WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER HEBREWS 6 Mark Kolbe

CHRISTIANITY 101 – IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

BELIEF

· One form of belief is when someone makes a s____________ of something they consider to be true. It is an a__________________ of something mentally. Demons can do this (James 2:19, Acts 19:15).

· Belief that leads to salvation is when a person has real t______ and intends for that trust to a________ their life (John 3:16).

· Two good examples of belief this kind of belief…

1. One of the two t_________ hanging with Jesus (Luke 22:39-43).

2. Abraham after God told him he was going to be a f__________ at an old age (Genesis 15:1-6).

· Someone who has this kind of belief is c___________ for being righteous (Genesis 15:6, James 2:23).

FAITH

· Faith is displayed when a person performs an a________ as a result of their belief.

· When we p___________ righteousness it is sometimes called p____________ (1 Timothy 6:11).

· Two good examples of belief AND faith…

1. Abraham when he l______ his homeland (Genesis 12:1-4).

2. Abraham when he was w__________ to sacrifice his child because God told him to (Genesis 22:1-12).

· Postional and practical r________________ are referred to in Romans 4:3-5.

· Don’t assume that moral actions take the place of belief (Ephesians 2:8-9)

CHRISTIANITY 201 – CAN A CHRISTIAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION?

· Biblical evidence for the possibility of losing one’s salvation is based upon m________ interpretation of a s______ number of verses.

· Biblical evidence that salvation is permanent is based upon c_______ stated truths in a l______ number of verses.

· Six pieces of evidence that salvation is permanent…

1. It’s called e___________ life. If we can lose it, it’s not eternal (John 3:16, John 6:47).

2. J________ is the one who stands guard and secures our salvation. He will not lose anyone (John 6:39-40) and no one can undo what He has done (John 10:28).

3. Believers are s_________ by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:12-14, 4:30).

4. God promises to f___________ the work that was started (Philippians 1:6).

5. Believers are born of i________________ seed (1 Peter 1:23)

6. There are no examples in scripture where a Christian became a non-C____________.

· “If we hold fast” is not a c_____________ to remain saved. It’s e_____________ we are. (Hebrews 3:6, 14).

· Even though the faith we display comes (Luke 5:17-20) and goes (Luke 22:31-34) depending upon the actions we take - our salvation remains assured!

CHRISTIANITY 301 – HEBREWS 6

HEBREWS 6:1-3

· The fundamental truths that need to be retaught aren’t what it takes to be saved, but instead, how a person should live as a r___________ of being saved.

· These people were having a difficult time letting go of the belief that a person becomes righteous or retains their salvation through w_______.

· Unlike Judaism, when you come to Christ in genuine repentance and become born again, you only need to do that o_____ time.

HEBREWS 6:4-6

· Five most popular views on what these verses mean.

1. L______ of salvation (see arguments above).

2. Losing your salvation is only a h__________ situation (not something that could really happen).

3. B__________ believers (1 John 1:9, Prodigal son).

4. These are n_____ believers who never really became Christians. Those who fall away are just like those in 1 John 2:19.

5. There are still the i____________ believers who the author has been addressing all along. The “falling away” is their attempt to follow elements of J__________ into their faith (Galatians 4:9).

· A person cannot hold on to the belief that works are needed for salvation while simultaneously repenting of that and turning exclusively to Jesus. It is i____________.

· Christians enter r________ when they rely only upon what God has done.

· When a Christians obeys and displays faith within the context of being at rest, it is not a b________ (1 John 5:3-4).

HEBREWS 6:7-8 (also see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

· When a Christian is at rest, that’s when God blesses and rewards them (Hebrews 3:12, 4:10-11).

· Christians who rely on their own righteousness, their lives do not produce f______ that God can use.

HEBREWS 6:9-12

· Christians should keep trusting that at God will follow through on His p__________ and r________ them for faithfulness.

HEBREWS 6:13-20

· God let His people know what His p________ is, and took an o______ that He would uphold it.

· A Christian can have sense of security and stability if their h_______ is in God alone.

SO WHAT

1. Make sure you truly believe in Christ for salvation.

2. Don’t become a slave to the idea that your actions are what keep you saved.

3. Rely on the grace of God and serve Him with confidence (1 Corinthians 10).