Hebrews

Is The Partial Rapture Belief Correct Based On Hebrews 9:28?

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Is The Partial Rapture Belief Correct Based On Hebrews 9:28?

“28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28 KJV)

Some are teaching a partial Rapture based on this one verse. Is the writer of Hebrews stating that only those believers in Christ who are actually looking for Him to return at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture will be Raptured, while other believers in Christ will be left to face the Tribulation Period?

It does sound like that but if we look closer I do not believe a partial Rapture is correct based on this one verse. Why?

1. LIFE IN TRIBULATION PERIOD VERSES THE CHURCH AGE; TWO GROUPS OF BELIEVERS

In the Tribulation Period, those living on Earth will have a big decision to make and that decision is to take the Mark of the Antichrist and worship him, or reject the Mark and not be able to buy nor sell anything and undergo great persecution, jail and/or death by beheading. This is what the Bible teaches will happen during the Tribulation Period.

So from this perspective, those who become believers that Christ is still to come, and before the Second Coming Event, living in the Tribulation Period, this verse does fit. In the Tribulation Period Israel will begin animal sacrifices again. They do not believe that the sins of the whole world were paid already by Jesus on the cross 2000 years ago (John 3:14-18, Colossians 2, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, 1 John 2:2 etc.). They will still be all about their sins having to be paid for.

Hence the ‘without sin unto salvation’ of this verse. When Christ comes at the Second Coming, it will have nothing to do with paying for sins again. The unbelieving Jewish people in the Tribulation will think otherwise. Many will have decided the Antichrist is Messiah come again. Jesus warned the Jews about this stating,

” I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43 KJV)

CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS

For us now living in the CHURCH AGE today, we have the promise that of we believe the Gospel of our salvation (Jesus is God in human form (John 1) who never sinned (2 Cor 5:21) and who died on the cross and paid for the sins of the whole world (John 3:14-18, 1 John 2:2) on the cross by His shed blood as the “once for all” sacrifice for all sins (Hebrews 10:10) and rose again on the third day, that person was reborn in their Spirit eternally. For ever sealed and saved in Christ (Colossians 2, Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30). All sins of the whole world (for believers and unbelievers) was PAID IN FULL on that cross and are already fully judged by God. Jesus’ sacrifice was 100% sufficient to the Father. Now this payment for all sins is provided as a GIFT that a person can receive and accept through belief on Christ, or reject in unbelief. To all who BELIEVE, in God’s foreknowledge of all who would accept the gift of salvation (Romans 5, Eph. 2:8-9, Eph. 1), they have gained all that believing predesitinated them to receive (eternal life, eternal union with Christ, becoming a child of God etc.).

TRIBULATION SAINTS

For those who come to belief on Christ in the Tribulation, they are not seen as sealed at the moment of belief on Christ. Instead what we see in Scripture is that they will have to endure in their belief on Christ by rejecting the Mark of Antichrist and instead choosing great persecution. We see this in Matthew 24. And in Matthew 25, we see that some who believe will give up their belief because of the great persecution, take the mark and not be permitted entry to the Kingdom Age with Christ ruling on Earth for one thousand years. Just as in the Old Testament, their belief on Christ (The Messiah) had to be kept until they died, or the Messiah came and paid for the sins of the world. The CHURCH AGE believers is a separate group of people God has prepared. There eternal destination is the HEAVENLY New Jerusalem. They will be KINGS and priests on Earth in the Kingdom Age on Earth, but they will reside in the New Jerusalem in space hovering Earth. OT Saints look forward to the Kingdom Age on Earth, which is their destination at resurrection at the Second Coming Event. Scripture says these OT Saints and those martyred for faith in the Tribulation Period will be Priests in the Kingdom Age on Earth; not kings, priests. We see here, two separate groups of believers.

The point is, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is for ALL and ANYONE that believes 1 Cor. 15:1-4,

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Cor. 15:1-4 KJV)

To such who believe on Christ Jesus stated,

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in NO WISE CAST OUT. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:37-39 KJV)

BUT HEBREWS WAS WRITTEN TO HEBREW BELIEVERS. DOESN’T THAT MEAN HEBREWS 9:28 IS FOR CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS?

As I have shown, there are two basic groups of believers:

1. Church Age Believers. All who come to salvation through belief of what Jesus already did on the cross (Penetcost to Rapture). These are SEALED the moment they believe.

2. OT Believers, Tribulation Believers (Martyred in faith or alive at Christ’s Second Coming. These are not sealed from the moment of belief on Christ as that is only for the Church Age Believers. The sealing from the moment of belief on Christ, was the Gospel Paul preached (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30).

Both groups are saved by their BELIEF either way. Well, once again we have to read the verse,

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him
shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28 KJV)

This is an overview statement for –ALL– who will believe on Christ for righteousness. That is for both groups. For all who believe Jesus is God. And so it must include the Tribulation Believers right? And because of this full salvation completion for all believers (either at pre-tribulation Rapture or at the Second Coming) will receive their resurrected perfected glorified bodies. Salvation for all believers will not happen in completion until the Second Coming of Christ Event. That is when salvation is COMPLETE in full for all. And because it must include the second group of saints, that is what the verse points toward I believe.

Also, the context in Hebrews 9 is very clear and if we just read verse 27 with verse 28 it becomes clearer.

“27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 KJV)

Hebrews 9 is all about how Christ became the final payment for our sin debt and that continues into Hebrews 10. Make sure you read both chapters for the correct context instead of seeing a one line verse (28) and making a Rapture doctrine about it which is totally false. The writer is using a comparison of an unbeliever to a believer. Verse 28 is for ALL BELIEVERS. Verse 27 is a warning to unbelievers so they will consider believing and be saved eternally, just as the previous Chapter Hebrews 10 reads. To ignore this context is a grave error.

The Partial Rapture belief is wrong. So many other Scriptures clearly state the opposite and to believe the Rapture is only for those believers with more or better works, goes directly against the heart of the Gospel truth. How does a person become righteous with God? by our works? Not according to the Bible! Not according to the New Covenant through Jesus Christ Crucified , died and risen!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21 KJV)

Are we righteous by our works? Absolutely not. We are only righteous by the work of Christ on that cross and by believing on Him for our justification and righteousness. These verses in context fly against the false partial Rapture teaching.

