Impossible to restore them again to Repentance

understanding salvation

Arguements Against once saved always saved

Arguement (8)

Impossible to restore them again to Repentance – Hebrews 6:4-6

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NKJV)

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

This is one of the most common verses that is used to argue the idea that true believers can lose their salvation.

Explanation

Throughout the centuries, Christians have had different takes on this challenging verse. Here are some of the arguments from various well-known bible commentators, which should give you an understanding of the context and application of this verse.

Can we lose our salvation?

Those who subscribe to Arminian theology believe that this passage indicates that Christians can lose their salvation. But this is an incorrect view of this verse in the light of the biblical teachings on election and perseverance of the saints (the doctrines that teach God chooses who will be saved and ensures their preservation till the day of redemption).

Most prominent commentators reject the idea that believers can lose their salvation based on this verse. Let’s look at some of these views.  

Need to be consistent with our reasoning.

If we interpret this passage to state that a true believer can lose their salvation, then we also have to be consistent with our reasoning and conclude that there is no such thing as second chance since the verse says, “to renew them again would be impossible.”

However most teachers who claim salvation can be lost also state that a person could re-dedicate their lives and turn back to the faith (which is inconsistent reasoning).

Real saving faith

According to some commentators, the ‘people’ are not believers at all, but those who have “professed” to be Christians while not truly believing. 

Additionally, some commentators have suggested that the “falling away” mentioned in this verse is not due to a “personal possession” of the truth, but instead from the head knowledge of it. 

An empty profession of faith saves no one, and those who fall away prove their faith was never real nor did they possess true saving faith to begin with. 

The book of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus saves us completely and perfects us forever (Heb. 7:25; Heb. 10:14). However, the author of Hebrews also exhorts believers to prove the authenticity of their faith by continuing steadfastly in their sanctification. Though we are perfected in Christ, true saving faith will naturally produce perseverance and growth in holiness.

Urging believers to move on to Spiritual maturity

Several commentators interpret this passage as a means to encourage Christians to mature spiritually. 

Hebrews 6:4-6 is based on verses 1-3 (in the same chapter), where the author urges his readers to “go on to maturity.” 

Maturity was an essential issue for first century Jews who converted to Christianity. 

Several Jews living in and around Palestine were still subject to the authority of the high priests. These high priests had a lot of influence and could even cause a Jew to lose their job or have their kids removed from the synagogue schools. 

Hence, many scholars believe that when Jews became Christians in the first century, the high priests persecuted them immensely. Due to this, some Jewish Christians became timid about their Christian lives and were less open about their faith. It is even possible that some of them observed that the high priest would go easy on them if they kept quiet about their participation in Christian affairs (for example, attending church).

The author of Hebrews would have viewed this as a retreat from the call of spiritual maturity in Christ and therefore urged them to move on to maturity with boldness. 

Accordingly, Hebrews 6:4-6 is not a call to shape up, or you will lose your salvation if you don’t; rather, it is a call for believers to mature even when circumstances are difficult, since they are already Christians (and have committed to following Him). 

It was a practical message that the first-century Jewish converts (as well as many of us today) needed to hear.

Tasting the heavenly gift

Some commentators point out that “tasting the heavenly gift” wasn’t something complex for the people in the early church days to understand. It simply meant to experience God’s goodness and power. 

Nevertheless, not everyone who experiences His goodness is saved (Matt. 5:45; Acts 17:25). 

Simply put, during the Lord’s earthly ministry, many experienced blessings from heaven. These blessings included healings, deliverance from demons, miraculous feeding of the 5000, etc. Yet not all of them were saved.

It is the same today if you have sat in a church and heard God’s word preached with power or if you have even seen the testimony of a life changed, you have tasted the Holy Spirit. 

You may not have believed in all of it, but you experienced a taste of it and the power of the age to come – the miracle power of Christ. 

