Obviously, God is the only who knows the cutoff line between where you are saved vs where you are not saved. But as a believer and follower of God, we do possess a sense of common sense to know and understand where we are with God. We know when we are close to God vs when we have strayed a bit. We put the blame on God to keep the record straight, but we are the ones choosing to get closer to God or to decide to do things that begin to separate ourselves from God.
In fact, your post is much like someone who loses their job for missing work and then blames the former employer for it. Kind of like someone spending eternity away from God, and then has the nerve to blame God when it was the lost soul's fault for separating themselves from God.
This part of your reply "However, we cannot as a matter of our own will lose our salvation" reads like a cop-out or excuse you've made to lay all blame on God in case you fail. But, if you fail, it is not because of God, it is solely because of YOU!!
This whole time I have had one aim.
To address the claim that we, through an act, or acts, of our own free will can lose our salvation. To this point I say: (again)
We cannot undo what only God can do in the first place. Meaning...
We are not saved as a result of our own self-efforts, nor can we revoke our salvation as a result of our own self-efforts.
God saved us, only God can revoke our salvation.
Several posters have swept Heb.6:4-6 aside claiming it does not mean what it plainly says due to the context.
I don't think context should be used as a way to dismiss what a scripture clearly says on it's own. Context should be used to
clarify that which is unclear, not to sidestep what is plainly stated. Let's take a closer look at what it says on its own.
Hebrews 6:4-6
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 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
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Who is this scripture talking about?
- those who have once been enlightened
- those who have tasted the heavenly gift
- those who have shared in the Holy Spirit
- those who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age.
This is obviously speaking of the saved.
What is it saying about them?
- It is impossible for those (saved individuals) to be brought back to repentance.
Why is it impossible for them to be brought back to repentance?
- To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
What is the message?
This is a difficult passage, but it says what it says.
The most critical question in this scripture is defining what "fallen away" means.
Or more specifically, to what degree. In a sense, we fall away every time we sin.
But we know we have a remedy to restore fellowship through confession of sin and repentance.
So,
the big question here is,
to what degree can one fall away to which there is
no remedy?
My answer is that, God only knows. It is in his hands, not ours to decide.
There is a line to cross, and we don't know where it is.
Only God knows.
God's will is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
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