An Un-Loseable Faith
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
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Transition
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Illumination
A Brief Aside, 1-3
A Brief Aside, 1-3
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
“Therefore”: since they have come to need milk again, 5:12-14
Six Elementary Principles, 1-3
repentance
faith
baptism
laying on of hands
resurrection
eternity
Historical Aside
Six principle baptists find their identity in these verses
six principle baptists left other baptist churches and formed their own churches, emphasizing the laying on of hands as their unique practice
six principle baptists existed in other states and countries, but their main concentration and organization was in Rhode Island during the 17th and 18th centuries
An Impossible Scenario, 4-8
An Impossible Scenario, 4-8
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 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.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
what do you make of people who leave their faith?
IF they really had it and really lost it they could never get it back (short of literally re-crucifying Jesus), 4-6
God ultimately rejects those who reject Him, 7-8
A Possible Scenario, 9-12
A Possible Scenario, 9-12
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Paul is confident in their observable faith
work is generally any effort that flows from your faith
work is specifically any effort that serves other believers
Paul encourages diligence
Paul recognizes that it is possible to stop living out your faith and that makes it hard to see
We can stop living our faith even though we cannot lose our faith. The reason we cannot lose our faith is because God has promised to save those who ask.
God Keeps His Promises, 13-19
God Keeps His Promises, 13-19
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
The big idea: God keeps His promises, including the promise of salvation
The setting: Abraham just after his near sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22:16-17
God made promises to Abraham and God fulfilled that promises
A growth into a nation
A gift to all people: Jesus
God’s promises are unchanging
An oath (think covenant or contract) is a guarantee among people, 16, so God made an oath to Abraham
who could God invoke in making His oath? Only Himself. Giving us two immutable things:
The promise of God
The nature of God
God’s promises provide consolation (literally a walking beside) and hope
Our hope is found in our Great High Priest, Jesus, who is a priest after the order of Melchizedek…but that is a story for another day
Conclusion
We cannot lose our salvation even though we can stop living it. It is confusing to other people, and maybe even to ourselves when we do. The solution to the confusion is simple: live your un-loseable faith.
Application
James says that faith without works is dead. We live our un-loseable faith by expending effort as a result of having it. What is one concrete thing you can do this week that allows you to live out your faith? The answer to that will vary from person to person. But we need to ask the question, answer the question, and then do the thing.