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“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” ( Hebrews 9:11-12 )

One of the most amazing truths throughout the entire Bible and a marvelous theme in the book of Hebrews is that our sins are completely paid for, eternally forgiven, forgotten and removed from all records. In fact, the writer of Hebrews mentions this idea so many times in chapters 8, 9 and 10 that it is impossible to miss. Jesus has obtained eternal redemption for those who put saving faith in Him.

If we have been redeemed, it is important for us to understand what it is. In the Old Testament redemption was the process of buying something back For instance if a person sold a piece of property to another, by law, the seller or a family member could redeem their land so that no family would be without their inheritance ( Leviticus 25:23-25 ). If they didn’t have the means to for redemption then everything was returned to them in the Year of Jubilee ( Leviticus 25:28 ). This principle applied to land, people and possessions.  The Law made it possible for the next of kin, also known as “kinsman redeemer” to rescue a person or property ( Leviticus 25:47-55 ). Redemption was a family matter.

Mankind was sold into slavery in the Garden of Eden. Adam, God’s representative for mankind, had been given full authority and possession of the earth ( Genesis 1:28-30 ). Everything belonged to him. He transferred this birthright to Satan when he ate from the tree that God instructed him not to ( Genesis 2:16-17 ). According to the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer only a relative could redeem or purchase back that which was lost or sold. In other words, mankind was the only one who could provide this redemption. This is why Jesus came in the flesh, fully God and fully man ( Isaiah 59:16, John 1:14 ). Jesus became our brother so Adam and all mankind could be redeemed ( Hebrews 2:11 )

Jesus has been called the second Adam because He was able to undo everything that the first Adam did. As God’s second representative for mankind, He came and restored mankind’s birthright through the redemption process. “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” ( Romans 5:18 ). Jesus acted as our Kinsman Redeemer and purchased back everything that mankind lost in the garden.

Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer, this is an amazing truth! He did not enter into the man-made tabernacle but into the Most Holy Place in the heavenly tabernacle in the very presence of God the Father to redeem us. His blood was the entrance fee to intercede on our behalf before God in Heaven ( Hebrews 9:12 ). His blood was poured on the Mercy Seat to atone and cleanse us from our sin ( Hebrews 9:14 ). He is the mediator guaranteeing our eternal inheritance because He died as a ransom to set free, rescue and deliver us from all transgressions under the first covenant ( Hebrews 9:15 ). He has done away with sin once for all by his perfect sacrifice ( Hebrews 9:26 ). And lastly He has restored the relationship between God and mankind eternally ( Hebrews 10:19-22 ).

All of this was accomplished by the law of the Kinsman Redeemer. And because Jesus is the second Adam, He was able to eternally secure our redemption. His blood was the purchase price which paid for an everlasting release from sin, death and judgment. This makes Jesus the pinnacle of history, the most significant person in all of humanity. He is the eternal God and the Savior of the world. Jesus is the reason we have life and the reason we have eternally been redeemed!

We've established that you cannot lose your salvation, nor can anyone take it away from you, but Hebrews teaches that it is impossible to be brought back again to repentance once you've fallen away. If it is possible to fall away after being born again, it is important to look at this and understand what the writer is saying. Remember for every Biblical truth there is an equal and opposite truth that appears to contradict. Like our example of the tightrope, these truths pull in an equal and opposite direction to bring balance. In all cases it is not an either or scenario, but both. So understanding both sides of the apparent contradiction will expand your revelation of God's amazing grace and heighten your appreciation of the choice offered to you in Jesus.

Salvation is a choice and every person is offered this choice as a gift of God's grace. The choice is whether or not you accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and place your faith in Him. God does not make you chose Him although He desires it. He did everything possible to offer this to us but when it comes to the bottom line, we have a choice whether or not to accept this gift. John says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God" ( John 1:12-13 ). The only thing required is receiving this free gift.

