However, I have often heard people who say you can lose your salvation quote Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26 as a proof text.
These are proof texts that show us a person who has willing departed from Christ, in this case it refers to Jews who are Christian’s and have returned to Judaism, either by persecution or being convinced by the threat of persecution.
The context of Hebrews 6 and 10 begins in Hebrews 3 -
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, Hebrews 3:12-14
Scripture Key:
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in
departing from the living God;
The word “departing” is rendered “fall away” in the teaching of Christ about this subject.
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:12-13
- who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Jesus is warning about falling away, which means “departing” from Him while under persecution.
Here is Matthews version of the sower -
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself,
but endures only for a while. For when
tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Matthew 13:20
It’s important to understand that believing Jews were under constant pressure from their own countrymen, who were still in Judaism, a religion that denies Jesus as the Messiah, as it is to this day, through persecution, family renouncing them, as well as unbelieving Jews trying to convince them to turn back to Judaism by renouncing Jesus as Messiah.
The book of Hebrews was written specifically to them showing them that Jesus Christ is truly their Lord; The Lord of the Old Testament.
JLB