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Galatians 3 KJV)

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Gal. 5:4-5 KJV)

“For by GRACE are ye saved THOROUGH FAITH; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should BOAST.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

“To declare, I say, at this time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: that HE MIGHT BE JUST, and the justifier of him WHICH BELIEVETH IN JESUS. Where is boasting then? IT IS EXCLUDED. By what law? OF WORKS? NAY: but by the LAW OF FAITH. Therefore we conclude that a man IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW. ” (Romans 3:26-28 KJV)

“Now to him that worketh is the reward NOT reckoned of grace, but OF DEBT. But to him that worketh NOT, but BELIEVETH ON HIM (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 4:4-5 KJV)

So using Hebrews 9:28, and pulling it out of the context of Hebrews 9 and 10 and believing this one verse somehow means, that only the believers on Christ with more, or better, outward works is very very incorrect. Remember that we must ALL (as believers) stand before the judgment seat of Christ, in our resurrected glorified bodies, having just been raptured to receive rewards. There will be those at this event that will have no reward, no good works with the right motives, yet they are already seen in the New Heavenly Jerusalem (Heaven) but are saved ‘yet so as by fire‘ (1 Corinthians 3:15). If ALL believers from the Church Age must be there for this event, the partial Rapture is false.

The BRIDE OF CHRIST contains all members of Church Age believers on Christ. Whether a physically dead believer or a believer alive at the moment of the Rapture, we will –ALL–be there! Amen!

Go read the passages on salvation such as John 3, John 6, Romans, Ephesians etc. Even read through the Scripture son the Harpazo Rapture. I cannot find anywhere mentioned that a believer must be ‘looking for the rapture’ to be forgiven ALL SINS.  The Rapture teaching is important just as Paul taught it as our very blessed hope. It should be something taught in every pulpit, but unfortunately, it rarely is today in these end times.

Believers.. WATCH. HOPE. it is going to happen whether we are alive as believers, or physically dead! And we will ALL BE THERE as believers on Christ for our righteousness.

THIS IS OUR BLESSED HOPE!

Hebrews 10: The Sufficiency Of Christ’s Atonement

Don Gerrity Hebrews
Hebrews 10: The Sufficiency Of Christ’s Atonement

Jesus said,

“Ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM (he), ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24 KJV)

The Pharisees during Christ’s Earthly ministry would not believe Jesus is the foretold Messiah that was to come and be the final blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:22 KJV). Of course, Christ did accomplish the Work of the Messiah and paid for the sins of the whole world. Apostle Paul tells us that in God’s economy of righteousness that,

“…the wages of sin IS DEATH; but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Does Hebrews 10 Teach A Believer Can Lose Salvation?

In Hebrews 10, it clearly states that the annual blood sacrifices of ‘unblemished’ animals under the Law of Moses never removed sins FROM the people As A PAYMENT. They were only a TEMPORARY COVERING of the people’s sin for one year at a time. The people under the Old Covenant looked forward to the time when this foreshadowing would become a permanent situation when the foretold Messiah, The Christ, would arrive on Earth and be the final “once for all” blood atonement for the sins of the whole world.

“For the law having A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE OF THE THINGS, can NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto PERFECT. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had NO MORE CONSCIENCE OF SINS. But in those sacrifices there is A REMEMBRANCE again made of sins every year. For it IS NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-4 KJV)

In stating this fact regarding righteousness, the writer mentions the ‘perfection’ of a person. That after the Messiah makes the FINAL PAYMENT for the sins of the world, that a believer should have ‘NO MORE CONSCIENCE OF SINS’ having had his sin debt paid in full for ever. And now Christ came and did just that! This is a truth many Christians have not fully grasped who still believe their sins after salvation can mean their loss of salvation. Those thinking they must be doing more good works and deeds to remain saved, as if Christ’s sacrifice was not sufficient. God forbid!

The writer in Hebrews 10 continues,

“9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.” (Hebrews 10:9 KJV)

The New Covenant has already come since Christ already came as Messiah and the cross event happened and He rose again. Jesus’ atonement was a ONCE FOR ALL deal! He paid for all sins of believers and also unbelievers (1 John 2:2) as a GIFT to be accepted unto salvation (Romans 5, Ephesians 2: 8-9) or rejected thus remaining condemned already (John 3:18).

Continuing in Hebrews 10, we read that every Jewish priest was still being seen,

” …STANDETH daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins:” (Hebrews 10:11 KJV)

This was no longer needed as Christ came. He paid the wages for all sins. This is speaking about the unbelieving Jews and they were pressuring Jewish believers to go back to animal sacrifices. Today, believers should also take note of this. Should believers today believe salvation is by God’s grace as a gift PLUS OUR sacrifices and good works in order to ‘REMAIN SAVED’? Not according to Hebrews 10 ! Although Christian religions do not have animal sacrifices many do preach completion of religious rituals and good works as a REQUIREMENT TO REMAINED SAVED. Yet, Christ already paid the wages of our sins. As eternally saved and righteous believers, we need to understand that these things will also NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS. Yes, believers SHOULD do good works in love for others; ABSOLUTELY. But only Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient and is continuously sufficient to keep us saved. In Romans 5, Apostle Paul shows how God’s grace is free and is continuously paying for a believer’s sins like waves covering the sand on an ocean, wave after wave, grace MUCH MORE abounds.

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20 KJV)

And Jesus Sat Down

“But this man, after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by ONE OFFERING he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that ARE SANCTIFIED.” (Hebrews 10:12-14 KJV)

Notice that the unbelieving Priests ‘STANEDTH’ where Christ completed the atoning work for sin in finality and ‘SAT DOWN’. It is so important to understand this comparison the writer of Hebrews is making.

During the animal sacrifices in the Temple the high priest was VERY busy, always working, walking around, completing the sacrifices, following the rules etc. Busy busy busy!

When Christ became the final once for all blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, His work was DONE in saving us and paying for our sins! And so He SAT DOWN at the right hand of God. As Jesus cried out on the cross, “IT IS FINISHED” (an accounting term used in that day which in the Greek literally meant ‘a debt paid in full’)  and when He rose again HE presented His finished work to the Father and it was sufficient to the Father to pay for the sins of the whole world.

Then, Jesus ‘SAT DOWN’!