In context, what the author is saying is “you’ve acquired intellectual enlightenment; you’ve been exposed to what Christ has done and if you choose to fall away from this information that should have turned you into a disciple and teacher of God’s truth you will never be saved.”

Enlightenment is not salvation

Commentators also note that the phrase “once enlightened” are never used anywhere in the Bible to speak of salvation. 

Salvation is never called “enlightenment”; or “tasting the Spirit of God” or “the powers of the age to come”, and neither is it called “tasting the good Word of God.” 

Those phrases all refer to obtaining an intellectual understanding, but not possessing any true faith in God. 

Many people receive the instruction of biblical truth accompanied by intellectual perception and understanding of the gospel message. Nonetheless, it was not equivalent to the true spiritual regeneration that the Holy Spirit performs. 

This is similar to Judas Iscariot, who was enlightened and even heard the gospel of God’s grace but still rejected salvation. It could be said that he was a partaker of the Holy Ghost and the benefits of Christ’s presence on earth, in fact he was in the company of the Son of God for over three years. Judas shared in the miraculous powers in common with the other apostles and was one of the twelve to whom the Lord gave power over unclean spirits, and of whom it is said, “They cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:13). In spite of his miracle-working, Judas was all the time a “son of perdition” who was not saved. In the end, he fell away, and it proved impossible to bring him back to repentance.

So if we are to truly understand this verse; it is the “opportunity” for receiving salvation, not salvation itself, that can be lost.

Conclusion

Hebrews 6:4-6 is not a passage that suggests true believers can lose their salvation, but rather it serves as a stark warning to those who have experienced the truth of the gospel without ever truly committing to it. The author addresses those who may have been exposed to the blessings of the Christian community, participated in its life, and even benefited from the work of the Holy Spirit, but who ultimately fall away because they never had true saving faith. While it is possible to be a partaker of the Holy Spirit and yet not be born again, the passage emphasizes the gravity of rejecting such enlightenment and the impossibility of returning to repentance after willfully turning away.

True believers, however, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are preserved by God’s grace, with genuine faith that leads to spiritual maturity and perseverance. The warning is clear: intellectual understanding and external association with the faith are not enough—only a genuine transformation of the heart, resulting in lasting faith and growth in holiness, can save. This message remains relevant today, as it calls each of us to examine the authenticity of our faith and encourages us to press on toward spiritual maturity in Christ, no matter the trials we face.

Other related articles:

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Once Saved always saved? Is it Biblical?

Key Scriptures on the Assurance of Salvation

Who can rob us of our salvation?

Can anyone know for sure that they are saved?

Don’t be lukewarm – Revelation 3:15-16

understanding salvation

Arguements Against once saved always saved

Arguement (7)

Don’t be lukewarm – Revelation 3:15-16

Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV)

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

This verse is used by those who believe that a believer can lose their salvation by demonstrating that Jesus despises those who are in an intermediate middle state of either serving Him or rejecting Him. In their view, if you were once hot and suddenly lost your warmth, you are in danger of losing your salvation.

Explanation

In addressing the Laodiciean church, the Lord revealed its  true spiritual state. Who were was blind to its own needs and unwilling to face the truth. 

There is also some interesting background on the Lacodicean city. The city had a limited water supply because the water traveled several miles through an underground aqueduct before it reached the city resulting in it arriving in a foul, dirty, and lukewarm condition. 

In comparison to the nearby cities it was not hot enough to relax & restore like the Hierapolis’ hot springs and neither was it cold and refreshing like the stream of water at Colossae. Laodicea’s lukewarm water was in a useless condition.

Using this background, Christ uses a metaphorical language using the water supply of Laodicea to rebuke the people for being neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm.

The general message here is not a temperature check for Christians, but rather a conditional warning to establish your position: either with God or against Him. Either you are hot (filled with spiritual zeal) or cold (openly rejecting Christ). 

A middle ground is not talking about a person who would at times say “I feel less of a Christian” or “I am doing enough for God.” The middle ground is a hypocrite or a false Christian that is professing to know Christ but not truly belonging to Him. 

