260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 210 - Hebrews 6: Growth, Tasting & Trusting

Spiritually, the people whom the writer is addressing were growing dull, hard and stupid. So the writer offers a solution: “…leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…” When the only answer we can give to spiritual questions are Jesus, God & the Bible, we’re not growing spiritually. Repentance, faith, baptism, laying hold of Jesus’ teachings, the resurrection and judgment are all things we should know what the Bible says about. Verses 4-6 are some of the most controversial verses in the Bible. Many see this as a passage that teaches you can lose your salvation. Yet, there is no reference to salvation. Nor is there any mention of sanctification, justification, new birth or regeneration (sorry to toss out a bunch of churchy words). I believe this passage was written to Jews who had not fully surrendered (only tasted) to Christ but were holding on to Judaism. “Enlightened” = to be mentally aware, doesn’t require a response. “Tasted” = sampled, not feasted; not accepted. “Shared in the Holy Spirit” = to associate with, not possess. These were “make-believers” who had not truly trusted in Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins! If you believe, from this passage, that salvation can be lost, then you have to believe it can’t be regained either – something these proponents aren’t willing to accept. I do believe that the “opportunity” to receive salvation can be lost, but not salvation itself. Once you become a child of God, you never cease to be His child! Then 9-12 just gives a list of things that accompany salvation. The final section, 13-20, has to do with trusting God. God invented truth, cannot lie and keeps His Word! God can be trusted because of WHO He is, because of His Pledge and because of Christ, His and our High Priest! SO WHAT?! *How long have you been a Christian? 1 Year? 3 Years? 5 Years? 20 years? The disciples had only been believers for 3 years max and Jesus expected a lot out of them! If we were still feeding our teens with a baby spoon and wiping their butts, people would be aghast! But how often does God feel that way about us spiritually? Pledge today to make regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and witnessing a part of your weekly schedule! 2 Timothy 2:15 *True believers can’t lose their salvation (John 10:27-29), Romans 8:35, 38-39, Philippians 1:6). Make-believers & unbelievers don’t have salvation to lose. So, which camp do you fall into? I pray that you truly believe. By the way, this challenge is not to get anyone to doubt their salvation, but rather to affirm it! *Finally, do you & I truly believe God is trustworthy? In tough times we tend to think “What are you doing God?!” I know I’ve done this! But inside I KNOW God is to wise to ever make a mistake, and to loving to ever be unkind, and I can trust Him. Lord help my unbelief!