What a powerful truth my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! By the ONE, Jesus Christ and by His ONE sacrificial blood atoning offering on the cross we have been perfected for ever. Apostle Paul wrote God MADE US the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (2 Cor. 5:17-21), indwelt for ever by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), complete in Christ and already risen with Christ in the Spirit (Colossians 2).

“Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them AFTER THOSE DAYS, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I REMEMBER NO MORE. Now where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING FOR SIN.” (Hebrews 10:15-18 KJV)

When God looks at a believer in Christ, we are HIS. We are a purchased POSSESSION having been bought and paid for by the precious cleansing blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). All wages for our sins WERE already paid in full by Christ crucified. By our belief on Christ we are seen by God as righteous as Christ is (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Think about that truth! TRUE FREEDOM !!! Free to do good works in love for others, not to remained saved but because of what God did for us in love. From great gratitude and our new Spirit. Yes, we as believers still fail. Yes, we resist sinning but at times fail. But all our failures and sins were already paid by Christ, COMPLETELY!

Jesus truly meant it when He cried out,

“IT IS FINISHED.”

!! DO NOT ALLOW ANY PERSON
OR PULPIT TELL YOU OTHERWISE !!

” Let us HOLD FAST the profession of our faith WITHOUT WAVERING; (for HE IS FAITHFUL that promised;)  And let us consider one another to provoke UNTO love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)

It is about the change in our core being, our Spirit and walking in our new Spirit of Christ in love to others. And sticking together in encouragement and support, knowing our chains of sin were both broken AND REMOVED.

The context in Hebrews 10 is THE ONE SIN (not all sins) of going back to animal sacrifices and the Law of Moses in unbelief in the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement for all sins of the whole world. That is the ‘wilful sin’ the writer is addressing through the book of Hebrews and where we read ,

“For if we SIN WILFULLY after that we have received THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH there remaineth NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV)

These verses are being taught by some (even from pulpits!) as a believer losing salvation but that is completely false seeing the true context here. The writer is teaching by comparison to those still under the Law; that is the unsaved Jews who were persecuting and pressuring believers to go back to animal sacrifices. Those persecuting the believers kept sacrificing animals AFTER Messiah already came and ACTUALLY PAID for sins. They heard ‘the knowledge of the truth’ (hearing it does not make a person saved. Believing it does!) but rejected such a great sacrifice for our salvation. In comparison, the writer is warning and encouraging the saved Jewish believers to keep faith and trust on Christ alone because His sacrifice is the only one that saves us. The writer tells these early church Jewish believers that for the unbelieving Jews, it is a fearful thing they are facing without Christ. As believers, it is an enormous sin to go back to animal sacrifices under The Law to cover sins. It is stating UNBELIEF in the utter complete sufficiency of Christ’s payment for sins as the foretold Messiah. This is the very FOUNDATION of the Gospel! It should never be rejected! God forbid!

Babes in Christ could fall for the pressures of the Jewish unbelievers and so assembling and encouraging each other in persecution mattered much. We should take note of this today in these End Times as well.

“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, and hath done DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS PEOPLE.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:28-31 KJV)

HIS PEOPLE are the Jewish people who had rejected the foretold Messiah. Despite the amazing grace of God to save anyone who will accept Christ’s free grace gift of salvation through His own shed blood, the Jewish people rejected it!

We see the writer now encourage FAITH (BELIEF AND TRUST in Christ alone) to abound among the Jewish believers,

“But WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE that he is, and that he is A REWARDER of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

What words of encouragement for these Jewish believers and for us today as well.  As the saying goes, knowing the truth, believers today need to ‘Keep their eyes on the prize’, salvation through Christ alone by faith alone in the grace of God.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, from all over the world, persecution of Christian believers is on the rise. World events are showing us that the Biblically prophetic one world government and one world religion is almost upon the world. Persecution of believers will rise more according to the Godly inspired prophetic words of Scripture. The Church Age will soon end at the Rapture and then the antichrist system and rule is coming upon the whole world. The Jewish scholars in Israel are RIGHT NOW stating that they believe Messiah is about to arrive on the scene. The plans to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem exist now as foretold in the prophet Scriptures to happen in the time when the Antichrist arrives on the world stage.

Unfortunately, the Jewish have as a people, mostly not acknowledge Jesus as Messiah to this very day. They are still looking for the Messiah but will be duped to believe the Antichrist is their Messiah. But God is not done with Israel yet! God will raise up 144,000 Jews from the 12 Tribes of Israel to believe in Christ and His Second Coming event after the Tribulation Period. They will start evangelizing and a remnant of Jews, and many Gentiles, will come to believe that Jesus is the Christ.

In these times we live in believers, we need to KEEP THE FAITH. Jesus is coming for His Bride  before the Tribulation and revealing of the Antichrist. Encourage and help one another under persecutions. Help to reach the lost for their salvation. Love others. Love your enemies. Time is shorter than ever before. The Church Age is nearing it’s completion. The Pre-Tribulation Rapture of Church Age believers can happen at any moment. The Lost need to hear the knowledge of the truth, The Gospel of Salvation Through Christ Crucified, Died and Risen more than ever before.

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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Hebrews 12:14: ‘without which no man shall see the Lord.’

Don Gerrity Hebrews

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14 KJV)

Is this one verse telling us that if we do not live a HOLY life that we will lose salvation? As with all Scripture, we must not take single verses out of the context of the writer and make it a doctrine, especially when it contradicts so many other Scriptures on salvation as being eternal from the moment of belief on Christ such as John 3:14-18, John 6:37-40, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5, Colossians 2 and so many others.

What does the writer of Hebrews mean by this one verse then? Well let us start with the proper context. It is set right at the beginning of this chapter. First, Hebrews is written to ALREADY ETERNALLY SAVED –JEWISH– BELIEVERS and the writer uses contrast to the unbelieving Jews. The believing Jews at that time were under enormous pressure from their friends and family and Jewish leaders to return to following the Law of Moses for righteousness. The Jewish believers were going through some serious hardships in persecution and some were considering going back to animal sacrifices as we see in Hebrews 9 and 10. The writer is encouraging them and warning them not to do that because only Christ and HIS act of sacrificial blood atonement justifies a person. In Hebrews 10, we see that Jesus blood sacrifice was ONCE FOR ALL, a FINAL atonement for the sins of the whole world , just as John wrote in 1 John 2:2.

