Lesson 4951

 (Lesson 4951) (08-21-25) Hebrews 6:1-6 

   “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, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. 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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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.” 

 

   Today’s lesson urges us to put aside for a short time, everything we have learned so far, in order to fully absorb the following reasoning. The author then says to those of us who have already received salvation, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, and experienced the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come. If we could possibly “fall away,” and lose that salvation (which we CANNOT), it would be impossible to renew God’s soul saving grace and be saved again. To do so would mean re-crucifying the Son of God and publicly shaming Him all over again, something that we all know will never happen. This lesson affirms the seriousness of rejecting Christ after fully receiving knowledge of Him. Once the Holy Spirit has sealed a believer, salvation is secure and eternal. The impossibility described is not that one can lose salvation, but that apostasy reveals a heart that never truly belonged to Christ in the first place. Therefore, this lesson destroys the erroneous claim that someone who has been genuinely saved and empowered by the Holy Spirit can later slip away and forfeit eternal life. Instead, it emphasizes perseverance and the certainty of God’s salvation for those who truly believe. 

These are other passages that support today’s lesson: John 10:27–29, “Jesus said His sheep hear His voice, He gives them eternal life, they shall never perish, and no one can pluck them out of His or the Father’s hand. John 6:37–40, “All the Father gives to the Son will come; He will lose nothing but will raise them up at the last day. Romans 8:30–39, “Those predestined are called, justified, and glorified; nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ. Ephesians 1:13–14, “Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. Ephesians 4:30, “Believers are sealed unto the day of redemption. 1 Peter 1:3–5, “God keeps believers by His power through faith unto salvation, an inheritance reserved in heaven. Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:25, “Jesus saves to the uttermost those who come to God by Him, ever living to make intercession. Hebrews 10:14, “By one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified. 2 Timothy 1:12, “Paul was persuaded that God is able to keep what was committed unto Him against that day. 1 Corinthians 1:8–9, “Christ will confirm believers unto the end, that they may be blameless; God is faithful. Colossians 3:3–4, “Believers are dead, and their life is hid with Christ in God; when Christ appears, they also shall appear with Him in glory. Titus 3:5–7, “Saved by mercy, regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, justified by grace, made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Jude 24–25, “God is able to keep believers from falling and present them faultless before His glory with exceeding joy. 1 John 2:19, “Those who depart show they were not of us; if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. Matthew 7:21–23, “Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” is known by Christ; false professors are exposed by their lawlessness. ~