Jesus used the illustration of vomiting such a lukewarm person as a warning for the self-deceived hypocrites in Laodicea. 

These hypocrites attend church and claim to know the Lord. However the Lord Jesus Christ described such people in Matthew 7:22–23: “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” 

The lukewarm are also likened to the unbelieving Jews for whom Paul lamented, “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” (Rom. 10:2). In other words, “they hold to a form of godliness, but deny its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). 

Christ is nauseated by such obnoxious hypocrisy. Evangelizing these prideful, self-righteous hypocrites is far more challenging than preaching to cold-hearted rejecters. The latter may at least be shown that they are lost. The problem is that self-righteous people who believe they’re saved often refuse to acknowledge their real condition because they are protective of their religious feelings.

Another key fact about the city of Laodicea was that it was financially well.

Revelation 3:17 (NKJV) 

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 

Due to its strategic location, the city became an important commercial and banking center. 

Just for some perspective, in around AD 60, the city was hit with a devastating earthquake and it was able to pay for its entire reconstruction. They even rejected offers of financial aid from Rome. 

How does this relate to the passage? 

The wealth of its church gave its members a false sense of security. They assumed that since they were wealthy they were blessed but in reality they were only rich in spiritual pride but bankrupt with true saving grace and the understanding of the gospel.

People in this church deceived themselves into thinking they were spiritually blessed because of their wealth and in response to their inaccurate self-assessment, Christ rebuked them: 

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Rev 3:17)

In conclusion, the warning to the church in Laodicea is not about true believers losing their salvation but rather a rebuke to self-deceived hypocrites who live in a false sense of spiritual security. Christ’s call to be “hot or cold” is a challenge to confront the reality of one’s spiritual state—either truly devoted to God or outright rejecting Him. The metaphor of “lukewarmness” is directed at those who are comfortable in their superficial religious life, failing to realize their true spiritual poverty despite outward wealth and status. This passage serves as a clear reminder that genuine faith must go beyond complacency and material wealth, urging us to fully commit to God, who alone provides the true riches of grace.

Other related articles:

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Once Saved always saved? Is it Biblical?

Key Scriptures on the Assurance of Salvation

Who can rob us of our salvation?

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Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling – Philippians 2:12

understanding salvation

Arguements Against once saved always saved

Arguement (6)

Work out your salvation with fear of trembling – Philippians 2:12

Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Throughout history, many have used this verse to argue that believers must work to maintain their salvation.

They often incorrectly interpret the verse as “work for your salvation with fear and trembling.” Granted, not all believers would agree with that statement, but merely observing how some believers live makes it evident they are indeed “working” for their salvation.

The sad reality is that many today, like the scribes and Pharisees, will try any way to reach God but His. Although they are willing to pay any price, they will not accept the price He paid. They are willing to do anything for Him, but they will not accept the finished work of His Son. They will accept any material gift from God except the saving gift of His salvation. These kinds of people are simply outwardly religious, but they are not regenerated, and therefore are not inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

Explanation

Our first step in explaining this verse is to understand that the Bible explicitly teaches that salvation cannot be gained through works.

Scripture teaches that we are justified through faith alone in Christ alone. What that simply means is that we are declared righteous before God through Jesus Christ’s atoning work.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We are saved only because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, not because of what we do or not do in our lives.

The purpose of this is also mentioned in the verse above; “so no one can boast” and so only God gets the glory for graciously redeeming us. It is pertinent to note that in heaven there will be no boasting. There will be no one who can claim that I got here through my stellar work and behavior. In fact, we will all be thankful and grateful to be there solely by the grace of God.

It is important to realize that Jesus did not come to make salvation “possible” for those who do their part. His purpose was to accomplish it and to give freely to His people.

But what about James 2:17 that says faith without works is dead?

James 2:17 (NKJV)

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

To understand this verse we must look at the distinction between work-based salvation and actual salvation.