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS:” (Hebrews 10:10 KJV)

Animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses never took away the sins of the Jewish people, it only COVERED them for a time period, which is why they had to repeatedly offer animal sacrifices. But that was just a foreshadowing of what the coming Messiah was to complete in finality. We see this in Hebrews 10,

“For the law having A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, and not the very image of the things, CAN NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a REMEMBRANCE again made of sins EVERY YEAR. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Animal sacrifices under The Law of Moses was just a foreshadowing of what the Messiah would one day accomplish forever. With this truth of Hebrews in context, let us now go ahead to Hebrews 12,

“LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Are you seeing the true context now? Jesus blood sacrifice REPLACED The Law of Moses as a way to be justified with God in salvation. The Jewish people were trying to get their friends and family who became saved through belief in Christ to go back to the Law and animal sacrifices and those considering it were VERY WRONG. Believing that the Law is also required with animal sacrifices is like telling God that Jesus’ sacrifice was not sufficient! GOD FORBID!

In Hebrews 12 the writer is just continuing and trying to encourage these already eternally saved Jewish believers to keep the faith and belief on Christ and not go back to the Law for righteousness. The SIN (notice no ‘s’) is not all kinds of sins. There is only ONE SIN the writer is talking about in the Book of Hebrews and that is the sin of UNBELIEF IN CHRIST. We see this earlier in Hebrews 5 where the writer is showing that some were yet babes in the faith when they should have been more advanced to teach others the Gospel. So in Hebrews 12, the context is encouraging believers with the very foundation of their faith and to keep that foundation of faith while facing the persecution of their Jewish friends and family.

The hardships they were facing and that all believers will face at different varying degrees is never a fun thing to endure is it? Yet, it can make us stringer in the faith and that means we live holier lives as a result do we not? Like the saying goes, ‘What ever does not kill us, makes us stronger!’

This is the proper context of verse 14. It is not about losing salvation (which by the way is not found ANYWHERE in the book of Hebrews as some are teaching without context being used). It is the writer encouraging the Jewish believers of the time of writing to endure the hardships of believing in Christ. Stand firm. And that is a message very relevant to us living in these Last Days of Biblical Prophetical time as well. Today we see the rampant ‘works for salvation’ false gospel spewing from pulpits and it is the ‘other gospel’ Apostle Paul warned us about in Galatians which is to be accursed.

Hebrews 3:12: ‘departing from the living God’

Don Gerrity Hebrews
Hebrews 3:12: ‘departing from the living God’
In context, and throughout the ENTIRE book of Hebrews, the writer is addressing the Hebrew believers IN CHRIST. This is not talking about sins we commit as believers after Salvation. It is talking about the SIN OF UNBELIEF in Christ’s atonement. There were false teachers such as teaching Gnosticism affecting believers. Just as in John. The Christian Jewish believers were also being persecuted by their fellow Jews. Lots of pressure on their belief. The sin in Hebrews is UNBELIEF IN CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION. The once for all payment (Hebrews 10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2 KJV)
In fact, if you look at Ephesians or Galatians or books of Paul in the Bible, it lists all different types of sins. However, here in the book of Hebrews, in fact looking in all 10 chapters, there is only ONE sin that is mentioned and is the focus of attention and that sin is the SIN OF UNBELIEF in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, crucified, died and risen as the only atonement for our numerous sins during our lifetime.
“6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not ENTER INTO MY REST.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart OF UNBELIEF, in departing from the living God.” (Hebrews 3 6-12 KJV)
The English word departing in verse 12 is Strings concordance G868, the Greek word  ‘aphistēmi‘ and has a meaning of ‘ to make stand off, cause to withdraw, to remove; tropically, to excite to revolt‘
The writer is telling them to look at the example of the Exodus in the wilderness. They grumbled against God constantly in unbelief, even though they witnessed God get them out of bondage in slavery in Egypt with the very riches of Egypt! They seen the pillar of fire by night keeping them warm and safe from Pharaoh’s army and seen the pillar of smoke by day keeping them cool in desert and safe from Pharaoh’s army. They seen the parting of the Red Sea and walked across on DRY LAND!!! Yet still, in UNBELIEF grumbled against God.
Let us not do the same! God help me to not do so! I believe! Help my unbelief!

ENTER GOD’S REST!

That is the point being made in Hebrews 3. How do we do that? BELIEF ON CHRIST. Jesus said,
” Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” (Matthew 11:28 KJV)
We do not work for our Salvation nor to keep our Salvation. Salvation is a GIFT of unmerited favor to be received and is not of ourselves. Jesus accomplished it all on the cross.
“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: NOT of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV)
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts13:38-39 KJV)

Hebrews 5:9: “eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

Don Gerrity Hebrews
Hebrews 5:9: “eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

Hebrews 5:9:

“9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

There are some Bible teachers and believers who take this one verse out of the context of all the book of Hebrews and believe that obeying everything Christ taught is a REQUIREMENT of Salvation.

First, remember that Hebrews was not written with Chapters and verses and that chapters were added to the Bible for our study use. Therefore, we must read the entirety of Hebrews within it’s own context. In proper context, and throughout the book of Hebrews, the writer is addressing the Hebrew believers IN CHRIST. This is not talking about sins we commit as believers after Salvation. It is talking about the SIN OF UNBELIEF in Christ’s atonement alone by faith – not works.

In fact, if you look at Ephesians or Galatians or other books of Paul in the Bible, it lists all different types of sins. However, here in the book of Hebrews, in fact looking in all 10 chapters, there is only ONE sin that is mentioned and is the focus of attention and that sin is the SIN OF UNBELIEF in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, crucified, died and risen as the only atonement for our numerous sins during our lifetime.

The Jewish believers in Christ were being persecuted by unsaved Jewish people with faith in the Law of Moses and some were thinking to go back to the Law of Moses, even though they were saved by God’s grace through Christ’s atonement. The writer of Hebrews is showing them that is not the way of Salvation. In Hebrews 5, the writer is calling them babes in the faith that have not moved from milk to meat. They should be more knowledgeable and trusting in the faith, yet are still as babes on milk.

The writer of Hebrews is basically pleading with the Jewish people to put their trust in Salvation in Christ alone and not their own self righteous good deeds, works or religious rituals.

