It appears from two passages in Hebrews that it is possible to be saved and then lose your salvation.
Hebrews 6:4-6 states that it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who have previously been enlightened, experienced the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, and tasted the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the age to come, but have since fallen away. This is because they are once again crucifying God’s Son to their own destruction and holding him in contempt.
Hebrews 10:26–29 states that if we continue to sin knowingly after learning the truth, there will be no longer be a sacrifice for our sins but rather a terrifying expectation of judgment and a raging fire that will consume our enemies. On the testimony of two or three witnesses, everyone who disobeys the law of Moses meets an untimely death without mercy. Do you believe that anyone who has disregarded God’s Son, spilt the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and offended the Spirit of Grace will receive an even harsher punishment?
These are powerful terms that imply these people are truly saved: they have “shared in the Holy Spirit,” “tasted the heavenly gift,” “received the knowledge of truth,” and were “sanctified” by the covenant’s blood.
Problems with the rest of Scripture
But this raises an issue with the remaining portions of Scripture. Numerous Bible texts make it quite evident that everyone who is saved will be saved forever. These lines are:
- “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” says John 10:27–28. They will never die, no one will take them from me, and I grant them perpetual life.
- Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3-5 states that “he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
- “And he who predestined he also called, and he who called he also justified, and he who justified he also glorified,” says Romans 8:30.
The most obvious verse is the final one. God has called everyone He has predestined and justified everyone He has called. And He has exalted EVERYONE whom He has justified. The chain is unbreakable. God always guides all of His children from one step to the next until they reach heaven.
God cannot contradict Himself
We know that the verses from Hebrews cannot refer to rescued individuals since God is unable to contradict Himself. Thus, they relate to individuals who have heard and comprehended the gospel, professed their faith, experienced certain manifestations of the Holy Spirit in their lives, joined the church and, as a result, were sanctified and included in God’s covenant with His church. However, they have never placed their heart’s trust in Christ. They have never turned from Christ and their sin. No one has ever born again like them.
Only God sees our heart
Since only God knows our hearts, no one can tell who these people are on the outside. It is a serious reminder to put our complete faith in Christ and to live as followers of Christ, not just as followers of the crowd. However, if we are sincere believers, it does not diminish the consolation found in Christ’s promise that no one will be able to take us from His care. We are safe for all eternity with Him.
