Biblical evidence that a believer can fall into unbelief is
in this section.
There are six “warning passages” in Hebrews, which have
often been used to argue that a saved person can, indeed, become lost.
Hebrews was written, apparently, to Hebrew Christians. The
warnings were probably, at least in part, warnings against turning back to rely
on the Jewish Law for salvation, but are also more general warnings against
turning back from relying on Christ’s sacrifice.
1) Hebrews 2:1 Therefore
we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps
we drift away. 2 For
if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompense; 3a how will we
escape if we neglect so great a salvation
2) Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in
any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any
one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
3) Hebrews 4:1 Let
us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of
a promise of entering into his rest. . . . 11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone
fall after the same example of disobedience.
4) Hebrews 6:4 For
concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to
renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for
themselves again, and put him to open shame. 7 For the land which has drunk the
rain that comes often on it, and produces a crop suitable for them for whose
sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns
and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you,
and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this. 10 For God
is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you
showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
5) Hebrews 10:26 For
if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation
of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. 28 A
man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or
three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged
worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood
of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted
the Spirit of grace?
6) Hebrews 12:14 Follow after peace with all men, and the
sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15 looking carefully
lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; 16 lest there
be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his
birthright for one meal. 17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to
inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of
mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
The above material is an excerpt from my self-published e-book, Does the Bible Really Say That?, which may be obtained free of charge, or purchased from Amazon for $0.99, which is the lowest price Amazon lets an author set. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.
The previous post in this series, on the topic of whether a redeemed person can lose their salvation, is here. God willing, the next post in this series will consider the same topic. Thanks for reading.
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