Hebrews - Blessed Assurance Part 1

Our text for this morning from Hebrews has been read and taught pessimistically by many, when in reality it contains one of the most beautiful promises in the entire Bible. Let us turn to Heb 6:4-20

Thesis: Christian, do not let those who quit the faith trouble your peace because true Christians are assured of their salvation because of God's sworn promise

1. Contrasts and Similarities between false and true religion
   a) The irremissibly lost state of an apostate
   b) The irrevocably blessed hope of a believer
   c) The grounds for the apostate fate
   d) The grounds for the believer's assurance

2. The Results of a believer's assurance 11-12

a) Salvation is a “fait accompli” i.e. an irreversible, done deal
b) This happens differently to different people, sometimes it is instant and sometimes it takes longer
c) A true conversion requires grappling with God's holiness:

1. Some of the similarities between apostates and believers
   a) The have been once enlightened
   b) They have tasted of the heavenly gift
   c) They have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit
   d) They have tasted the good word of God (same verb: “to try the flavor”)
   e) They have tasted the powers of the world to come

CONCLUSION:

I am not going to send you home bleeding and wondering if you are saved. Do you want to know in which side are you? Then simply consider:
a) Have you closed with Christ?
b) Are you following Christ?
c) Are you relying on your works or on Christ's work?
And in the context of Hebrews 6
d) Are you persevering in faith, good works, and seeking the heavenly kingdom?