Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that a believer can lose salvation?
That is, is this passage saying a believer or former believer could lose salvation by works, or lose salvation by defecting from Christ? Or is it speaking of backsliding, or speaking only to unbelievers, or something else?
Hebrews 10:26
ESV - 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
Jennifer Rothnie
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Hebrews 10:26 is speaking of believers, who have received a personal knowledge of the truth. The word used is 'epignosis' - the relational knowledge, first hand experience of Christ - vs. the head knowledge of gnosis.
How horrible if this verse were speaking to unbelievers! For then, if they did not have faith after hearing the gospel only once, they would stand condemned forever! Paul would have been condemned and never been able to be saved, for he knew of Jesus, and was actively persecuting him.
Rather, this verse is in the same vein as II Peter 2:17-22 and Heb 6:4-8.
Believers who have come to faith; who have shared with the Holy Spirit with which we have unity with other believers and are sealed for redemption and have been apportioned spiritual gifts like others; who experienced Christ's gift, who had their faces unveiled that they might understand the gospel and believe; who then fall away ('to fall from close beside', that is, to defect from something you were once a part of) and subject themselves again to the law of sin and death - it is for these that there is no "second salvation".
Christ only died once, and his death was sufficient. However, if that payment is rejected, what then? Can Christ die a second time? No. (Rom 6: 10-14, Num 20:6-12, Heb 9:28)
['Those who are waiting for Him' of Heb 9:28 shows not only our eager expectation for Christ, but our complete separation from everything we leave behind in order to wait. It is a complex triple compound, (apekdehkomahee) - 'away from' + 'out of' + 'welcome']. Contrast this to the people who "looked back" to the world: (Luke 9:62, II Tim 4:10, Zeph 6:4-6, II Peter 2:17-22, etc). We must also be patient with longsuffering (James 5:7)]
Heb 10:26 does not teach that we can lose salvation (once people are granted salvation at Christ's second coming, nothing can snatch them from the father's hand (John 10:25-29). As for the seal/promise of salvation we now hold (the Holy Spirit), no power above or below can separate us from this. (Heb 9:14-15, Rom 8:31-39)
It does, however, teach that we can reject the saving faith we once held and return to the law of condemnation. If we do not stand the test, then we will not receive the crown of life. (James 1:12, Heb 6:4-8, Matt 7:15-27)
The law of grace is opposed to the regulations of the old covenant (Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-14, James 2:8-12). If we return again to dead works rather than diligently abiding with Christ with faith and long-suffering until the end (Heb 6:1-12), then we are rejecting the sovereign Lord who bought us (II Peter 2:1-3, II Tim 2:18-13). If we do so, Christ cannot buy us again. We were redeemed from death once, if we seek redemption from death a second time, then Christ would have to die a second time - which would mean death still had power over Christ (which it does not) (Rom 6:9-10, Acts 2:24).
Only God knows the state of someone's heart, so we should not make assumptions on the state of salvation for those people who claim to follow God, then deny Jesus, then later follow God again.
Rather, all the warnings in scripture to not turn back to the world, to remain and abide with Christ, and to endure to the end are meant for us personally, so that we are encouraged to be diligent in eagerly awaiting the coming of Christ, and trust that God has given us everything we need to get through trials (II Peter 1:3, Phil 4:13), At such time, God will make good on the earnest payment he has given us (the Holy Spirit) and grant us eternal life (Eph 1:11-14).