The OBEY HIM in verse 9 when read in context of the book is about obeying the Gospel Jesus died for.. Salvation by faith alone through belief in Jesus, the Christ, God in the flesh who died and paid the penalty in God’s perfect justice for the sins of the whole world, and that whosoever believes becomes eternally saved from the very moment of belief.

BELIEVE BELIEVE BELIEVE.

“14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might BE SAVED. 18 He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, BECAUSE he hath NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18 KJV)

SEALED WITH ETERNAL LIFE BY BELIEF

“13 In whom ye also trusted, AFTER THAT YE HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the EARNEST (don: Greek means down payment guarantee) of our inheritance (Don: eternal life) until the redemption of the purchased possession (Don: our bodily resurrection to come) , unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV, bracket comments added by me.)

Does Hebrews 10:26-31 prove a person can lose their Salvation?

Don Gerrity Hebrews, Q&A: Difficult Passages, Q&A: Salvation
Does Hebrews 10:26-31 prove a person can lose their Salvation?

“For if we SIN wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-30 KJV)

There are many teaching and preaching from pulpit that this verse proves that a believer can lose their Salvation. They are sincere, but sincerely wrong. They are not seeing the context of the entire book of Hebrews. In Hebrews 10:1 we see the writer emphasize the point that the animal sacrifices performed under the Old Covenant never took away sins but only covered their sins for a time period of one year. Each year, this had to happen again to cover another year of sins and so on. It was not a perfect sacrifice for their sins. It was just a temporary covering until the Messiah would come and be the final sacrifice for sins.

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”(Hebrews 10:1 KJV)

This verse starts with the word “for”. It is the same as reading “therefore”. And whenever we see the word ‘therefore‘, we need to find out why it is there for! Hebrews 10:1 is just continuing the conversation and topic from Hebrew 9.

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” (Hebrews 9:15-17 KJV)

Hebrews 9 is explaining how Christ has replaced the Old Covenant with a NEW Covenant. He replaced the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses with the New Covenant of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. Under the Old Covenant, the Israelites had to sacrifice unblemished animals as a ‘temporary covering’ for their sins. This covering would last one year and then had to be repeated so that the people’s sin could keep being covered. This sacrificing of animals is a foreshadowing and looking forward to the final sacrifice that God would make on the cross to not just cover, but pay in full all the penalty for all the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). The passage reads the “promise of eternal inheritance” and so how long is eternal? Well, it is everlasting, forever and ever and ever. Anything other than that is not the correct definition.

Now the last part of Hebrews 9 is what leads into Hebrews 10 and this is vitally important. Watch the words closely to see context.

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: BUT NOW ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:26-28 KJV)

This tells us that Jesus sacrifice has replaced the Law with God’s Grace and all who look for His Second Coming (that would be the believers) are saved. His sacrifice was a one time event and animal sacrifices to cover sins was no long required for the Jews. Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world ONCE and our sins have not been temporarily covered like the Old Covenant animal sacrifices; Jesus put away sins in finality by His blood atonement sacrifice on the cross. The sin debt of the whole world has been paid (1 John 2:2). The writer of Hebrews goes on to tell us that when Christ comes at the Second Coming, He is not coming to judge the sins of believers. Only the sins of the unbelievers. It is only those looking for His return in belief that Jesus will return “without sin unto salvation”. Knowing this context, when we reread the first part of Hebrews 10 we see that it is a continuation of this point as it reads,

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” (Hebrews 10:1 KJV)

The Old Covenant animal sacrifices never paid , nor put away, the sins of the Jewish people. Nor can our good works and self righteous efforts. The animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant only gave a covering for sins for one year at a time. Jesus once paid for all the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and as Jesus cried out on the cross, ‘IT IS FINISHED’; a debt paid in full. In context, and throughout the book of Hebrews, the writer is addressing the Hebrew believers in Christ and also mentioning unbelievers who were pressuring them. This is not talking about sins we commit as believers after Salvation. It is talking about the sin of unbelief in Christ’s atonement. This is the one and only sin that is not forgivable. Because without belief in Christ and His once for all sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, there is no payment placed to their account. Jesus made this very clear in one short verse in John 3,

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “(John 3:18 KJV)

God’s righteousness is not imputed to an unbeliever (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Salvation is a GIFT (Ephesians 2:8-9) and as a GIFT, it can be received and accepted in belief or rejected by our free will (John 3:14-18). Accepting this gift is by believing on Christ as God in the flesh, the only begotten Son of God, and His finished work on the cross. If the gift is received, and not rejected, a person becomes a Newly created Spirit of God, which is the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and the person is saved from the very moment of their belief (Ephesians 1:13-14) and has become complete in Christ (Colossians 2). In the Book of Hebrews (in fact looking in all the first 10 chapters), there is only one sin that is mentioned and is the focus of attention and that sin is the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, crucified, died and risen as the only atonement for our numerous sins during our lifetime. Why? Because Jesus’ sacrifice replaced the Old Covenant and Law of Moses animal sacrifices with the New Covenant of God’s Grace Through Christ Crucified, died and risen.

To show this by the Book of Hebrews is as simple as going back to chapter 8,

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.“(Hebrews 8:13 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews is basically pleading with the Jewish believers to keep their trust in Salvation in Christ and not their own self righteous good deeds, works of the Law nor religious rituals. In context, Hebrews 10, is about not going back to Jewish Law of Moses and trying to make it a requirement of their justification and Salvation. And that under the Law the unbelieving Jews can only expect the judgement and wrath of God. And those believers who do so, will also have judgment (not in condemnation or loss of salvation, but disciplinary judgment and maybe loss of rewards at the Bema Seat Judgement of believers).

