The Warning Passages in Hebrews
A Sermon on Romans 8:28-30
Originally preached March 2, 1962
Scripture
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the …
Sermon Description
Can Christians lose their salvation? This is a much-debated question in Christianity that has immense significance for all believers. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that while some passages seem to teach that Christians can lose their salvation, this is a misunderstanding. In this sermon on Romans 8:28–30 titled “The Threefold Purpose,” he looks at the warning passages in Hebrews 6 and 10. He argues that these passages do not speak of true Christians falling away but it speaks of those unbelievers who hear the gospel and are in the church, yet reject it. Just as many people in the Bible, such as Judas, are part of the visible church (and even in places of authority), they are shown to not be truly saved. So it is true in all the church. The Bible never speaks of true believers falling away. These are lost men and women who show temporary signs of profession yet fall away. These passages ought to encourage true believers to seek to live a life that testifies to Christ’s power of salvation. Can true Christians fall away from Christ? The Bible’s answer is no since Christ is the perfect Savior who is able to redeem sinners and bring their salvation to completion. As the Savior promised, no one can snatch a child of His from His hand.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing the topic of perseverance of the saints based on Romans 8:28-30. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the sermon will focus on addressing difficulties people have with this doctrine.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines two main reasons for addressing these difficulties: 1) So people can enjoy the benefits of this doctrine like assurance of salvation. 2) To address passages of Scripture that often trouble Christians.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones introduces Hebrews 6:4-8 and Hebrews 10:26-29 as two passages that often trouble Christians. He outlines three wrong interpretations of these passages: 1) That they teach true believers can lose their salvation. 2) That they refer to unbelieving Jews, not Christians. 3) That the word "if" in Hebrews 6:6 means these are hypothetical situations.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines the terms used to describe the people in Hebrews 6:4-6 like "enlightened," "tasted the heavenly gift," "partakers of the Holy Spirit," "tasted the good word of God," and "the powers of the age to come." He argues these terms have limits and do not necessarily refer to regeneration or justification. They can refer to a partnership or association with the Holy Spirit that does not indicate saving faith.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues the phrase "who has tasted the heavenly gift" in Hebrews 6:4 does not mean merely tasting in the mouth, but experiencing to some degree. However, this does not necessarily indicate saving faith. He cites examples like King Saul, Balaam, and Judas experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit but not being saved.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines the phrase "it is impossible to renew them again to repentance" in Hebrews 6:6. He argues this does not mean it is impossible for God to save them, but that Dr. Lloyd-Jones has nothing more to say to them if they reject the gospel. He says the passage refers to those who reject Christ, not those who commit certain sins.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues the purpose of these warning passages is: 1) To warn against presumption and antinomianism. 2) To ensure perseverance of the saints by warning and chastening them. 3) The only people troubled by these passages are true Christians, not false professors. So being troubled by them is evidence of salvation.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by praying that God would make these truths clear to listeners and free them from Satan's accusations so they can rejoice in God's love.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Perseverance of the Saints?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints in this sermon, focusing on difficult passages in Hebrews that often trouble believers.
What is the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this doctrine teaches that true Christians will persevere in their faith to the end and cannot lose their salvation. He emphasizes that this is not merely an intellectual matter but a pastoral one, saying: "I'm suggesting that it was the apostle's interest in it. It's a pastoral interest, not a mere intellectual interest." He explains that this doctrine is essential for a believer's assurance, stating that "you can't be assured of something which may go at any minute."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones focus on the warning passages in Hebrews?
Lloyd-Jones concentrates on these passages for two reasons: 1. Positive reason: "There is no more glorious doctrine than this" 2. Negative reason: "The devil attacks us strongly at this point... and he does hold many of God's children in a state of captivity because of their failure truly to understand the meaning of some of these passages"
He specifically addresses Hebrews 6:4-8 and Hebrews 10:26-29, which he says are "the ones that the devil seems to use most frequently in order to distress and to trouble God's children."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones interpret the difficult passages in Hebrews 6?
Lloyd-Jones rejects three common interpretations: 1. That these passages teach true Christians can fall away and be lost 2. That these passages only refer to unbelieving Jews who never accepted the gospel 3. That the passages are merely hypothetical (based on the word "if")
Instead, he carefully examines the terms used in Hebrews 6:4-6: - "Once enlightened" - received knowledge of the gospel without necessarily being regenerated - "Tasted of the heavenly gift" - experienced something of the gospel - "Partakers of the Holy Ghost" - going along with or partnering with the Spirit (like Judas or King Saul) without being regenerate - "Tasted the good word of God" - intellectual understanding without spiritual rebirth - "Tasted the powers of the world to come" - experienced some of the spiritual realm
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes: "Nowhere are we told that these people were born again, that they were regenerate. Nowhere are we told that they have been justified. Nowhere are we told that they've been sanctified."
What does "falling away" actually mean in these passages?
According to Lloyd-Jones, "falling away" does not refer to committing particular sins. He explains: "What is it talking about then? Well, it's this falling away. Falling away from what? Falling away from the truth."
He clarifies that these passages speak of people "who once having claimed to believe the christian message, are now denying it. They are denying the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are ridiculing his shed blood on Calvary's cross as the only blood of atonement."
What is the purpose of these warning passages?
Lloyd-Jones provides three purposes: 1. "God's way of keeping us all from presumption and antinomianism" 2. "God's way of ensuring our perseverance" - the warnings help keep believers on the narrow way 3. A comfort to true believers - "The only people who are ever troubled by these two passages are christian people, God's saints, nobody else"
How can believers find comfort when troubled by these passages?
Lloyd-Jones offers this assurance: "If you are worried and troubled by these passages, take it as proof of the fact that you're a Christian. It is a perfect proof of that."
He concludes that concern over one's spiritual state is evidence of spiritual life: "The only people who want to know, and to know for certain that they are the children of God are those who are the children of God. Nobody else wants it."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.