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Michael Tao
I would like to have a discussion on the eternal security of believers, starting from the most controversial part of the Bible.
Hebrews 6: 1-9, "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. 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: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak."
It points out that a certain group of people who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; and if they fall away, it would be impossible to renew them again unto repentance. So they will end up in the burning hell, but who are these people? Are they Christians? Let us go into some details, it is always helpful to put the passage into its context.
It is so easy to think "leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection" as to grow spiritually, and not to stop at our salvation. This is a biblical teaching, however this is not what Paul meant here.The word "principles" in Greek has the meaning of beginning, or first. "The beginning of the doctrines of Christ" is what Paul meant here, they were the Levitical laws, priesthood, tabernacle etc. These are the symbols and shadows because the Body is Christ (Colossians 2:13-17). The Jews should no longer dwell on these symbols when the answer is actually here. In the previous chapters, Paul taught on angels, prophets and Moses, these things are all pointing to the BETTER answer, which is Christ. Hebrews 6:1-9 is the continuation of the flow of the teaching, the examples here carry a subtle meaning.
Let us continue to examine the list that Paul had put down:
"and of resurrection of the dead" - Paul taught here that the Jews should not use work, rituals, circumcision as a requirement of repentance; nor the Levitical law had anything to do with one's salvation. Paul proclaimed a new era of salvation, that is the dispensation of Grace.
"faith toward God" - the Jews only worshipped Jehovah God, but ignored God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So Paul was telling the Jews should not have faith in Jehovah God only, they must not acknowledge the father and ignore the Son, because the Son is the only path to God (John 5:23, 1 John 2:23). Here you may start to see that Paul was addressing this message to a group of people who did not have the faith as the New Testament believers have. Let us continue.
"Of the doctrine of baptisms" - the word "baptisms" is in its plural form. When "baptisma" is a church ordinance, yet the word here is "baptismos". "Baptismos" means "ceremonial washing" and is the same Greek word in Hebrews 9:10, the latter is translated into "washings". Christ taught against "baptismos" in Mark 7:4,8. The Jews washed the vessels repeatedly for purification, yet the only acceptable purification is the purification of our inside by believing in Jesus Christ, and not outward rituals.
"and of laying on of hands" - this is not for blessing or ordination; but passing one's sin into the bullock for the sin atonement(Leviticus 4:3,4). The Jews were still doing the temple sacrifices until the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
"and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment" - the Jews did not have a clear understanding of resurrection of the dead, because it was not well elaborated in the Old Testament. Their understanding of eternal judgment is different than the New Testament believers. New Testament believers will not face the Great White Throne judgment because it is for the unbelievers; believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ for the rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10). This concept was foreign to the Jews.
We can see Paul was not speaking to the Jews who had the same faith as he had. These are not the saved Jews. The implication becomes clear when verses 7-8 say,:"...but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned", Paul was describing the unsaved. Paul did not teach believers will lose their salvation.
There are Jews who had "once" which means "once and for all" been enlightened by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had done a complete job in witnessing to these lost people, so they were getting so close to salvation. These people may even proclaim Christ as Saviour and Lord. However the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:5 tells about their spiritual condition: "Some (seeds) fell upon stony places, where they had not earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away." Jesus in Matthew 13:20says, "He also that received seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, and he become unfruitful". These people remained spiritually dead, although one time they were partakers of the Holy Spirit, they had tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. However, they had no root.
One has to continue in obeying Jesus to be qualified as His own. John 8:31says,"...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Some people profess Christ and can hang in there as long as everything goes well. When God allows circumstances to try their faith, they forsake and return to the world. These people have never been the disciples of Christ, and it is even uncertain if they are saved.
There are also other examples in the Bible that tell people can get so close to salvation, yet not necessarily be saved.
Mark 12:34 says,"And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God...". This scribe was not far from the kingdom of God, however remained unsaved, although ha had with good knowledge of God.
Acts 8:9-24 records that this sorcerer Simon believed in the name of Christ and even got baptized; yet he wanted to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter said to him,"Thy money perish with thee...Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right with God...For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness,and in the bond of iniquity." This sorcerer Simon did not show signs of repentance, he still remained in his past - even the Apostle baptized baptized him.
Acts 24:24-27 records that Felix and his Jewish wife listened to Paul "concerning the faith in Christ. And he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee". Because of Paul's witnessing, Felix's spiritually blind eyes were opened by the Holy Spirit. He saw the wrath of God that he had to face, he saw the invitation from the mercy of Christ, he saw the life to come, to an extent that this governor trembled. The Holy Spirit had one time, completed the conviction of this man about his desolate situation. However, Felix put off his decision.
It is also what Peter called in 2 Peter 2:22,"...The dog is turned to his vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." The reason is "if after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour 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 righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered into them (vv 20-21)." These were not the saved people, and their sins were listed in the previous verses: "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever...While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption...(2:17-19)", we certainly cannot agree that believers will have this kind of misconduct.
With all these examples, and particularly when we put Hebrews 6:1- 9 in the context, we can clearly see that Paul was talking about the unsaved. Paul definitely did not teach on the loss of salvation here.
