5 Minute Lessons on the Kingdom of God
God Is Not Schizophrenic!
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"4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4‑6 King James Version)

Hebrews 6:4‑6 is an amazing set of verses that has condemned many people. Because someone has failed and committed an act of sin or even multiple sins as King David did, does not mean God looks at you with no hope, no destiny, and no future. I agree with the Message Bible when it says,
"If then they turn their backs on it (or on Him), washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened." (Hebrews 6:6a The Message Bible)

King David never turned his back on Jehovah, washing his hands of the whole relationship he had with God, regardless of his multiple and grievous sins. The Revised Standard Version says in Hebrews 6:6, "If they then commit apostasy." Apostasy is "to give up or abandon one's faith in Christ." King David did not abandon his faith in God, regardless of his multiple sins, adultery, lying, and murder.

Nevertheless, a danger is here, a warning from God, and it would be good if we would all take this very seriously.

Someone says, "I have 120 verses that teach once saved, always saved." Someone else says, "I have 120 that teach you can fall away." Which verses are God's Word, and which verses are not?

Let's be real! God is not schizophrenic! Don't do the devils work by setting Scriptures against Scriptures. Isn't that what the Devil did? (Matthew 4:3‑7).

I am tired of people picking and choosing what part of the Bible they will believe. Do you know what the word "heresy" means? A picking or choosing, a self willed opinion, leading to spiritual ruin (Vine's Expository Dictionary).

Let's be honest and take an honest look at these Scriptures. I take the easy to read interpretation: What does the text say?

Hebrews 6:4 — "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened..." It was not that this person was not enlightened, he was once enlightened. The Greek word "photizo" (fo-tid-zo) means "to give light, to shine, to make to see, to be illuminated" (Strong's 5461).

"and have tasted" — (Strong's 1089) — "to partake of and enjoy." What did they taste? "the heavenly gift" — They got a taste of heaven. Sounds like salvation to me.

"and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost" — They partook and enjoyed the Holy Spirit. Sounds like salvation to me.

Hebrews 6:5 — They also partook of and enjoyed "the good Word of God." They received the good message of God and saw how good God's Word is.

They also tasted "the powers of the world to come." They tasted the powers of God's new world, His future world, and the powers of God's future age.

Hebrews 6:6 — Then something happened. They fell away.

Let's read the rest of this passage from the New Century Version, it's a little easier to understand.
"4Some people cannot be brought back again to a changed life. They were once in God's light, and enjoyed heaven's gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. 5They found out how good God's word is, and they received the powers of his new world. 6But they fell away from Christ. It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming him in front of others." (Hebrews 6:4‑6 NCV)

"...(These) people are like land that grows thorns and weeds and is worthless. It is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire." (Hebrews 6:8b NCV)

"Dear friends, we are saying this to you, but we really expect better things from you that will lead to your salvation (or accompany salvation)." (Hebrews 6:9 NCV)

My friends, you can twist these verses, you can change these verses, but you can't ignore them.

The call is not to start the race, but to finish the race!
"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:9)

"So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:28 NIV)
Questions
  1. Read Hebrews 6:6 (Revised Standard Version).
    "if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt." ‑ Hebrews 6:6 (Revised Standard Version)
    Apostasy is "to give up or abandon one's faith in Christ." King David did not abandon his faith in God, regardless of his multiple sins, adultery, lying, and murder.
    True or False
    Answer
  2. Read Hebrews 6:6a (The Message Bible).
    "'If then they turn their backs on it (or on Him), washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened.'" ‑ Hebrews 6:6a (The Message Bible)
    King David never turned his back on Jehovah, washing his hands of the whole relationship he had with God, regardless of his multiple and grievous sins.
    True or False
    Answer
  3. Read Hebrews 3:12‑14.
    "12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." ‑ Hebrews 3:12‑14
    There is a danger here, a warning from God, and it would be good if we all take this very seriously.
    True or False
    Answer
  4. Read 2 Peter 2:1‑2 (Contemporary English Version).
    "1Sometimes false prophets spoke to the people of Israel. False teachers will also sneak in and speak harmful lies to you. But these teachers don't really belong to the Master who paid a great price for them, and they will quickly destroy themselves. 2Many people will follow their evil ways and cause others to tell lies about the true way." ‑ 2 Peter 2:1‑2 (Contemporary English Version)
    Do you know what the word "heresy" means?
    1. I don't know
    2. a picking or choosing
    3. a self willed opinion, leading to spiritual ruin
    Answer
  5. Read 1 Peter 1:24‑25 (New Living Translation).
    "...'People are like grass;
    their beauty is like a flower in the field.
    The grass withers and the flower fades.
    25But the word of the Lord remains forever.'"     ‑ 1 Peter 1:24‑25 (New Living Translation)
    You can twist Scriptures, you can change verses, but you can't ignore them.
    True or False
    Answer
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We would love to hear your feedback on these lessons and how you use them in your own study or in discipling others. If you have any thoughts, stories, testimonies, comments, or questions we would love to hear them!








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