Hebrews 6:4-6 says, “…it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” But what is meant by ‘falling away’ in the context of sin?
Falling away from God is an act of sin, but there are only a couple of sins that, even done once, would cause one to fall away and thus lose any salvation they may have had. That is the sins of, by words and actions, renouncing one’s faith in God by turning away from Him, or denouncing God himself and those who act in His name. There are other sins which we, given the evil that lurks in all our hearts, are prone to commit from time to time despite our love of God, but will not cause us to fall away and lose our salvation.
We will be forgiven of many sins we commit, especially if we acknowledge our sins to God or we let others help us return to a path toward righteousness. 1 John 1:9 If says, “we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Similarly, Psalm 32:5 says “I acknowledged my sin to you [oh Lord], and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
But the sin of purposely, with express intent, renouncing one’s faith and denouncing God will result in a permanent uncoupling from Him. Jesus in Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Our salvation is the salt we receive from God through Jesus. Romans 11:19-22 says, “…’Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
Why did Satan fall to earth? It’s because everything he stands for is contrary to what God stands for, and if Satan ever had any, shall we say, positive association with God, it was lost due to his purposely going against God. Anything that doesn’t uphold what God stands for is a form of evil through sin, but anything done to renounce one’s faith or denounce God will cut themselves off from God completely.
And I tell you, anyone who kills others because of the way they worship God in the spirit of righteousness, and who at one time may have experienced salvation, will never see the Kingdom of God. Anyone else who commits this act, who never experienced salvation is subject to what God has in store for them, whatever that is. And whatever it is, we accept what God does without necessarily understanding why if such were to be the case.
So, there are forgivable sins we might commit, which will not cause us to lose our salvation, but there are sins which will cause us to lose whatever salvation we had.
Falling away from God is an act of sin, but there are only a couple of sins that, even done once, would cause one to fall away and thus lose any salvation they may have had. That is the sins of, by words and actions, renouncing one’s faith in God by turning away from Him, or denouncing God himself and those who act in His name. There are other sins which we, given the evil that lurks in all our hearts, are prone to commit from time to time despite our love of God, but will not cause us to fall away and lose our salvation.
We will be forgiven of many sins we commit, especially if we acknowledge our sins to God or we let others help us return to a path toward righteousness. 1 John 1:9 If says, “we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Similarly, Psalm 32:5 says “I acknowledged my sin to you [oh Lord], and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
But the sin of purposely, with express intent, renouncing one’s faith and denouncing God will result in a permanent uncoupling from Him. Jesus in Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Our salvation is the salt we receive from God through Jesus. Romans 11:19-22 says, “…’Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
Why did Satan fall to earth? It’s because everything he stands for is contrary to what God stands for, and if Satan ever had any, shall we say, positive association with God, it was lost due to his purposely going against God. Anything that doesn’t uphold what God stands for is a form of evil through sin, but anything done to renounce one’s faith or denounce God will cut themselves off from God completely.
And I tell you, anyone who kills others because of the way they worship God in the spirit of righteousness, and who at one time may have experienced salvation, will never see the Kingdom of God. Anyone else who commits this act, who never experienced salvation is subject to what God has in store for them, whatever that is. And whatever it is, we accept what God does without necessarily understanding why if such were to be the case.
So, there are forgivable sins we might commit, which will not cause us to lose our salvation, but there are sins which will cause us to lose whatever salvation we had.
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