Amilio Ardimento responds to the post pertaining to those who think they can lose their salvation.
"well yes I will get back to you with more but the greatest misused scripture against losing salvation is this.,..I'm bed bound as in Uk so will give more tomorrow eve..***IF WE SIN WILFULLY***
One of the most misunderstood passages in all of the Bible (2nd only to "judge not") is Hebrews 10:26. We recently discovered John Hagee's butchering of this verse to try and teach his false view that eternal life can be lost. Here is what the verse says:
Hebrews 10:26 KJV
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"
Ok, what does this verse mean? First of all, it is absolutely imperative with any verse in the Bible to understand the context in which it was written. We must look at the chapter as a whole, the overall topic of that chapter, who it was written to and for what reason.
So, let's figure out the context for Hebrews 10:26 by looking at a few things. First of all, who was the book of Hebrews written to? Well, it is pretty obvious considering one of the first names Jewish people were called were Hebrews. Hebrews was written to Jewish believers. Secondly, what is, one, the book of Hebrews about, and two, what is chapter 10 talking about specifically.
The book of Hebrews was written to the Jews concerning the ultimate sacrificial Lamb found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews received under Moses at Mt Sinai the Old Covenant where once a year the High Priest would take the blood of an innocent lamb and go into the Holy of holies to atone for the sins of the nation. However, that was just a foreshadowing of what was to come. God would send His own Lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of the whole world, once and for all. So, the main theme of Hebrews is to show the Jews a new and better covenant than what they had under the Mosaic Law. That the Lamb of God was offered as final payment for sin and there is now no more need for animal sacrifices.
So, now we get to chapter 10 specifically. The first verse explains perfectly the context of the chapter:
Hebrews 10:1 KJV
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
In keeping with the overall theme of the book, this verse is saying that the sacrifices under the old covenant were only a foreshadow of good things to come. The following verses go on to explain the finality of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made at Calvary.
Now that we have established the context of chapter 10, there are some key verses that actually help to explain verse 26. First of all, verse 14 rules out the idea that it teaches one can lose their salvation.
Hebrews 10:14 KJV
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Notice, them that are sanctified are perfected forever. They ARE sanctified and they already have been perfected. A person is sanctified the moment he places faith in Christ. If salvation could be lost then not everyone who is sanctified will be perfected forever, as this verse positively states.
We will look at other verses in this chapter to help explain verse 26, but let's breakdown this verse.
"If we sin wilfully..."- Keep in mind, the context of chapter 10 is sacrifice for sin, comparing the old with the new. The understanding here is if we continue on IN sin. If we wilfully remain in an unregenerate state having never received forgiveness from God. This is talking about the unredeemed, the unsaved individual who is still lost in his sins.
"After that we have received the knowledge of the truth..."-
This particular phrase is often badly butchered! Many interpret this to mean that since they have received the knowledge of the truth, they must be saved . This is NOT what this means. Notice, it says that "we have RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE of the truth", not BELIEVED the truth. This is referring to, the Jews particularly, who are introduced to the truth of Jesus Christ, they have knowledge of that truth, concerning His death, burial, and resurrection, but that is all it is, knowledge. Knowledge of truth does not save anyone; we must BELIEVE the truth from the heart. We see this very principle in Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8. He had knowledge of the gospel, he saw the working of the Holy Spirit, but he was lost. So, we understand that the individuals here are not saved at all.
"there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins"- This phrase is very important in understanding this verse. Since we know that the context of chapter 10 is sacrifice for sin and the difference between the old and the new, we can see the connection and how there is now only one viable sacrifice and that is through Christ. Verse 18 has virtually the same phrase:
Hebrews 10:18 KJV
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
In a nutshell, this phrase simply means that since Jesus Christ is the final sacrifice for sin, there is no other.
To summarize...
Chapter 10 of Hebrews is a message to the Jews, explaining how the old covenant was replaced by the new and better covenant found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The old covenant sacrifices only covered sin for one year and had to be repeated over and over again. When Christ came, He was sacrificed once and for all, never to be sacrificed again. The cross is God's final and only sacrifice for sins and there is none else. Verse 26 tells unbelievers if they wilfully remain in sin, unforgiven, having not been cleansed by the blood of God's only sacrifice, and having received the knowledge (not believed) of the truth of the gospel, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. In other words, there is nothing else they can do to be forgiven and be saved. They have knowledge of the truth, yet they continue on as unforgiven sinners. They shun God's ultimate provision for sin. Verse 29 tells of the harsh penalty for dismissing the work of the Son of God for sinners.
Hebrews 10:29 KJV
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
The bottom line here is Hebrews 10:26 does not teach that a saved person can lose their salvation, as the individuals being referred to are lost, still holding onto the old covenant which does not save. Once saved always saved is Biblical truth...hold fast to it!
