Who is in and who is out?

Read Hebrews 6:4-6

4-6 Once people have seen the light,gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit,once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us-if then they turn their backs on it,washing their hands of the whole thing,well,they can’t start over as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Why,they’ve re-crucified Jesus! They’ve repudiated him in public! (THE MESSAGE)

Passages like this arouse much debate. Is it possible for a person to become a Christian and then cease to be one? Can we lose our salvation? Is it once saved always saved? Those arguing both sides can quote texts to support their case. At the risk of ‘wimping out’,let’s look at this another way.

Whatever the truth of this text,it is important to avoid making judgements on others’ salvation. Who says a person who attends church regularly is a Christian? Who says an individual who can articulate Christian truth is a Christian? Who says a person who is a lovely and kindly person is a Christian? None of these things automatically grants a person eternal life.

Then again,who says a person who has dropped out of church has stopped being a Christian? Who says a person who struggles unsuccessfully with destructive behaviours is not a Christian? Who says a person who disputes our own grasp of the faith has no such Christian faith themselves? None of these things automatically disqualifies a person from God’s family.

We can make no final judgements about other people: the most we can do is form some tentative and qualified opinions. We adopt a perspective of reverent and humble agnosticism. We simply do not know. Only God knows. And he isn’t telling.

Blessings
David Reay