The writer continues , in verse 10-14, to show the Jewish people the contrast between the Old Covenant, with continuous sacrifices needed as a covering for sins, and the New Covenant through the FINAL once for all blood atoning sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 10:10) through Jesus Christ crucified; paying for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS: But this man, after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God;From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For BY ONE OFFERING he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified.”(Hebrews 10:10-14 KJV)

This passage makes me shout in my heart ever time I read it! What great love and GRACE has God bestowed on us! A believer is forever (Eternally) perfected in our Spirit. And what is the significance of Christ ‘sitting down’? The High Priest of the Old Covenant was only permitted to stand and was busy to do all the Lord commanded about the animal sacrifices to make sure the sins of the people were covered. Jesus was the once for all penalty payment for all the sins of the whole world from all of time. His work in accomplishing this is finished. It was finished at the cross 2000 years ago. He sat down. And believers are in Christ and so, we sat down with Christ. He is waiting for His enemies to be His footstool now. Just as when kings of the past would go into battle and capture their enemy king when defeated. The king would make the enemy king kneel on all fours and the winning king would place his feet on their back. Jesus has already won the war. And then the writer goes on to make this claim of truth,

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE. Now where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING FOR SIN.” (Hebrews 10:16-18 KJV)

So Hebrews verse 1 to 18 are all saying that Jesus paid the full price for the sins of the whole world and replaced the Old Covenant with the New Covenant of Grace, just as John reads in 1 John 2:2. Those who believe on Christ are saved and have eternal life, and are in the present, heaven bound. Our sins cannot prevent that. Only unbelief on Christ will prevent that. Those who tell others, that based on Hebrews 10:26, that a believer can lose Salvation are conveniently omitting all the other verses in Hebrews 9 and 10 and making verse 26 mean something opposite to what it actually means. You can see here just how important reading verses in proper context is. Hebrews 9 and 10 must be read together as the writer intended. This passage in verse 26 reads , “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” , is what throws people off on the true understanding of this Scripture when taken out of the context of the entire book of Hebrews. This statement is an encouraging statement and not a punitive one. Reading this verse alone and ignoring all the other verses in Hebrews will cause great confusion and turn what it really means into a lie.

The writer of Hebrews is writing to eternally saved believers and about unbelievers who are Jewish persecuting them. Remember, that it was hard for believers at the time Hebrews was written. The Jewish believers on Christ’s final atonement for sin had family and friends entrenched in the tradition of the Law of Moses following for righteousness. These believers were being persecuted and had great pressure to go back to following the Law and relying on animal sacrifices to cover their sins. And that was something the Jewish people were entrenched in and rightfully so before the cross event.

Now back to the verses, used out of context, that some are using to teach wrongly that it is about a believer losing Salvation. Let’s look at it again in the proper context just shown to you.

“For if we SIN wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for SINS, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”(Hebrews 10:26-30 KJV)

I want you to notice something in these few verses and that is the wilful sin is NOT plural. It is addressing a single sin; the sin of unbelief in the sufficiency of Christ’s blood atonement that we read in Hebrews 9. The second use reads as SINS; plural. This is all our sins. The only sacrifice for sins is Jesus’ blood atonement and we are only saved by actually believing it was sufficient to the Father for remission of all our sins.

In verse 26 and 27, the writer is just explaining to these persecuted believers to not go back to the Law animal sacrifices like their Jewish friends and neighbors are pushing them too. It is like committing adultery against Christ and all He did for them! All verse 26 and 27 are meaning is that going back to animal sacrifices and deeds of the Law to remain justified with God is like rejecting the great ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice Christ did for us on that cross. It is meaningless anyway and will not work, because Christ already came and fulfilled the Law and became the final once for all blood atoning sacrifice for all sins.

In comparison to the unbelieving Jews, if they do not rely on Christ alone in faith for Salvation but are doing animal sacrifices to keep themselves saved, there remains no more sacrifice for sins because there is only one sacrifice for sins, and that was Jesus Christ on that cross when He took our sin debt and eradicated it forever! Animal sacrifices do not forgive sin. That is how Chapter Ten starts. It is the very context from the beginning of the chapter. Animal sacrifices before the cross only covered sins until the final sacrifice would come; Jesus, the Messiah on the cross.

The writer goes on to encourage these Jewish believers in Christ, to not go back to animal sacrifices. The writer also warns them that it is a fearful thing for those who are crucifying Jesus afresh by going back to animal sacrifices. It is slapping God in the face when He shed His blood for them to not just cover their sins, but to be the final sacrifice for their sins. It is a warning also for the Jewish people to accept Christ based on faith alone without self righteous deeds and religious rituals to keep you saved. It is God alone who keeps us saved.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31 KJV)

The writer then tells the believers,

“But WE ARE NOT of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that BELIEVE to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:39 KJV)

The whole misunderstood passage of Hebrews 10:26 is the writer of Hebrews encouraging the persecuted believers to press on in the faith of the New Covenant of God’s Grace Through Jesus Christ and not to be following the Law for righteousness. They started out as strong believers when they got saved but all the persecution is running them down. They feel like hiding from their Jewish family, friends and some started going back into The Law of Moses just to get relief from all the persecution. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging them to stay the course and stand firm in their faith in Christ. He is also warning them of judgment if they go back to animal sacrifices.In the next chapter, Hebrews 11, the writer then recalls the greats in using their faith to encourage them even more to stand firm.

That is the truth of the Gospel of the Grace of God Through Jesus Christ! And it is the BEST NEWS ever for all of us – if we believe on Christ alone for our justification.

 

Related Articles:

Are future sins forgiven by Christ on the cross? Can Salvation be lost for sins committed after Salvation?

Don Gerrity Hebrews, Q&A: Salvation
Are future sins forgiven by Christ on the cross? Can Salvation be lost for sins committed after Salvation?

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
(Hebrews 9:26 KJV)

When Jesus was on the cross He cried out “IT IS FINISHED”. In Greek this means “PAID IN FULL”. Jesus did not pay for sins only in the past. If that were true yours and my sins would not even qualify because we are all in the future of the time of the cross. NO no no. Jesus paid for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD and whosoever will believe and accept the FREE gift of eternal life have been 100% forgiven all the sins of their entire life (past/present/future).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us WITH ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should BE HOLY and WITHOUT BLAME before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL,To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE HATH MADE US ACCEPTED in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV)

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to PUT AWAY sin by the sacrifice OF HIMSELF.” (Hewbrews 9:26 KJV)

In Colossians 2 Apostle Paul wrote,

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses; BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ORDINANCES that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it OUT OF THE WAY, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:13-14 KJV)

The Greek word translated all in this passage is pas (Strong’s G3956). It means ‘individually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything collectively’. This supports the fact that all sins past present and future were forgiven at the cross. And it agrees completely with other Scriptures below.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the EARNEST (in Greek means ‘downpayment’) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
(Ephesians 1:13-14 (brackets added for incite) KJV)

We see this clearly again in this passage of Scripture,

“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also SEALED US, and given the earnest(in Greek means ‘down payment’) of the Spirit in our hearts.”
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (brackets added for incite) KJV)

Jesus offered Himself as a once for all time sacrifice for sin that has made us perfect forever. Forever means what? Well, it means FOREVER! Never to be lost! And then He sat down on the right hand of God. It is finished!

