In all versions of the Bible it says that if a person falls away they can't come back. Now why would it state that if it were not possible? (And yes it's talking about CHRISTIANS who truly did have faith and were once "saved.")
(Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV) 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, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] 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.
I must note, though, that this is talking about complete and utter apostasy. It means the individual has abandoned the faith and will never come back. His heart is hardened because he knew the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost and then rejected it with his eyes open to the truth of it. For those of us who don't fall into this category we can still repent of our sins.
2007-06-10 18:28:56 · 13 answers · asked by Arthurpod 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
(Hebrews 6:4-6 NRSV) For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt.
(Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV) It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, [6] 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.
2007-06-10 18:29:39 · update #1
No. a thousand time over, no. They will not retain it. The concept of once saved, always saved is a lie from the pit of Hell. It is an absurd idea.
The Bible does speak of falling from grace.
Some people believe because the Bible says that God will never leave you or forsake you, that you can not be lost. God will never leave you. This is true. You can, though, leave him, at any time you choose. He will not hold anyone against there will.
The Bible tells us that he who endures unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2007-06-10 19:03:15 · answer #1 · answered by S 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just because someone claims to be a christian, or saved, does not mean that they are. Only God truly knows our hearts. But if someone deny's Christ, The Holy Spirit long enough, I do believe there may be a point of no return as their hearts may become so hardened that they will never come to the Lord. The Pharoah of Egypt was said to have so hardened his heart that he would not come to God. In Revelation, some people in the Tribulation's hearts are going to be so hardened so as not to call out to The Lord. I think some people can come to a place in their life where it is spiritually dangerous as they may never come to know the Lord. God sees the heart of man.
2007-06-10 18:41:48 · answer #2 · answered by connie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are by faith made new. We have not died and been made new. What we have we have by faith. He who endures to the end is truly saved. Now, we who are truly saved are saved only once and forever. God will not forsake you, but you could turn your back on God and without faith where is yoru salvation? The fact is those who are saved are truly saved but it is by faith that we claim this promise.
2007-06-10 18:36:28 · answer #3 · answered by djmantx 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If a person falls away it will be harder for them to repent and turn again to the Lord. The only time it is too late is when they are dead. As long as they are alive God can still be drawing them back unto Himself.
2007-06-10 18:36:20 · answer #4 · answered by zoril 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you are Calvinistic, you have to assume that people who abandon their faith were never saved in the first place -- they were simply deceived by the devil into thinking that they were saved, when they obviously were not. The "Preservation of the Saints" doctrine implies that someone who is truly saved will always act like it because God will make them.
2007-06-10 18:43:29 · answer #5 · answered by Randy G 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
we need to realize one crucial fact.. God does not abandon what He has begun in believers.
If you are genuinely saved and are one that is learning to walk according to the Spirit and live in the Spirit then you will grow and mature in the christian life.
Reading the Word.. prayer... calling upon the Name of the Lord ..having fellowship with other believers.. sharing the Lord with others around you ..all these things keep you on track and healthy in your growth in the Lord.. in the process of it all you are being transformed and conformed to the Image of CHrist...
BUT
If you have turned away from the faith that does NOT mean that the Lord will jump out of you...
It simply means that the Lord is very silent in you. He is not given any words from your reading of the Word to speak back to you..To sanctify and saturate your being with His preserving.. supplying... inoculating...strengthening word.
If this is the situation and you die...then the Lord will have to deal with you during the dispensation of the Kingdom in the other darkness where your being will have the opportunity to be transformed...
David said something to the Lord..He said..If I make my bed in hell you are there...
This verse is significant..
IN NO WAY is Hell the OUTER Darkness.. its NOT.. The Lake of fire is eternal..but the Outer darkness is there for only a period of time..
WE see this in Matthew 22
Good footnotes for this can be found in the recovery version bible
www.online.recoveryversion.org
But not Calvin ..but the Word teaches that our salvation is guarenteed...But it in NO way means that we can live in a loose way... we need to be like the wise virgins..gaining the extra oil in our soul...not just having the HOly Spirit (oil) in our spirit..but letting the Lord saturate our soul with His SPirit...
If not then we will miss the bridal feast during the 1000 Year reign of The Kingdom but after the time is up we will join the rest of teh Believers who WERE transformed in their lifetime to be the WIFE of the Lamb...
those who gave the Lord the free way in their being to transform and conform them to the Image of Christ will be part of the BRIDE of the Lamb for 1000 years,,
This is the gospel according to the word..
the Heaven theory is satanic and was brought in by the catholic church and not of the word..please read the real way the bible ends in revelation/
the bible does not end in Heaven..but the New Jerusalem on the New Earth with the New Heaven.
2007-06-10 18:48:56 · answer #6 · answered by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Of course he can come back to Christ. The bible tells us that there is one unforgivable sin and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Any backslider is welcome in God's eyes. We are the ones that are always so quick to judge. Let us let God do His job and we do ours.
2007-06-10 18:36:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
God does not remove the holy sprit once you have it! Show me somewhere in bible where he has! You would have to be unborn
and that's inpossible. So once truly saved always saved.
God bless
2007-06-10 18:47:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The only way to be saved is by accepting Jesus as your Lord &Savior. Even if you abandon your faith, Jesus who knows your heart will know the reasons why, and will understand. He is the ONLY one who loves uncondtionally and will help us regain our faith. But I think that once saved, will always be saved if our hearts shun evil.
2007-06-10 18:41:49 · answer #9 · answered by butthead 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Very interesting question, I asked my mom the same question and my sister who was sitting by me said it would depend on what was in your heart. You can say one thing but mean the other.
2007-06-10 18:32:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