  • Any works-based salvation states:

WORKS (root) + FAITH = SALVATION

  • But actual salvation:

FAITH + SALVATION = WORKS (fruit).

Your faith alone in Jesus saves you and a life sanctified and regenerated by the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of good works. Our works do not complete our salvation, but rather they are evidence of the work of God in us.

Jesus accomplished salvation. He did not say I did something now come and help me do the rest by doing some works.

We cannot be saved or remain saved by good works. Christians, however, are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). A Christian is also supposed to bear fruit in good works (Col. 1:10).

The Christian life is not rooted in works, but it is characterized by them.

Unfortunately this simple understanding has twisted by some to teach that believers must do something in order to be saved and remain saved.

But think about this, if we have to perform works to be saved, then in effect, we are saying that we have two Saviors (God and ourselves) and that Jesus Himself did not suffice.

The scriptures, however, clearly state that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Hebrews 10:12 (NKJV)

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

Biblically it is impossible for our good deeds to merit salvation -Because they are imperfect, and mixed with sin in them.

It is abundantly clear in the New Testament that no one can earn salvation by living a good life. As Eph. 2:1-6 records, we received God’s salvation while we were sinners.

It is also a common assumption today that God measures the world by using a grade curve and “as long as our lives are less sinful than someone else’s, we can make it into God’s kingdom.”

But despite our best efforts, God requires perfect obedience to His law (James 2:10), and since we fail to obey perfectly, this is why we need the saving work of Christ to be redeemed.

Now getting back to Philippians 2:12 on working out our salvation.

Paul here is speaking from the prison and he calls the church to obey while he is away, just as the church obeyed while he was present.

Because Paul isn’t physically with them, their obedience is more important and would show their true character. It is possible that the Philippians obeyed only out of respect for Paul, not because they truly desired to obey God.

The Greek verb “work out” means “to continually work to bring something to fulfillment or completion.” In Paul’s day, the verb “work out” meant to get all the valuable ore from a mine or to harvest a field to get the greatest yield. However, for Christians, our aim is to achieve ‘Christlikeness’, and to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).

Therefore, when looked at in context, this verse does not teach that salvation is obtained or maintained by works. Instead, this verse commands believers to actively obey God’s will promising that His Spirit will sanctify us. This is made evident from the next verse.

Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Even though believers are responsible to work (John 15:5; 1 Cor. 12:6), the Lord is to be credited with the good works and spiritual fruit they produce through the works of the Spirit dwelling within them.

Other related articles:

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Once Saved always saved? Is it Biblical?

Key Scriptures on the Assurance of Salvation

Who can rob us of our salvation?

Can anyone know for sure that they are saved?

Those who depart from the living God by their unbelief – Hebrews 3:12-14

understanding salvation

Arguements Against once saved always saved

Arguement (5)

Those who depart from the living God by their unbelief – Hebrews 3:12-14

Hebrews 3:12-14 (NKJV)

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

This verse is commonly used to illustrate that people can ‘depart’ from the faith if they harbor unbelief in their hearts. The conditional word “if” is used to hit home the idea that true Christians can lose salvation.

Explanation

This passage was intended as a warning for those  who were ‘impressed’ with the teachings about Jesus as the Messiah and the new covenant He established. However, they were constantly tempted to return to their “ineffective Levitical system (the old covenant).

The people addressed in the book of Hebrews deceived themselves by reasoning that their rejection of Jesus Christ was only because they remained loyal to the old system. But in reality, their loyalty to the Leviticus system was a rejection of the living Word (Heb. 4:12) of the living God (Heb. 3:12), who had made a new way possible through Christ (Heb. 10:20).

In continuing with the path of unbelief towards Christ’s forgiveness, people risk being excluded from God’s eternal rest.

As for the phrase “departing from the living God,” does not necessarily mean they were once part of God but are now not, rather it means that they stood apart from Him, never having belonged to Him.

We read in first Timothy that in later times some will fall away (aphistemi) from the faith, listening to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

Luke uses the same root word aphistemi to explain Jesus’ explanation of the seed that falls on stony ground. “And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away (aphistemi).” (Luke 8:13)

Their fallaway is caused by the failure of the seed of the Word of God to take root. Aphistemi does not indicate an uprooting, as there was never a root, and therefore this person was not a believer.

Aphistemi does not mean that at one time they belonged to God and now they no longer belong to Him, but rather that they stood away from God, never having belonged to Him.

Therefore, we can conclude from this verse that hardened hearts only reveal outwardly that a person is not a genuine Christ-follower (and has never been one).

Authentic believers do not harden; rather, they persevere, holding fast to their original confidence.

It is clear from this verse that anyone who claims to be saved must examine themselves carefully and make sure their faith is genuine. A person who lacks perseverance in faith and obedience has a real reason to doubt whether they have ever been saved.

Other related articles:

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Once Saved always saved? Is it Biblical?

Key Scriptures on the Assurance of Salvation

Who can rob us of our salvation?

Can anyone know for sure that they are saved?

Paul said that some have made their faith a shipwreck – 1 Timothy 1:19

understanding salvation

Arguements Against once saved always saved

Arguement (4)

Paul said that some have made their faith a shipwreck – 1 Timothy 1:19

1 Timothy 1:19 (NKJV)

having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

This verse is used by some to argue that Christians can reject God and lose their salvation because it states, their faith became shipwrecked.

Explanation

In context, Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, not as a warning for believers but rather to instruct Timothy to stop the work of false teachers.

False teachers in Paul’s time had rejected their good consciences and the truth, resulting in them suffering a severe spiritual catastrophe as they continued to minister to people in their sin. As a result of their falling away from the faith they initially professed, these false teachers proved they were never truly converted.

Paul here compares such individuals to foolish sailors who threw away their compass, drifting aimlessly toward spiritual destruction. The imagery of a “shipwrecked” faith emphasizes the tragic consequences of abandoning the truth, but it does not imply that these individuals were ever truly anchored in saving faith. Their rejection of the truth, along with their corrupted consciences, reveals that their faith was not genuine from the start, proving they were never truly part of Christ’s flock (1 John 2:19).

So as we can see, this verse does not imply the loss of salvation of true believers, but rather the tragic loss that comes to apostates (who turn away from the gospel after once knowing it).

Additionally, the use of the word faith in this context refers more to the faith revealed rather than the personal faith / belief in truth. Therefore, Paul was instructing Timothy that he must hold onto the revealed truth that was believed and remain loyal to the scripture. Unlike those who turned away from the faith, Timothy was instructed to remain unwaveringly devoted to the Word of God. In fact, he was to guard it (1 Tim. 6:20), nourish himself on it (1 Tim 4:6), and preach it (1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim 4:2).

Timothy had huge responsibilities ahead of him. Paul was handing the torch of ministry to Timothy, who was still young in the faith. But in many ways, our responsibilities are exactly the same. We also have the faith that has been once for all delivered to the saints through the Scriptures (Jude 1:3), and we are called to contend for and uphold it.

We also carry a conscience that scolds us when we sin and affirms us when we believe and live the faith. The command to fight the good fight, to hold on to faith and a good conscience is continuous, stretching down through the centuries to all believers.

A good conscience serves as the rudder that steers the believer through sin and error. The false teachers ignored their consciences and the truth, and as a result, suffered shipwreck of the Christian faith (the true doctrine of the gospel), which implies severe spiritual disaster. This does not imply loss of salvation of a true believer, but likely indicates the tragic loss that comes to the apostate. Who had been in the church, heard the gospel and rejected it in favor of the false doctrine defined.

Other related articles:

Other Arguments against once saved always saved?

Once Saved always saved? Is it Biblical?

Key Scriptures on the Assurance of Salvation

Who can rob us of our salvation?

Can anyone know for sure that they are saved?

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