Can I Lose My Salvation

By Joe Keim

February 15, 2015

Joe, I have a question. What does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean? It sounds like you can reject your salvation that you once had. Thank you for your response, Joyce

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Joyce, I will try and give you the best answer possible. It's a passage of scripture that divides God's people, and has for generations. However, this is how I personaly approach this passage and others that seemingly contradict:

1. First I approach it from the stand point that the Bible never contradicts; it is God’s Word from His own lips.

2. We should never allow difficult scriptures to overrule the easy ones.

With two thoughts in mind, please consider the following passages concerning salvation and whether one can lose their salvation.

The moment one is born of the Spirit, God says, we pass from death to life and will never come unto judgment!

John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that "heareth" my word, and "believeth" on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Everlasting life is not a future experience that takes place after we die. Jesus said those who believe on Him have everlasting life now.

John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life...

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Everlasting life is a present-tense reality.

1 John 5:11-13
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…

We are not added to God’s family when we die, we are added the moment we are born of the Spirit.

1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

So, what does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean? Let’s read it and than I will share a few thoughts.

Hebrews 6:4-5
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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

We will continue with verse 6 in a moment, but let's do a quick recap on what we just read. This person was:

once enlightened (his spiritual eyes and ears were opened)
tasted the heavenly gift (everlasting life)
become partaker of the Holy Spirit (The Holy Spirit moved in) --- please read I Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 4:30.
tasted the word of God and it’s power (experienced super natural power from on high)

Was this person saved? Some preachers say no; however, I think the answer is clearly yes. This person was a child of God! The very definition of being saved is:

dependent on us having our spiritual understanding opened
dependent on us having received the gift of everlasting life
dependent on the Holy Spirit taking up residence within our body
dependent on us experiencing the super natural power of God in our life

This person experienced all four!

What happens if this saved person walks away?

Completely turns his back on the truth?

Does he lose his salvation? Become unborn? Lost?

Many Christians would read the next verse and say yes. Once again, I disagree.

Let’s read it.

Hebrews 6:6
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.

The logic being presented in verse 6 is that a person cannot be born again, again, or multiple times. In other words, we don’t lose our salvation every time we sin and therefore have to become born again, again. Under the Old Covenant, people sacrificed animals year after year for their sins. Under the New Covenant, there was only one sacrifice – Jesus Christ. That sacrifice was the last one and is still in affect today. No more yearly animal sacrifices. Jesus dealt with your and my sins once and for all.

Hebrews 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.