It Is Impossible

Text: Hebrews 6:1-8

Theme: We can’t make people repent, so don’t stay where they are–move on.

Key verses: “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works…” (v. 1a). “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened…and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm…” (v. 4-6). “But if [land] bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned” (v. 8).

What (I believe) God said to me: Dwayne, this is one of the most difficult passages you will encounter in my Word. Not only is it challenging for you to understand and correctly interpret, you will also find it to be one of the hardest to apply in your ministry. You know from your studying that this passage has caused much debate and confusion among the Church over the years. Many have used these verses to support their belief that Christians can “fall from grace” and lose their salvation. But you must look at the whole of Scripture and interpret Scripture with other Scripture. No one can pluck my children out of my hand. I give them eternal, everlasting life. They are grafted into me and adopted into my Kingdom family, heirs with me and joint-heirs with my Son. I will complete in them and in you what I started. Scripture as a whole teaches the opposite of what this passage in Hebrews might seem to be saying. So, look deeper. Read the chapters before and after this passage; look closely at the sentences directly proceeding these. Do you see the point the author was trying to make here? In a nutshell: “You’ve been believers for a long time. Why are you still trying to hang back with those who wallow in sin and seem content with apathy and non-growth? Move on! You can’t bring them back to repentance. That’s their choice. You choose to grow up and go deep in your faith and knowledge of God.” Now granted, that’s an oversimplified summation of this highly contested passage. But try not to miss the forest for the trees. It wasn’t the intent of the author for you to get bogged down in this one paragraph. This isn’t the focus or the point the author is going for. Do your best to accurately interpret and understand this passage, then move on from here. There’s so much more I want to show you in this amazing book.

What I said to God: Father, first and foremost, You see my heart, and You know my motives and actions. You see my failures and my sins. They are ever before You. Please cleanse and make me whiter than snow through the blood Your Son shed on Calvary. I praise You for being my all-sufficient and holy Jehovah God. You are Elohim and El Elyon na Adonai. I am amazed and in awe in Your majestic, manifest presence. Thank You for speaking to me today. I do not dare assume I have solved the mysteries of this passage and arrived at the only correct interpretation. I am not smart or wise enough to do that! However, I am peace that my understanding of it is sufficient for now. I thank You that no one can pluck us out of Your hand. We are Your adopted children. You chose us to live with You forever–and no person (not even me) can change that reality! I admit I don’t yet quite know how to apply this passage to the “real world.”  How much should we pray for and strive with those who have apparently fallen away from following You? We shouldn’t just give up on them, should we? Yet, I understand more clearly now that we can’t wait around on them and be held back by them. We must all stand before You to give an account for our own actions. May my prayer echo the lyrics to an old chorus: “One day Jesus will call my name. As days go by, I hope I don’t stay the same. I want to get so close to You that it’s no big change on that day when Jesus calls my name.”