So, if the only way into the kingdom of God is by choice, then it also makes sense that the only way out of the kingdom is by choice. Remember you cannot lose your salvation, no one can take it from you, God will never leave you or forsake you, but at any point you decide you no longer want to belong in this kingdom, you can renounce it and God honors that decision. God chose us and in return he wants us to chose him This is the highest form of relationship one can have, one of mutual choice.

In Paul’s beautiful expose to the Romans he said, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” ( Romans 8:38-39 ). Nothing external can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus but notice a person’s free will is not on that list.

This is why the writer of Hebrews advises us to get past the elementary truths of God and to gain knowledge and spiritual insight. Because the more you know about God and his loving nature toward you the less likely you will become complacent in this life concerning the things of God. The less complacent, the less hard of heart and more responsive toward the Holy Spirit and His leading in your life. In other words, the more you have an intimate working knowledge of God, the less likely you will be to fall away because of the snares of this world.

Peter also had something to say about this. "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." ( II Peter 2:20-21 ).

This concept is mentioned in scripture to show us God’s full nature of grace not to give us an out. His desire from the beginning has always been to have relationship with us, which is why He sent Jesus to restore all things. It is our choice and always remains such. However, there are conditions on falling away or in essence becoming reprobate and renouncing salvation. It is not something one can do easily. Certain guidelines must first be met, in other words, one must be a mature Christian and fully aware of the decision and it’s result.

Join me tomorrow for Part 4 of 4, The Conditions of Becoming Reprobate.

If it is possible to fall away, as this passage in Hebrews suggests, or in effect become again as an unbeliever without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, this verse seems to contradict others throughout scripture which talk about eternal redemption. So, it is important to first look at eternal redemption, what it is, what has been promised and who it is for; so we understand what the writer is saying in these verses concerning falling away.

Eternal redemption can be defined in this way; it is putting saving faith in the complete and perfect work of Jesus Christ, confessing Him as Lord, accepting the payment and forgiveness for your sins, trusting in Him to do what you cannot do. Once this happens you are saved, period. This is an eternal decision. You cannot lose what has been given to you as a gift.

Jesus made this quite clear. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” ( John 10:27-30 ).

Paul asked a similar question in Romans 8, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" ( Romans 8:35a ). His response, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( Romans 8:38-39 ).

Besides these verses which clearly teach that no outside force can separate us from God, we have several promises from Jesus that show His intention for eternal redemption. First he offers us eternal life ( John 3:16; John 3:36; John 10:10; John 17:3, I John 5:11-13 ). Secondly He told us He would never leave us or forsake us ( Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5, John 14:18, Hebrews 13:5 ). Next, He gave us the Holy Spirit as a deposit to ensure these promises ( Romans 8:15-17; II Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; II Timothy 1:14; Titus 3:4-6 ). Next, He gave us power and authority in this world and over the forces in the world ( Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 10:19; Romans 8:17; Ephesians 2:6; I John 5:4-5 ). Lastly, He wrote our names in the Lamb’s book of Life and keeps a record in heaven of all of those who have placed faith in Him ( Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:12;15 ). These few things only scratch the surface when it comes to the promises that God made to us because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. And if that isn’t enough, He promised Jesus on oath that He would never change his mind regarding these things ( Hebrews 6:17-18; Hebrews 7:21-22 ). So we can have confident hope in the things promised to us regarding eternal life and our redemption.

Another amazing truth is that this offer of salvation is for anyone regardless of what you have done or haven't done. Paul said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” ( Romans 10:13 ). There was no qualifier to this statement, it is for everyone. All that is required is to ask, believe and receive. It doesn't get any simpler than this.

By considering all of these things, we can see how it is impossible to lose your salvation once you have placed saving faith in Jesus and what He did to bring you into fellowship with God the Father. You cannot lose it, you cannot misplace it and most importantly it cannot be taken away from you.

We've established that you cannot lose your salvation, but Hebrews teaches that it is impossible to be brought back again to repentance once you've fallen away. Join me tomorrow as we look at what falling away means… in Part 3, What Does it Mean to Fall Away? 

