To the Reader: This article talks about apostacy which is a difficult subject to talk about, especially for those who may know someone who has turned away from following Christ. However, it is important for us to know what God’s word says on this. This would be true even when we are faced with those passages that we’re uncomfortable with. Therefore, I am confident that through God’s word we can grow and mature as we study His word. Therefore: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). Amen.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV)

As mentioned above, this is one of those topics that I find hard to discuss because it involves one’s eternal security. Also, it’s one that can be so abused and misunderstood as well. But again, by carefully studying God’s word we can rightly put this into proper perspective. So, let’s start with that passage quoted above. Here we read of a warning against believers who turn away from Christ (commit apostacy). So, if after experiencing the Holy Spirit and the goodness of God they again fall back into the world by renouncing Christ, they have no more hope of repentance. This again is a very heavy warning for us to always keep the faith and not turn away from the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Now, we again see this also to be true a few chapters over where we read: For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31 NKJV)

So, by rejecting Jesus Christ and thus fall back into a life of sin, a person could become an enemy and blasphemer of God and thus face his wrath on the day of judgment. Now, I know that there may be some who have a head knowledge of who Jesus is and may even claim to believe in him. However, these same individuals may not have repented of their sins nor given their heart fully over to him. In other words, they’re not truly born again. So, I personally wouldn’t include these in those passage above. For down the road it may be possible that God reaches out to them when they are overwhelmed in their sin. This of course should be our hope and prayer for them.

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. (1 John 5:16 NKJV)

Now, this is another very sobering peace of Scripture. For John clearly says that there is a sin which leads to death. And let’s take not to what Jesus said: And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:32 ESV) So, not only is this about turning away from Jesus Christ whom they once embraced, but it also involves speaking insults against (blasphemes) against the Holy Spirit as well. Therefore, if a believer (and maybe even an unbeliever) turns away from Christ and willfully insults the Holy Spirit, there is no more hope of redemption for them.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV) Yes, please let’s do this my fellow Christians. Amen.

• So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:17-20 ESV)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27-29 KJV)

Now, there are those who teach that this passage is proof that once a person gives their life over to Christ, they can never lose their salvation. Also, they go on to say that this would include those who go back into a life of sin because Jesus did say I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. However, we must not ignore his opening words which says: My sheep hear my voice, and I Know them, and they follow me. So, those who will never perish are us believers who hear is voice and follow Jesus. Therefore, we can never be removed from him nor from the God our Father. So, brothers and sisters in Christ; as long as we put our hope and trust in Jesus, we cannot be separated from God. However, there are those professing Christians who have made a choice to willingly walk away from him and thus become apostates. And sadly, I have seen this happen with a few people I personally knew.

Below are some scriptures that warn us to keep the faith and bear fruit for our Lord:

• And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:13 ESV)
• I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ... If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:1-2, 6 NIV)
• Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (Romans 11:19-23 KJV)
• Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV)
• Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ESV)
• The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1 NIV)
• Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all. (1 Timothy 6:20-21 NIV)
• And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken; but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:5-6 ASV)
• Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (Hebrews 3:12 NKJV)
• For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:20-22 KJV)
• But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. (Ezekiel 18:24)

Watch these videos concerning what was mentioned above:

• Is Once Saved Always Saved Biblical?
• Once Saved, Always Saved?
• Why I Reject "Faith Alone"

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father ​- ​Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2 CSB)

Now, even though we who are in Christ should abstain from all sins, there may be times that a fellow believer falls or makes a mistake. However, since they haven’t denied Christ, they are still saved. For we have scriptures that show this to be true. For: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 KJV) And let’s remember that King David also committed sin and yet God forgave him when he repented.

Also, Paul the apostle went through some struggles himself. For he said: So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25 ESV) And what was Paul’s outcome toward the end of his life? Well, he said: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV) Yes, Paul kept the faith and thus he received a crown of righteousness.

So again, as long as we keep our faith in Jesus Christ and long for his appearing, we will not lose our salvation. Therefore, in light of those stern warnings mention above, let’s keep: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 KJV). So then: Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36 ESV) Did you notice that it says: so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised? And we know God’s will is that we keep the faith and bear fruit by abiding in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Below are a few more scriptures concerning the topic of this article:

• Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:21-22 ESV)
• But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:13 ESV)
• Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. (1 Timothy 4:13-15 ESV)
• Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:10-1 KJV)

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)

So, we are to daily encouraging one another in our walk with Christ. Therefore: Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:12-13 ESV) And let’s do just that, always holding on and looking to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

God bless you as you seek to do his well. Aman

Note: Bible versions used in this article are listed below in more detail to assist you in your study of God’s word:

• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• CSB = Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.
• NIV = THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
• NKJV = New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
• KJV = The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769. Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.

