“Once Having Entered Salvation, Absolute Eternal Security Is Guaranteed”, Part Three
The first area I would like to discuss are a few verses of Scripture which have caused much worry and concern in the church, and the recording is in Hebrews 6:4,5,6, “For it 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 work 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.”
First, let me say right away, that those referred to in preceding verses were never genuine Christians, but, apostates. There are several reasons, although not too obvious. The first key is the word “IMPOSSIBLE.” It is never, ever, impossible to repent of ANY sin, no matter how serious. All Christians are given the assurance in John 1:9, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sins, and TO CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness.” So, these verses certainly are not talking about backslidden Christians.
Simon Peter backslide and repented. (Matt.26:69-75) and was restored to fellowship (John 21:3-17) with the Lord. David sinned (2nd Samuel 11:1-27) repented, (Psalms 51:1-19) and was restored to fellowship with God. These people discussed were “professing” Christians, but not “possessing” Eternal Life.
Esau was a such example who sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27-34) and tried to repent later, but found it impossible. “He found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:16-17).
The other clue is in the word “tasted”. The Greek word for “tasted” is “guomi”, and is the same word used in Matthew 27:34, when Jesus “tasted” the wine mixed with gall. He would not take it in. The same applies to the apostates’ They tasted of the things of God, but, did not take them in. Their experiences were only superficial with no deep spiritual roots. The other less obvious fact mentioned in these verses, is, assuming those persons spoken of were real Christians, it did not say they actually DID fall away! It just gave a few warnings to “whomever” the shoe would fit IF they shall fall away vs. 6) also, they were contrasted apostates from real believers, because when the REAL believers were actually being addressed, it became obvious in Hebrews 6:9,10, “But, BELOVED, we are persuaded better things of YOU (the Elect), and things that accompany salvation, though we this speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward His Name, in that you have ministered to the saints, AND DO minister.”
So, those that “tasted”, tried the flavor of, but rejected it, but, they really NEVER did fall away!
The wicked will TRY to repent at the Great White Throne judgment )Rev.20:11-15), but, it WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE for them. Paul mentions several apostates like those, who were NEVER real believers to begin with. He talks about “some” having put away faith made shipwreck: of whom is Hymenes and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, and they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1st Timothy 1:19,20).Paul also mentions Demas, who was actually sharing the ministry with Paul (Col. 4:14; Phm. 24) but later showed his true colors of being an apostate! Paul says, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this PRESENT world, and is departed.” (2nd Timothy 4:10). John discussed those kinds of people in John 2:18,19. “Even now there are many antichrists whereby we know it is the last time. They went out FROM us, but were NOT OF US, for if they HAD been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they WERE NOT OF US.” In other words, from the beginning, there had been some apostates mixed in with the true believers, and they finally showed their true identity!
Another example is Peter who had been discussing false prophets and teachers in most of the 2nd chapter of 2nd Peter. Then, finally closing with the last three verses, he said, “for after THEY (the apostate meant) have escaped the pollutions (sins) of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteous, then, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.. But, it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb, the DOG is turned to his own vomit; and the SOW that was washed to her walling in the mire.” (2nd Peter 2:20-22).
Without reading the context of all the rest of the chapter, only looking at these verses, might seem to indicate they had believed fore a while, and then turned away. How ever, we know Peter was talking about false prophets who were never called by God in the first place, and though they heard the Gospel, and responded for a period, they never received the INNER CALL from Christ, because, notice, it said they were DOGS AND PIGS, not SHEEP! “My SHEEP HEAR MY voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). We are told what Jesus thought of dogs and pigs when He told His disciples, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet.” (Matt. 7:6). When Jesus was addressing the Canaanite woman who asked mercy of Him, He told her in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (the Elect).” When she asked fore help again, He said in vs, 26, “it is not meant to take the children’s (Elect’s) Bread , and cast it to DOGS (apostates). Then, we are told in Revelations 22:14,15, “Blessed are they (the Elect) that DO His commandments, and that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For, without (or outside) are DOGS , and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murders, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Then, in Matthew 8:28-34, Jesus cast out demons from the Gergesene demoniacs, and sent them into a nearby herd of pigs! So, it should be obvious that it was not sheep which fell back into their old nature.