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14 KJV)

Look what Paul tells us,

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

No, Salvation cannot be lost but rewards at Bema Seat can be. You see, as Paul taught us, God has separated the sin from the sinner at the very moment of our Salvation when he wrote:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth NO GOOD THING: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I FIND NOT. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.” (Romans 7:18-20 KJV)

The sin that dwells in us is called ‘the flesh’ and it remains in us until our full and COMPLETE perfection when we receive our new immortal bodies at The Rapture. Until then we have the Holy Spirit within us as our down payment and assurance of our future perfection.

Salvation cannot be lost if it is Salvation the Biblical way and not what men may teach. Salvation is not by good works, being a good person nor following religious rituals.  Read your Bible in proper context and it is clear, Salvation cannot be lost once you are in Christ.

++ How do I get Saved?

Does Hebrews 6 Teach That A Person Can Lose Their Salvation?

Don Gerrity Hebrews, Q&A: Eternal Security (OSAS)
Does Hebrews 6 Teach That A Person Can Lose Their Salvation?

Some believers who say they are Christians that Hebrews 6  tells us that a believer Can lose their Salvation – after being forgiven and saved by Christ’s atonement. Those that claim this are not trying to mislead anyone but they are misinterpreting Hebrews 6, and not looking closely at the context.

Context with Scriptures and knowing that ALL Scriptures are 100% correct with no inconsistencies or contradictions is key to full understanding of the Gospel.

Instead, some take this one Scripture in Hebrews, at verse 4-6, as meaning there is no eternal security for the believer, and seem to ignore all the other Bible Scriptures and words of Jesus Himself that tell us the opposite. Some will then add that we need works for salvation – taking the heart of the Gospel message out.

Hebrews is addressing, well, Jews. Hebrews 5 and 6 is addressing Jews who have become Christians yet have not progressed at all other than being saved by belief in the atonement of sins provided once and for all by Jesus Christ on the cross.

It is addressing the fact that these believing Jews have not progressed at all and that this needs to change. If we go back to Chapter 5 it helps us to see Chapter 6 in the proper context. Remember they did not write in chapters. Chapters were added to the Bible for the readers benefit.

“And being MADE PERFECT, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are DULL of hearing.  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
(Hebrews 5:9-14 KJV)

There is nothing wrong with being a babe in the faith. That is, to be a new Christian just starting the journey of learning about God and His ways. However, here we see that it has been quite a while since they first believed and they should be at a level of understanding so they could teach others. Instead, they are still as babes and unskillful in the faith. These are the people being addressed in Hebrews Chapter 5 and 6.

If one were to read ONLY Hebrews 6:4-5 they would get the totally wrong context of these Chapters. And it could seemingly be interpreted as losing your salvation. And that is why some are telling others they can lose their salvation in Christ – which is totally false. 

Such people are babes in the faith still and do not even grasp the context using the first three verse of Hebrews 6. They just hand pick the one verse which alone, out of context, fits what they believe; that a person can lose their Salvation. Here is Hebrews 6 as described in verses 1-3 which is the context of the verses to follow and is all about the peril of not progressing in the faith of Christ:

“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.” (Hebrews 6:1-3 KJV)

This is all about the Hebrew believers in Christ and that they have reverted back to doing the religious works they once did under the law. They reverted to trying to work their way back to God. But salvation is NOT of works of any kind as we see in so many passages of Scripture regarding the Gospel of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Timothy 2: 5-6, Romans 4:4-5, Galatians 2:16-21, Galatians 2:16-21 and many many more!). Instead of increasingly learning faith in Christ and living that out, they are still as babes and have even reverted back to the rituals of the Jewish faith.

Galatians tells us that this not so and that it is Christ plus nothing that MAKES us saved. Salvation is a GIFT, without works to gain it. It is the GIFT from God to all that Believe that Christ is the Lord and Savior.

These believers (yes they are still called believers, just babes in the faith) did not mature to start enjoying the freedom in the law of liberty in Christ. Jesus sets us free. What they were doing by going back to the Jewish rituals, such as slaying a lamb to atone for their sins was a VERY wrong thing to do! That was just a foreshadowing of what the Messiah would do and what Jesus Christ fulfilled in it’s entirety on the cross when He cried out “IT IS FINISHED!” Doing so, is like saying to God and Christ that His sacrifice, which is once for all, is not sufficient. And that is what some are saying by telling others a person can lose their salvation. God forbid! Stop doing that!

Hebrews states,

“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.” (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV)

Verse 6 is where some believe it has a meaning of a believer who has lost Salvation forever. But that is not the meaning in proper context. To believe this is about loss of Salvation you would have to ignore many many other Scriptures stating Salvation cannot be lost.

First, this is talking about renewing them UNTO REPENTANCE, not salvation. Repentance is not salvation. It is a ‘change of mind’ and nothing more. In fact, when we look at the main writings on salvation such as John, Ephesians and Romans etc., the word repent or repentance is not even mentioned! So, this is not about losing salvation.

This passage is all about how these people need to stop “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”  The animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses never forgave sins and that is where these Jewish believers are wrong. Israel had fallen from the truth and started believing that the Works of the Law and the animal sacrifices were what made them righteous; something Jesus refuted in His Earthly ministry to the Jewish people and Pharisee leaders. In fact, we see the writer in Hebrews chapter 9 and 10 making it clear that it was the belief in the foretold coming Messiah who would pay the final price for sins that saved and that,

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4 KJV)

By performing animal rituals under the Law of Moses, they have placed themselves under the curse of the Law. This is foundational wrong belief about the Gospel and what Christ bought for us! They need to stop falling away to the old rituals of the law and at the same time saying they need the atonement for sins by faith in Christ alone. Christ fulfilled the law and replaced the law of the Ministry of death and condemnation with the Ministry of righteousness and liberty in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7-9). They have no need to go back and get saved again. Because once saved, always saved. They are still saved eternally but continuing under the Law will cause them to SIN MORE and not less because the very “…strength of sin, is The Law.” (1 Cor. 15:56)! And this sin of going back and performing animal sacrifices is a VERY grievous sin and the only thing that will follow is severe punishment. Not loss of salvation, but very bad consequences in this life, becoming useless. This will result in judgement (not condemnation to hell) and severe discipline. And in this case, likely severe consequences, maybe even physical death. They are so far off on the Gospel message that they need to start on milk again and learn the truth of the Gospel message from the very beginning. And then hold fast to the truth. Otherwise, they risk losing rewards at the Bema seat judgement of believers after the Rapture and living a life with bad consequences and outcomes being under the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:10, Romans 7:13).