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” ( Hebrews 5:7-8 )

On this side of the cross we are used to hearing about Jesus' sacrifice for our sins so we forget this important truth, Jesus had a choice. The choice to redeem mankind, or let mankind pay the price for Adam’s choice in the garden. Adam chose death, suffering and sin over God. As result, he plunged the entire world into this pattern of life and we were subjected to the destructiveness of un-regenerated  man. Mankind needed someone to intercede which is why Jesus volunteered for the role as Savior of the world ( I Corinthians 15:22, II Corinthians 5:19, I Peter 1:20, I John 2:2 ).

God is big on giving choices and letting us choose for ourselves. He does not force His will on us. In the same way, He did not force His will for redeeming mankind on Jesus. He gave Him the choice. This is beyond comprehension because God and Jesus are one and the same. They exist in a triune being of perfect love and unity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinctly different entities yet one in the same. II peter 3 tells us that God is not willing that any should perish and desires everyone to come to repentance ( II Peter 3:9 ). This means that Jesus holds this desire as well. Hebrews 1 tells us that "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being..." ( Hebrews 1:3a ). Meaning He is the exact image and picture of God. Everything God is, Jesus is. Everything God desires, Jesus desires. God's will is Jesus' will.

The plan was Jesus from the start. As he submitted to God's will, He became the lamb slain from the foundation of the world ( I Peter 1:20 ). Jesus undertook this role before there was even a world to redeem. Then at the culmination of history He was made manifest in the flesh to complete this work once for all. It was a choice. No one took Jesus' life; He willing laid it down for us. John tells us, "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” ( John 10:17-18 ).

The grace of God is more profound when you consider that Jesus could have backed out of this arrangement at any time. During His time on earth, Jesus could have said one word and God would have honored it. In the garden when Jesus was betrayed, Peter cut off the ear of the of the High Priest's servant. Jesus responded in this way, “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” ( Matthew 26:52-54 ). Jesus understood the choice and knew God would honor and respond to His decision at any point in time. Which is why he submitted to God and learned obedience through this type of suffering.

Jesus' suffering was more than the physical aspects of being crucified. His suffering far exceeded this because he had the entire weight of sin, sickness and death placed on him and then he was completely and totally separated from the presence of the Father. It took an act of obedience for a holy God to undergo this type of suffering. This is the point the writer of Hebrews is highlighting in this passage. The Amplified Bible puts it best, “In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father]. Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered” ( Hebrews 5:7-8 Amp ). The price Jesus paid was extremely high. He was removed from the very essences of God the Father and literally became sin, the very thing he abhorred, so that we could be righteous in God's sight ( II Corinthians 5:21 ).

When looking at the accounts of Jesus in the Garden to Gethsemane right before his betrayal we see how the anticipation of being separated from God affected Jesus. Yet during the entire time he readily submitted to God's will in spite of what He was facing. Mark's account is extremely insightful, "He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” ( Mark 14:33-36 ). Jesus knew that on request God would save him from this horrible death and from taking the weight of Adams choice on himself as mankind's representative. In the same way, He knew that God had chosen Jesus as the first and only way to redeem mankind. So Jesus actively submitted to God's will and plan so that it would be finished.

Jesus completed everything that He was instructed to do. He fulfilled every scripture written about the promised Messiah. John records, "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" ( John 19:28:30 ). What an amazing picture of the love God has for us. Mark gives us more detail on what happened, "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last" ( Luke 23:44-46 ).

This act of obedience perfectly equipped Jesus for His role as our eternal high priest, he accomplished everything God desired and became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who puts their trust in Him ( Hebrews 5:9, Hebrew 7:25 ). Jesus has been exalted to His rightful place as Lord and will remain in this position eternally. "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ( Philippians 2:8-11 ). This confession of Jesus' lordship brings glory to God because it was His desire from the beginning that we would be reconciled through Jesus. And Jesus honored God's request.

