Keeping Yourself Saved
by JWing & special help from Mama Mac, Lyn Leahz,Robin Pease, & others
This is a false teaching sweeping the churches like wildfire, muddying up a simple salvation plan. This teaching is known by some as "Lordship Salvation" or as "Keeping One's Salvation Sure" or as "Staying in God's Grace" and many other names.
The Doctrine
This teaching requires Christians to stay holy or sinless or not backslide, otherwise they are no longer saved, or lose their salvation. This doctrine not only makes our salvation unsure and based on a person's works. Their verse of focus is Hebrews 10:26-29.
The Doctrine
This teaching requires Christians to stay holy or sinless or not backslide, otherwise they are no longer saved, or lose their salvation. This doctrine not only makes our salvation unsure and based on a person's works. Their verse of focus is Hebrews 10:26-29.
Hebrews 10:26-29
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? |
Examination of the verses
The doctine seems to suggest that sinning after "receiving the knowledge of the truth", one would have no remaining sacrifice for sin. At face value this verse seems to say that you would loose your salvation even if you were a Christian, since "the truth" is assumed to be accepting Jesus as Savior. Yet why does the verse specifically say "after receiving knowledge of the truth"? Shouldn't it just say "receiving the truth", if it is referring to Christians who have accepted the Jesus as Savior? For this we need to look at the context and background.
Who was the book of Hebrews written to or talking to? Well obviously the Hebrews of the early church time period. Many people who have studied the book of Hebrews in depth believe the author was addressing Christian Jews and non-Christian Jews within the church. These Jews were in danger of going back to their Jewish roots, Judaic laws of legalism, and the OT sacrifices all over again.
Yes some of them had said that they accepted Jesus as Savior but the book of Hebrews was trying to show them that by returning to the old Judaic laws they were turning their backs on Christ's sacrifice. Why? Because Judaism still demanded the daily and yearly sacrifices that pushes the sin debt up one year. This clearly pointed forward to Jesus' sacrifice for all sins forever. So the embrace of Judaism and its laws amounted to rejecting of Jesus. This you clearly see in the beginning part of Hebrews 10.
The doctine seems to suggest that sinning after "receiving the knowledge of the truth", one would have no remaining sacrifice for sin. At face value this verse seems to say that you would loose your salvation even if you were a Christian, since "the truth" is assumed to be accepting Jesus as Savior. Yet why does the verse specifically say "after receiving knowledge of the truth"? Shouldn't it just say "receiving the truth", if it is referring to Christians who have accepted the Jesus as Savior? For this we need to look at the context and background.
Who was the book of Hebrews written to or talking to? Well obviously the Hebrews of the early church time period. Many people who have studied the book of Hebrews in depth believe the author was addressing Christian Jews and non-Christian Jews within the church. These Jews were in danger of going back to their Jewish roots, Judaic laws of legalism, and the OT sacrifices all over again.
Yes some of them had said that they accepted Jesus as Savior but the book of Hebrews was trying to show them that by returning to the old Judaic laws they were turning their backs on Christ's sacrifice. Why? Because Judaism still demanded the daily and yearly sacrifices that pushes the sin debt up one year. This clearly pointed forward to Jesus' sacrifice for all sins forever. So the embrace of Judaism and its laws amounted to rejecting of Jesus. This you clearly see in the beginning part of Hebrews 10.
Hebrews 10:10 & 18
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. |
Notice why then "there is no more offering for sin" that verse 18 and 26 point out? It is addressed back in verse 10. It is because Jesus Christ was offered once and for all. That is "the truth" being referred to. So the "the knowledge of the truth" would be the gospel that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. Therefore Hebrews is actually talking about those who have not yet truly received Jesus as their Savior.
So who are they really talking about?
The mistake really occurs when pastors and teachers mistakenly apply the description of "after receiving the knowledge of the truth" to believers. In reality Christian believers did receive the knowledge of the truth, just as everyone else who has heard the gospel. The big difference lies in the fact Christian believers didn't just leave it as knowledge. Rather we Christians have already acted upon that knowledge and accepted the truth of Jesus dying for our sins by believing upon Jesus as our own Savior. Therefore Hebrews 10 really does not apply to believing Christians.
Therefore preachers and teachers alike who try to use Hebrews 10 to guilt Christians about their inability to stop sinning are grossly misusing the verses that were solely for reaching Jews who were sinning by rejecting Jesus as Savior. This verse can even be applied to anyone who having heard the gospel still reject Jesus. But it is not applicable to people who truly have already trusted Jesus as their Savior.
The mistake really occurs when pastors and teachers mistakenly apply the description of "after receiving the knowledge of the truth" to believers. In reality Christian believers did receive the knowledge of the truth, just as everyone else who has heard the gospel. The big difference lies in the fact Christian believers didn't just leave it as knowledge. Rather we Christians have already acted upon that knowledge and accepted the truth of Jesus dying for our sins by believing upon Jesus as our own Savior. Therefore Hebrews 10 really does not apply to believing Christians.
Therefore preachers and teachers alike who try to use Hebrews 10 to guilt Christians about their inability to stop sinning are grossly misusing the verses that were solely for reaching Jews who were sinning by rejecting Jesus as Savior. This verse can even be applied to anyone who having heard the gospel still reject Jesus. But it is not applicable to people who truly have already trusted Jesus as their Savior.
Conclusion
Pastors and other Christians really need to learn the true application and context of Hebrews 10. The fact it was never meant to be used to beat up true believers over sins that Jesus have already forgiven by his blood, can not be stressed enough. Like the verse of James 2:17-19, when Hebrews 10:26-29 taken out of context it introduces some serious false teachings that can corrupt the assurance of God's goodness and grace. I've seen it lead quickly to the error of grace + works salvation gospel and lack of eternal security.
However when examined in proper context we find that God's grace and goodness are not just sufficient to save sinners but also abundant. Rather than only saving us part of the way and expecting us to be perfect when we can not be, God gives us security in that once we are saved we are safe on the way to Heaven. Of course if you haven't made that decision to take God up on his free gift of salvation, I implore you to do it today. For the God of the Bible is a merciful and loving God who gives not judgment to any who come to Him but rather forgiveness with a call to sin no more. If you'd like to take God up on His free gift of salvation, all you need to do is accept Jesus as your Savior.
Pastors and other Christians really need to learn the true application and context of Hebrews 10. The fact it was never meant to be used to beat up true believers over sins that Jesus have already forgiven by his blood, can not be stressed enough. Like the verse of James 2:17-19, when Hebrews 10:26-29 taken out of context it introduces some serious false teachings that can corrupt the assurance of God's goodness and grace. I've seen it lead quickly to the error of grace + works salvation gospel and lack of eternal security.
However when examined in proper context we find that God's grace and goodness are not just sufficient to save sinners but also abundant. Rather than only saving us part of the way and expecting us to be perfect when we can not be, God gives us security in that once we are saved we are safe on the way to Heaven. Of course if you haven't made that decision to take God up on his free gift of salvation, I implore you to do it today. For the God of the Bible is a merciful and loving God who gives not judgment to any who come to Him but rather forgiveness with a call to sin no more. If you'd like to take God up on His free gift of salvation, all you need to do is accept Jesus as your Savior.
Dear Lord God. I know I am a sinner and need your gift of salvation from my sins. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, the Son of God, as my personal Savior. I believe that His death on the cross and resurrection provides forgiveness for ALL my sins past, present, & future. Please forgive all my sins and come into my heart and life. I hereby trust in Jesus FINISHED WORK alone, and NOT upon me & my "good works", as sufficient to make me right with you and fit for Heaven. Please forgive ALL my sins and come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Seal me with your Holy Spirit until the day you come to take me home. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
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