'll be glad to pray for them, dear Lord, if they need to come. 610 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,000 Dear Lord, maybe there are some today who have said, 611 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,000 I'm putting my faith in Jesus Christ. This morning they've done it. 612 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,000 God, I pray that as we get ready to close, that, dear Lord, they'd come down, 613 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:35,000 that they would announce it to us in the world that they have put their faith in Jesus Christ 614 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:39,000 and that the love and that the peace of Jesus Christ will fill this place today. 615 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:43,000 And I ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen. 616 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:49,000 As we stand and sing, if God has spoken to you today, now is your chance to respond. 617 00:39:49,000 --> 00:40:12,000 Jesus, be with me in the house. 618 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:19,000 Jesus, be with me in the house. 619 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:25,000 In the precious fountain, 620 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:32,000 free to all the healing stream, 621 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:38,000 through some cowrie's mountain. 622 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:45,000 In the cross, in the cross, 623 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:51,000 be my glory ever, 624 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:58,000 till my place of song shall find 625 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:04,000 rest beyond the rift. 626 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:11,000 Near the cross, a trembling song, 627 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:17,000 of emersing power wept, 628 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:24,000 where the wide and rolling star 629 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:30,000 sheds its green so proudly. 630 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:37,000 In the cross, in the cross, 631 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:43,000 be my glory ever, 632 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:50,000 till my place of song shall find 633 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:57,000 rest beyond the rift. 634 00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:01,000 Amen. Thank you all for coming today. I hope you were blessed by being in God's house this morning. 635 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:06,000 I hope you'll come back and see us next week. Dan, would you close us with a prayer, please? 636 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:34,000 Sure, we thank you for a beautiful day.