Jesus had a choice and He chose us. God still offers this choice today. The work of salvation has been accomplished and now it is freely given to us as a gift through faith in Jesus. It is His desire that we accept this gift, but God does not make us choose him. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God" ( John 1:12-13 ).

The book of Roman is a masterfully written exposition on grace. This letter to the believers in Rome has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Paul wrote this letter to these Christians to explain his revelation of grace. This revelation was not made of man but Paul received it directly from the Lord Jesus himself. "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" ( Galatians 1:11-12 ). What Paul taught was beyond previous comprehension and understanding. Becoming a student of this letter will change your heart and bring you into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Because Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles he wrote to this church to settle a dispute between the Messianic Jews and the Gentiles. The church was a diverse group of people who had settled in Rome from other areas. There is no record of an a visit to this church by an apostle offering doctrinal teaching and guidance.  In fact many assume that these Christian had been in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given ( Acts 2 ). They spread and settled in Rome. The church was comprised of Gentiles who had converted from idol worship and devote Jews who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Problems arose when the Jews urged the Gentiles to live as Jews and undergo the rite of circumcision. Because of Paul's mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles he felt an obligation to write to this church and settle this dispute among them explaining in fullness the grace of God.

The book of Romans covers a multitude of topics including: grace, redemption, salvation by grace, being born again, the gospel, righteousness apart from the law, freedom from sin, eternal salvation, living by the Spirit and the love of God. Don't miss this incredible journey of faith.

Read a summary of each of the 16 chapters of Romans.

Growing up, one of the many verses that I memorized was Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." While this verse is true and something that the apostle Paul has been building a case for, in the previous chapters, the main focus of this passage of scripture are the verses that surround this statement.

Even though we were immersed in sin and could not obtain the righteous requirements of the Law, God revealed a righteousness completely separate and independent of the Law. This righteousness comes by faith in Jesus to all who believe. The righteousness that Paul is describing is the righteousness that God ascribes too. It is perfect and holy. Through faith in Jesus, we received this righteousness as a gift. Not a flawed human righteousness, but God's righteousness. Paul said in II Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus literally became sin, the very thing he hated and despised, in order that we could become righteous, the very thing we were incapable of being through the Law. It is truly amazing!

So even though everyone sinned, both Jews and Gentiles and fell short of the virtue that God ascribes to, we are justified freely through the grace that was provided in Christ Jesus. Now it is important to recognize that everyone has sinned and everyone has been forgiven through Jesus. When Christ suffered upon the cross, he suffered and paid the price for the sins of the entire world. Past, present and future . I John 2:2 says, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." meaning that while he completed the atoning work upon the cross he took care of every sin that will ever be committed, thus completely finishing his work and conquering death in the process. Romans 6:10 says, "The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." Since he broke the power of sin, he cannot die again, he did it once for all.

Now, does this mean that everyone is saved if everyone's sin has been paid for. No. Although it is true that the gift of God grace has been purchased for all and offered to all, the righteousness that is required by God only comes through Faith in Jesus Christ. We must believe and put our faith into action to accept this free gift in order to be saved. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" so saving grace works through faith. God simply took away sin so that it wasn't an issue with Him in order to extend the gift of His grace to us. But God wants relationship, that is why He doesn't force this grace onto anyone. He allows us to choose. He chose us. He called us. He provided the way for us. But He doesn't force us to choose Him. He desires for us to choose Him, but the fact remains that we must put our faith in Jesus in order to obtain the righteous of God that the Law could not provide for us.

The important thing to take away is that by His grace, through our faith, we are freely justified. While I was memorizing verses as a kid, we also memorized definitions to big words like justification. Justification means, 'just as if I'd never sinned." and If I am justified or it is 'just as if I'd never sinned' then I am righteous before God through faith. Today, I praise God through Jesus Christ that he became sin so that we could become righteous holy, completely forgiven and justified. