We are eternally secure and complete in Jesus Christ alone!
The writer of Hebrews encourages the Hebrews to go on to spiritual maturity – “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, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come, 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.” (Hebrews 6: 1-6)
The Hebrews were tempted to go back to Judaism, in order to escape persecution. If they did so, they would be giving up what was complete for what was incomplete. Jesus had fulfilled the Old Covenant law, and through His death He brought in the New Covenant of grace.
Repentance, changing one’s mind about sin to the degree of turning from it, happens along with faith in what Jesus has done. Baptism symbolizes spiritual cleansing. The laying on of hands, symbolized the sharing of a blessing, or setting a person apart for ministry. The resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment are doctrines regarding the future.
The Hebrews had been taught biblical truth. However, they had not experienced regeneration through being born of God’s Spirit. They were somewhere on the fence, maybe moving toward faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, but not willing to let go of the Judaic system they were accustomed to.
In order to fully embrace salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, they needed to place saving faith in Jesus. They had to turn away from the Jewish Old Testament system of ‘dead’ works. It had come to an end, and Jesus had fulfilled the law.
From the Scofield Bible – “As a principle, therefore, grace is set in contrast with law, under which God demands righteousness from men, as, under grace, He gives righteousness to men. Law is connected with Moses and works; grace, with Christ and faith. Under law, blessings accompany obedience; grace bestows blessings as a free gift.”
The only way to live forever in God’s presence is to trust in what Jesus did on the cross. Only He can give us eternal life. He does not force anyone to accept His free gift. If we choose eternal damnation by rejecting Christ, it is our choice. We choose our eternal destiny.
Have you come all the way to repentance and faith in Christ alone? Or are you trusting in your own goodness or ability to measure up to some set of religious rules?
Once again from Scofield – “The necessity of the new birth grows out of the incapacity of the natural man to ‘see’ or ‘enter’ the kingdom of God. However gifted, moral, or refined he may be, the natural man is absolutely blind to spiritual truth and impotent to enter the kingdom; for he can neither obey, understand, nor please God. The new birth is not a reformation of the old nature, but a creative act of the Holy Spirit. The condition of the new birth is faith in Christ crucified. Through the new birth the believer becomes a member of the family of God and a partaker of the divine nature, the life of Christ Himself.”