Back to the Top

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:5-7)

This passage above is one of those incidents where the Jews wrongfully accused Jesus of blasphemy. So, is it true that only God can forgive sins? Or is it possible that we who have God’s Spirit can forgive sins just as Jesus did? Well: “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld’.” (John 20:21-23 ESV) So, we see that Jesus gave his disciples the authority both to forgive or not to forgive a person’s sins. This should include us today who are Christ’s disciples as well.

Please consider what others have to say:

• Jesus also wished to continue his ministry of the forgiveness of sins specifically through the Apostles and their successors. Thus, following his glorious Resurrection, Jesus conferred on the apostles the power to forgive sins, a power Jesus himself had exercised during his earthly ministry. It is recounted in John’s Gospel that, during a resurrection appearance, Jesus met with the apostles and said to them, in particular: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. And when he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven: if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20: 21-23) Confession, thus, is a resurrection gift from Jesus who has passed on his ministry of forgiving sins … https://catholicstrength.com/

Therefore, couldn’t we rightly say that the Jews were wrongly accusing Jesus of blasphemy? For we must remember that even though Jesus emptied himself of all he was in heaven, he still had the Spirit of God upon him. Therefore, mighty works were being performed through him including the authority to forgive sins. These same mighty works are given to us today who have the Spirit of God within as well. And let’s also consider what Jesus said to his apostles: “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28 ESV) Also, let’s consider what the apostle Paul said to us: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

John the apostle said: “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life - to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.” (1 John 5:16-17 ESV) So, we can see that our prayers can help bring about forgiveness to a fellow believer. However, if they commit a sin that does lead to death, we are to withhold our prayers. Again, this fits the words of Jesus who said: “‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld’.” (John 20:21-23 ESV)

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ; Jesus gave us the power to forgive or not to forgive sins. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:16-18)

Don't throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater

Below is a video of a short sermon by Dr. Brant Pitre on why we have power to forgive sins. And yes, even though he is a Catholic, there is still truth to what he is saying.

• The act of forgiving one's sins

Below is another video by John Schoenheit declaring that Jesus gave us the power to forgive sins. And yes, I know that he is a Unitarian and I’m not. However, we shouldn’t be so quick to throughout everything one is teaching because of their confusion in one area or another. For unfortunately, there is also a lack of clarity in today’s Protestant churches on who Jesus Christ is as well.

• “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

God bless you as you seek to do his will. Amen.

(Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been abbreviated according to the version that was used. This is for you the reader to know which version was used in order for you to go read it for yourselves. For the one who penned this article doesn’t want anyone thinking that he did some scripture twisting to make it read according to his liking or view)

• ESV = English Standard Version

Back to the Top

“Now there was a rich man and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, making good cheer in splendor every day. And there was a poor man, by name Lazarus, who was laid at his gateway full of sores, and desiring to be filled with the crumbs which fell from the table of the rich man; but the dogs also coming licked his sores. (Luke 16:19-21 DBY)

Saying things that have no real value or meaning would be unfruitful and unproductive. So, when Jesus spoke of the rich man and Lazarus, would he be just throwing out some random name in a parable? For Jesus himself said: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37) Therefore, I believe that this is not some parable, but an actual event that did happen. I say this because Jesus is mentioning someone by name which never happened in any of his other parables.

Therefore Christians, it’s our job to find out who Jesus is talking about in this parable. So that being said, if you read through that same passage mentioned above, you would notice that Lazarus above both died and was being comforted in the arms of Abraham. Therefore, I believe that Lazarus is none other than Mary and Martha’s brother who both died and was raised from the dead. I say this because the “rich man” who was suffering in hell was asking for Lazarus to be sent back in order that his brothers would be warned about hell. For we read: “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” (Luke 16:27-28)

Now, even though Abraham is a righteous man, we know that God always has the last say in all things. Therefore, couldn’t God hear and answer this rich man’s passionate cry for his brothers. I do believe so. “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:41-44)

Below is a passage of scripture that supports what was mentioned above:

• Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ... Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. ... Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. ... These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. ... Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:1, 3, 5-6, 11, 13-14)

God bless you as you seek to do his will. Amen

(Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been abbreviated according to the version that was used. This is for you the reader to know which version was used so that nobody would dare think that some scripture twisting was done.)

• DBY = John Nelson Darby’s translation of the bible

Back to the Top