Many scriptures make it clear that salvation is eternal and that a person who accepts Christ act of atonement as a gift, has been eternally secured IN CHRIST. Yes, a person can backslide, but the Holy Spirit will always guide and correct the thinking of the person and persuade them back to right living. In fact, the Holy Spirit is constantly changing us and renewing our mind more like Christ. And this happens differently for everyone; different levels and speeds for each individual.

All the Scriptures are true — without contradiction —, though some seem to contradict each other. When that happens, it means we are missing the mark and the context. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the true meaning of such difficult passages. He will in His time.

Here are just a few other Scriptures, some the words of Jesus Himself, that tell us a believer has true assurance of salvation that cannot be lost. It is a work of God, 100%… not our fleshly efforts and works that save us. Our part is to accept and believe by our will.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

Here we see the Holy Spirit is perfecting us through our living years until the day we are face to face with Jesus bodily and we become like He is.

“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:4-5 KJV)

Jesus said…

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29 KJV)

 

“Now unto HIM that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” (Jude 24 KJV)

Faith In Christ Alone? Or Faith Plus Works? Which Is The Biblical Truth?

Those teaching this false Gospel of losing Salvation also teach faith PLUS works is required for Salvation.  It is spreading in online groups as well as in many denominational churches; those claiming you can lose your Salvation and those that teach faith in Christ “PLUS good works” is required for salvation.

Some are falling for it because they use Scriptures like this OUT OF CONTEXT. WE MUST BE DILIGENT AGAINST SUCH.  The Apostle Paul was given the revelation of the Gospel of grace directly from Christ. Paul gave us 75% of the New Testament (many also believe he also wrote Hebrews)- think about that one! READ ROMANS & GALATIANS! IMPORTANT!

This very same teaching of a false Gospel crept into the Galatian churches – Paul had to address it with them.

Paul even rebuked Peter over the faith plus works issue. It is very deceptive and does away with the sacrifice of Christ, under the disguise of Biblical Scriptures out of context.

⇒ SALVATION REQUIRING GOOD WORKS AND/OR NEVER SINNING IS A FALSE GOSPEL.

Jesus said it VERY CLEARLY…

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE ON HIM whom He hath sent.” (John 6:28-29 KJV)

 

 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.” (John 5:24 KJV  hath is present tense!)

 

“Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, BUT BY THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST , even we have BELIEVED IN Jesus Christ, that we might BE JUSTIFIED BY THE FAITH OF CHRIST, and NOT by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED.” (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

And these very same teachers of this false Gospel, teach I am teaching the false Gospel and they even use a Scripture that shows how false they teach. They do not see the truth in context. They cherry pick verses that fit their belief instead of learning the truth from the Word of God.

They even use this verse, from Matthew 7,

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

Three points to consider here…

1. What is the will of the Father?

Here is Christ’s perfect time to answer how a person is saved. John 6 tells us the answer to this question. Does John 6 say, Faith plus works? NO!

” Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE ON HIM whom He hath sent.”” (John 6:29 KJV)

 

2. And what is Christ going to say to those that believe in their own works for salvation and forgiveness of sin?

Those that trust in their WORKS and deeds and what they have done in life? Verse 22 of Matthew 7 shows…. Haven’t I done this and done that in your name etc and Jesus reply is? . “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” These are people who thought they were born again by externals but in reality were never even born again by belief n Christ alone. It is a sad reality that a vast majority of church buildings are full of such and many pulpits are teaching the false ‘works for salvation’ gospel, which is no Gospel at all.

3. What about the Bema Seat Judgement Of Believers In Our Future?

At the Bema Seat Rewards Judgement (1 Corinthians 3) of believers by Christ Himself, you can see that believers may lose rewards and gain rewards by their good works for Christ. However, understand that this Bema Seat Judgement is similar to an athletic competition ceremony. It is not punitive against sins committed because those at this judgement are already Raptured and have new immortal bodies without the sin nature present.

In fact, the word “sin or sins” is not even found regarding this judgement of believers. Their sins on Earth were already judged on the cross in Jesus Christ. The penalty for our sins does not need to be paid for ever again. The Bema Seat is where Christ will have us give an account of our lives after salvation and is based on our MOTIVES for the works we do for God. God always looks at a persons motives. Those works that were done in the flesh (that is by us attempting to do them for the wrong human reasons) will mean a loss of reward. Those works done with the right motives for God and by the Holy Spirit through you will receive reward.  That is, by what we do and why we did the works.

It most certainly is important to want to please God and be involved in His work. Yet, even a person who accepted the gift of eternal salvation by belief on Christ, with no works, will still be saved and in heaven; with little or no reward (1 Corinthians 3:13). Everyone will suffer some loss of rewards and gain of rewards. In truth, no believer is 100% perfect here on Earth and we all make some bad decisions at times because our mind is not yet renewed fully. Some may not receive a reward and feel some shame about it. But overall the feeling is like that of school graduation or an Olympic rewards ceremony. It is a positive event and all at this Bema Seat event are all in Heaven where joy abounds in ways that we cannot yet even comprehend fully right now here on Earth.

It Is Not What You Do. It Is What Jesus Did For You

It is what the Holy Spirit does through you after salvation by FAITH. Good works will follow but it is GOD doing them THROUGH us. It is NOTHING FOR US TO BOAST ABOUT. Not works by the flesh. Works by the Holy Spirit. And ultimately, the crowns of reward that believers will receive at the Bema Judgment Seat Of Believers are something will will cast at Jesus’s feet (Revelation 4:10) because truly only He is worthy and any good works we have done, are only because Christ came and lived within us and through us.

Be diligent. Do not believe the false Gospel of  ‘Works For Salvation’ or ‘Lordship Salvation’ that is spreading like wildfire in these last days.

You cannot lose your salvation if you believe in the Gospel of Christ.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Cor. 15:1-4 KJV)