Forever Secure: The Unshakable Promise Of Salvation

Forever Secure: The Unshakable Promise of Salvation

Hebrews 6:1-9

Introduction: The Heart of the Gospel

• This morning, we stand at the crossroads of one of the most pivotal truths in all of Scripture: the doctrine of eternal security, often summarized as "once saved, always saved."

o This is not a peripheral issue; it is the bedrock upon which the message of the Bible stands or falls.

o It answers the question that echoes in every heart: "Can I know for certain that my salvation is secure?"

• In our world, we see division everywhere—nations, communities, even churches.

o People often ask, "Why are there so many denominations?"

o At its core, the answer lies in a single dividing line: those who believe salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ, and those who believe it depends on human works.

o All other differences—baptism, worship styles, church governance—are secondary to this fundamental truth.

o Just as Americans may differ on state policies but unite under the banner of democracy, Christians may vary in practice but find unity in the belief that Christ alone saves and keeps the saved.

• Yet, some of our brothers and sisters hold that a saved person can lose their salvation.

o This view, though sincerely held, raises profound questions when carried to its logical conclusion.

? If a person can be lost after being saved, can they be saved again?

? Can a spiritual birth be repeated, like a physical one?

o The implications are staggering, and today, we will explore why the Bible teaches that a person can be saved only as many times as Christ died on the cross—once.

o My prayer is that this message brings you unshakable peace in your salvation.

Where We All Agree: Common Ground in the Gospel

To approach this weighty topic, let’s begin where all Christians stand in unity, like travelers meeting at a common oasis.

1. All are lost apart from Christ.

a. No one disputes that humanity, stained by sin, stands condemned without a Savior.

b. Romans 3:23 declares, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

c. Apart from Christ, there is no hope.

2. All can be saved through Christ.

a. The gospel is a universal invitation.

b. Our own transformed lives and the testimonies of countless others bear witness to the power of John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

3. All need salvation.

a. None of us is righteous enough to stand before a holy God.

b. As Isaiah 64:6 reminds us, our best efforts are like "filthy rags" compared to God’s perfect standard.

4. A saved person’s destiny is the point of division.

a. Here, the paths diverge.

b. We must choose one of two positions:

i. either a saved person remains saved by God’s grace when they sin,

ii. or they can lose their salvation through sin.

c. We cannot hold both views, nor can we reject both. The Bible demands a clear stance.

This brings us to a critical passage in Hebrews 6:1-9, written to Jewish believers tempted to revert to a legalistic view of salvation. Let’s unpack this text to see what it reveals about eternal security.

The Biblical Case: Hebrews 6 and the Impossibility of Renewal

1. The writer of Hebrews addresses believers who, like weary travelers, were tempted to return to the familiar paths of the Old Covenant.

a. In Hebrews 6:1-3, he urges them to move beyond elementary teachings—repentance, faith, baptisms, and eternal judgment—toward maturity.

b. Then, in verses 4-6, he presents a sobering hypothetical scenario:

i. "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace."

c. This passage describes people who have experienced the fullness of salvation:

i. enlightenment,

ii. the gift of the Spirit,

iii. and the power of God’s Word.

d. Yet, the writer warns that if such a person could "fall away" (lose their salvation), it would be impossible to renew them to repentance.

i. Why?

ii. Because their rejection would be akin to crucifying Christ again, demanding a second atonement.

iii. This is a devastating blow to the idea of losing salvation, for it shows that salvation is a once-for-all act, tied to Christ’s singular sacrifice.

2. The writer uses an agricultural metaphor in verses 7-8 to clarify:

a. "Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed."