5. Understanding Hebrews Chapter 6

The Unbreakable Covenant: Understanding Eternal Security in Hebrews Chapter 6

Understanding Hebrews 6:

The Assurance of Eternal Salvation

God is Speaking to Believers

Hebrews 6 is a passage that has sparked considerable debate and misunderstanding among believers, often leading to questions about the security of one’s salvation. However, a careful examination of the text reveals profound truths about the unshakeable nature of God’s grace and the assurance of salvation for those who have placed their faith in Christ.

At the heart of Hebrews 6 is the assurance of eternal security for believers. The passage begins by describing the characteristics of those who have experienced genuine conversion. It states that they have been “enlightened,” tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God, and experienced the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:4-5, NASB).

These descriptors paint a picture of individuals who have genuinely encountered the transformative power of the gospel. They have not merely heard about Christ but have personally experienced His saving grace and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is crucial to understanding the context of Hebrews 6:4-6.

For the sinner, this passage issues a solemn warning against falling away from this experience of Salvation by faith. For a sinner to be saved, they must experience the Holy Spirit convicting them of sin, righteousness and the coming judgement, and revealing of Christ crucified and risen, and their responsibility to embrace the Gospel. It emphasises the impossibility of renewing such individuals again to repentance if they should turn away from the experience of the power of the gospel when they have been convicted. The imagery of crucifying Christ afresh and putting Him to open shame underscores the seriousness of apostasy (Hebrews 6:6).

However, it’s essential to clarify that this warning does not imply that believers can lose their salvation and be saved again. Rather, it highlights the irreversible nature of the decision to accept Christ after experiencing His saving grace. To turn away from Christ means to disregard the sufficiency and finality of His sacrifice on the cross, thereby rejecting the very source of salvation.

The warning in Hebrews 6 serves as a cautionary reminder to believers not to take their salvation lightly or to be swayed by false teachings or doubts. It urges them to hold fast to the truth of the gospel and to persevere in faith, trusting in the unchanging character of God and the assurance of His promises.

Furthermore, Hebrews 6 echoes the broader theme of the book, which addresses Jewish believers tempted to revert to the rituals and sacrifices of the Old Mosaic Covenant. The author warns them against returning to the obsolete practices of the Old Covenant, emphasising the superiority of Christ’s priesthood and the finality of His atoning sacrifice.

In conclusion, Hebrews 6 offers both a word of caution and a message of assurance to believers. While it warns against the grave consequences of a sinner turning away from Christ, it also affirms the believers unshakeable foundation of salvation found in Him. Those who have genuinely experienced the saving grace of Christ can rest assured in the eternal security of their salvation, knowing that they are held secure by the power of God’s grace and the finished work of Christ on the cross. And not their personal faithfulness. For we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and nothing of ourselves. We have been saved from the penalty of Adam’s sin forever. However we are being saved from the power of sin that works in our flesh, throughout our lives. This is the work of sanctification that conforms us to the image of Christ. 

The Unrepeatable Birth: Born Again Once forever

The biblical concept of being born again emphasises a one-time, transformative event. In John 3:3-8, Jesus states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.” This spiritual rebirth is not a repetitive process but a decisive moment that occurs at the time of genuine faith in Christ.

Romans 8:33-38: Our Victory in Christ

To provide context, Romans 8:33-38 (NASB) assures believers of their unbreakable bond with Christ:

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Are you convinced none of these hardships can sever the bond between believers and the love of Christ?	Are you convinced that nothing can separate believers from the love of God?
Tribulation Trouble Persecution Famine Nakedness Danger Sword	Death, nor Life: Nothing physical Angels nor Principalities: Nothing Spiritual Things present, nor things to come: Nothing in our past or our future No powers: No power on earth or in Heaven Height, nor depth: Nothing in Heaven or Hell Nor any other created thing: Not even ourselves because we are created beings

Let’s break down and emphasise how these verses from Romans 8:33-39 and underscore the unbreakable union between believers and the love of God in Christ Jesus, this highlights that not even the will of man can separate a believer from Christ:

Romans 8:33

[33] Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.

Explanation: This verse presents a rhetorical question, emphasising the security of God’s chosen ones. The assurance is grounded in the fact that God, the ultimate judge, is the one who justifies believers. No accusation or charge against them can stand because God has declared them righteous.

Romans 8:34

[34] Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Explanation: This verse reinforces the idea that no condemnation can come upon believers. Christ, who died for them, was raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God. Additionally, Christ continually intercedes for believers, standing as an advocate on their behalf before God. The emphasis is on Christ’s ongoing work in securing the believer’s position.

Romans 8:35

[35] Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Explanation: This verse challenges the idea of anything being able to separate believers from the love of Christ. A list of adversities, including tribulation, trouble, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword, is presented. The implied answer is that none of these hardships can sever the bond between believers and the love of Christ.

Romans 8:36

[36] Just as it is written: “For Your sake, we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Explanation: This verse quotes from Psalm 44:22, highlighting the shared experience of believers facing hardships for the sake of their faith. The imagery of being considered as sheep to be slaughtered emphasises the challenges endured by believers for their commitment to Christ.

Romans 8:37

[37] But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Explanation: This verse declares the victorious nature of believers through all challenges. Despite hardships, believers are not just conquerors but “overwhelmingly conquer” through the love of Christ. The source of victory is Christ’s love, empowering believers to overcome every obstacle.

Romans 8:38

[38] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Explanation: Paul expresses his unwavering conviction that nothing—whether life, death, angelic beings, spiritual forces, present circumstances, future events, or any power—can separate believers from the love of God.

Romans 8:39

[39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Explanation: The conclusion reinforces the comprehensive nature of God’s love. Neither spatial dimensions (height, depth) nor anything in creation can separate believers from the unchanging and eternal love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Emphasising Unity in Christ

Throughout these verses, the emphasis on believers’ inseparable connection to the love of God in Christ Jesus is clear. Not even the will of man or external forces can sever this bond. Believers are one with Christ, and this unity is a foundational truth that guarantees their eternal security. The will of man is powerless against the unyielding love of God that envelops believers in Christ Jesus.

Absolutely nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord: We are one in Christ

This passage underscores the unwavering love of God for His children, emphasising that nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ. Resolving the Seeming Contradiction

In conclusion

Hebrews Chapter 6 serves as a solemn warning, not a theological statement on losing salvation. True believers, born again through faith in Christ, stand securely in the unshakeable promise of eternal life. The apparent contradiction arises from a misinterpretation of the severity of apostasy, not a genuine loss of salvation. As Romans 8 proclaims, nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Once born again, always born again—an unbreakable covenant sealed by the blood of Christ.

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Jesus Is the Guarantee Of A Better Covenant. He Saves Forever Those Who Come To Him

[10] For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints. [11] And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence so as to realise the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises. [13] For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He swore by Himself, [14] saying, “indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” [15] And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 

[16] For people swear an oath by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. [17] In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, [18] so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. [19] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, [20] where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment (A)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (B)the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better (C)hope, through which we (D)draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “(E)The Lord has sworn
And (F)will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest (G)forever’”); 

22 so much the more also Jesus has become the (H)guarantee of (I)a better covenant.23 [a]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues (J)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 

25 Therefore He is able also to (K)save [b]forever those who (L)draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to (M)make intercession for them.

God is faithful who promised eternal life

(Next page 6: The Saved & Lost Doctrine)