In Matthew 24:12,13, is said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but, he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Again, this is only a final separating of the real and counterfeit, or the wheat from the tares.
Paul said in 1st Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit spiked expressly that in the latter times, SOME shall depart from the faith.” He means that they will fall away from doctrine, but, not from the Grace of God, because he continues about them, “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS.” ( Meats meaning food, here, or fasting indefinitely) Does this describe true believers? No, it certainly does not. No ,matter how much sin real believers are in, the Spirit of God never departs!
David, though deep in sin, still had the Holy Spirit in him, because when he was asking forgiveness, he said “TAKE NOT thy Spirit FROM me; restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.” (Psalms 51:12).
Then, another Scripture I have previously mentioned is 1st Timothy 2:3,4, when referring to “classes” of men, such as kings (vs.2) and all authority, says, “for this is good and acceptable in thy sight, oh God, our Savior; who will have ALL means all of the ruling class, because God is “no respecter of persons.” If someone asked you, “How many were at your church last night”, and you would reply, “Why, they were ALL there, not the entire town, or world. The same applies to ALL being used in that verse.
There are verses of Scripture, stating Jesus gave Himself a ransom for ALL. (1st Timothy 2:6). How ever, this meant ALL OF THE ELECT, because, it also says, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give His life as a ransom for MANY. (the Elect).
(Matt.20:28; Mark 10:45).
After Jesus preached a conflicting message, it is said some of the disciples left Him, (John 6:66) and followed Him no more. The word “disciple” means “learner”, so these learners were not necessarily believers, or they would have stayed.
In the Old Testament, there were many, supposedly, “holy” men, even doing priestly functions, who turned to apostasy. Nadad and Abihu were priests, (Exidus 19:6; 22:31) and were cut off in sin. (Leviticus 10:1-20; Numbers 16:1-3, 23-33). Saul even went into spiritualism when he turned away, and lost the Holy Spirit (1st Samuel 16:12-23), and died a suicide and cursed God. (1st Samuel 31:1-6; 1st Chronicles 10:13-14). Ananias and Sapphra lied to the Holy Ghost, and were struck dead by God (Acts 5:11). Many others coveted money and erred from the faith. (1st Timothy 6:10,21). Many young widows waxed cold toward Christ and cast off their FIRST faith and were damned (1st Timothy 5:11-13). Hymenaeus and Philetus erred from the faith and overthrew the faith of others. (2nd Timothy 2:17-19). All of these people were never genuinely saved to begin with, or they would have endured until the end. If all other scriptures around each of those mentioned are real, in every case, it can be seen that they were all apostates.
There is a teaching in some circles that it is impossible to be saved, and not know it, as one of the Elect. If a person is definitely saved, he will know it by the seal of the Holy Spirit. I believe each of the Elect know who and what they are; however, a reprobate will never know he is not of the Elect. As long as he breaths, he has a chance of becoming enlightened by God, because, ONLY God knows who are His!
Therefore, I, as a Minister of the Gospel, even believing in Predestination, Election, reprobation, and Eternal Security, feel perfectly justified into being able to walk into the street, and preach to anyone, and fully expect that SOME of those who hear the outer call of the Gospel will also hear the INNER CALL from God, Himself, and come to Christ After all, Jesus did say, MANY are CALLED, but FEW are CHOSEN!
No one can ever know if he is eternally lost! In God’s time table, He can call anyone any time He wills, which He has already predetermined to do. There are many other scriptures which also may, at first glance, “seem” to indicate Christians falling away, but I am convinced, they were apostates.
CONT. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Blessings!
Marked Elect
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