By Bryan D. Gill, D.Min.
Director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation, Samford University
CAN I WALK AWAY FROM MY SALVATION?
Hebrews 6:1–12
Charles Carter was my pastor in college when he was the interim pastor of First Baptist Church Opelika. Then he became my professor, mentor and friend when I was a student at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. In fact, he was one of the reasons I attended Beeson. In one sermon, I remember him addressing the issue of someone walking away from God. He said, “If there is a fizzle before the finish, there was a fatal flaw from the first.”
That tongue twister has stuck with me for 25 years. He went on to say that rather than a “once saved, always saved” mentality, we should have an “if saved, always saved” theology. If God has truly transformed someone’s heart, they will not want to walk away from their faith. In this lesson, we are going to look deeper into the life of a persevering Christian.
Perseverance calls for growing in our faith. (1–3)
The writer talks about the elementary teachings of Christ. We must not mistake the word “elementary” for “unimportant.” The elementary doctrines are foundational and essential for understanding the impact of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. I would never say these elementary doctrines are unimportant. However, what the writer is saying here is that there is so much more!
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it” (1 Cor. 3:2). There comes a time when we grow spiritually by moving beyond our salvation experience toward a life lived in obedience to Christ. Living a life of obedience and perseverance is when we begin to grow into mature Christians.
Perseverance is grounded in what we have in Christ. (4–8)
Verses 7 and 8 help us grasp a better picture of what the writer is talking about. Here, the writer uses a metaphor of a farm that produces good and useful crops juxtaposed to one that grows thorns and thistles. Sound familiar? Jesus used a similar reference when He said, “I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit” (John 15:1–2).
A true believer’s life will bear good fruit that glorifies Jesus. This is not to be confused with works-based salvation. We come to Jesus dirty, and He cleans us. Without Jesus, we cannot do good works or bear good fruit. However, as a response to the gospel, our lives should be full of good works and bear good fruit — not in an effort to earn our salvation but as a result of it.
Perseverance calls for diligently walking in Christ. (9–12)
If you have ever been working hard or competed in an endurance race, encouragement goes a long way. In this passage, the writer is encouraging believers to keep doing good and serving each other. There may be times when we feel like our work goes unnoticed by others, but be encouraged that God sees our service to Him.
Persevering in the faith means that we are serving the Lord and only seeking His praise. Keep serving the Lord with gladness and trust that,
as Paul told the Corinthians, “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain”
(1 Cor. 15:58).
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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