When children of God continue to struggle with sin does God kick them out of His family?
Sep 17, 2010
The Base for Grace: part thirteen in a study of the book of Hebrews
By Mike Gaudet
When children of God continue to struggle with sin . . .
. . . does God kick them out of His family?
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” Hebrews 6:1-6
The first converts to Christianity were Jewish.
Jews who became followers of Christ had to turn toward new ways of worshipping God. The “baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment” were elements of their newfound Christian faith.
These Jewish Christians also had to turn away from old ways of worshipping God. This is what the “repentance from acts that lead to death” refers to. Turning toward Christ meant turning away from many of the Jewish religious practices they grew up with. Only faith in Christ can lead to spiritual life. Holy day observances, sacrifices and food laws cannot.
Over time, this departure from their Jewish faith took a toll. Jewish Christians were excommunicated from the synagogue and from the religious, social and financial benefits it afforded. Eventually, they were forced to leave Jerusalem altogether. Deprived of neighborhood and livelihood, they were forced to work in menial jobs for low wages.
The chronic hardship these Jewish converts endured had an erosive effect on their faith. Some renounced their Christian faith and returned to their childhood faith and the advantages it bestowed.
This is the “falling away” mentioned in the passage . . . a Jewish convert to Christianity who decides to convert back to Judaism. The falling away being addressed here is falling away from the Christian faith not falling away into sinful habits.
Jesus’ death on the cross opened the door into God’s family. Those who placed their faith in Christ stepped through this door and received the gift Jesus died to provide. Returning to Judaism amounted to exiting the door Jesus died to open. This was an irreversible decision for them at the time. Jesus was not going to be re-crucified and re-subjected to “public disgrace” in order to re-open a door they walked into and then out of.
What does this passage mean for us today?
Does it mean that someone who turns from Islam to Christianity and then back to Islam is prohibited from re-entering the Christian faith?
I’m not sure.
One thing I am sure of . . .
. . . this passage is not teaching us that if we struggle with sin after placing our faith in Christ, we are booted out of God’s family with no opportunity to return.
Jesus taught that “a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.” John 8: 36
The difference between a slave and a son is that the slave “has no permanent place in the family” but a son or daughter does.
Through faith in Christ we become children of God not slaves of God.
When God includes us in His family as sons and daughters . . .
. . . we belong “to it forever.”