God bless"
When God makes us into a new creation we cannot make ourselves the old again. Those who think they can lose their salvation do not understand the character and work of God.
There is a monstrous lie floating around that God does not leaves us but we can walk away. This lie makes no sense at all.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
No man can change himself back to the old nature when he had no power to change himself into the new creation. Those who believe you can walk away from your salvation are depending completely on self rather than Christ. It is not trusting in Christ to believe you have to do anything to get or maintain your salvation.
Those who have trusted in Christ for salvation continue to trust Him to keep them.
Ephesians 1:13-14 "13 In [a]Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also [b]believed, you were sealed in [c]Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is [d]given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Jude 1:24 "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,"
2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."
If you believe that you can walk away from Christ after salvation then you do not believe Him when He said this:
Hebrews 13:6 "So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 6:44-47: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
Ephesians 2:1-22 "2 And you WERE dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you FORMERLY walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all FORMERLY lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and WERE by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and SEATED US WITH hIM IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God;
9 NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that FORMERLY you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—
12 remember that you WERE at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But NOW in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
14 For HE Himself IS OUR PEACE, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having PUT TO DEATH THE EMNITY.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;
18 for THROUGH HIM we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, BUT YOU ARE FELLOW CITIZENS with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
An attempt to be holy in the flesh will only be met with failure, God works on our spirit, when our spirit is being cleansed by God, then our actions will follow, but if we start with the flesh, forgetting about the spirit, then we are feebly attempting to change the flesh before God cleanses the spirit. It will not last, it is fleshly. We must focus on the spiritual for the change in us to be permanent and real.
John 4:24 " God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
Our life in the Lord is not to be lived in the flesh but in the Spirit, our flesh is fallen and dying, but the Spirit is what has been changed into a new creation.
Romans 7:14-25 "
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the [n]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God [o]in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in [p]the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner [q]of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from [r]the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin."
Notice that our bodies do not go with us when we die and go to heaven, because God can have no sin in His presence. Our Spirit has been changed into a new creation, but our body remains the old dead man that we battle everyday.
Our body will someday be changed before entering heaven and be reunited with our spirit, but until that happens our bodies cannot come into the presence of God. We must spend less time focusing on our fleshly nature and more time focusing on our spiritual nature, that God be changing us His way, to grow in holiness.
1 John 3:6-7 "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
If God is not working in us though His Holy Spirit, if we are working in the flesh then we cannot be born again. Anyone born of the Holy Spirit knows their inability to be righteous. IT MUST BE A WORK OF CHRIST.
One of the misconceptions by those who think they can lose their salvation, is that they are doing something to keep it. We can do nothing to become born again, except believe in Christ. Then He begins His work in us.
John 6:29 " Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
If You are a born again believer, we can be grateful for this:
Psalm 103:8-12
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."
Here is a great verse for those who think you can lose your salvation as a believer. God does not deal with us according to what we deserve, if He did that, then no one would ever get into heaven.
Psalm 103:8-12
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."
Here is a great verse for those who think you can lose your salvation as a believer. God does not deal with us according to what we deserve, if He did that, then no one would ever get into heaven.
The person who is born again is ashamed of their sin and eventually confesses and forsakes it. A mature believer catches the sin in their thoughts before they ever become an action.
1John 1:9. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
The liar who is not born again defends their sin and has no shame over it.
Jeremiah 6:15 ""Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."
The unsaved person who claims to be born again, will argue and fight that they are not sinning when confronted with their sin. They will justify what they do or claim they are not doing it. Often they will throw out Bible verses out of context, such as; "you don't know my heart."
What they don't understand, because they don't know the bible nor do they know the God of the Bible, is that we know their inner heart by the things that they love.
There is no shame or remorse, only bitterness and anger against anyone who will challenge them. The more the unsaved person defends their sin the harder their hearts become. The longer they do this, the less likely it is for God to reach them.
God said in the OT that He hardened Pharaoh's heart and in the same passage He said that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. God merely did to Pharaoh what He knew would cause him to harden his own heart. Exoduce 9
When someone accuses us of hardening another person's heart by speaking truth to them, we might like to show them the passages about Pharaoh.
We cannot harden another person's heart. They harden their own heart in response to truth, correction and rebuke. No one can make another person do anything, they merely do what is already in their heart in resistance to the principles of God.
The born again believer is ashamed of their sin, even before anyone challenges them. They are tormented in their spirit day and night until they confess the sin, forsaking it is a relief to them. It grows their resolve never to participate in that sin again.
When someone continually returns to the same sin over and over again they are not yet broken over it enough to want to run from it.
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
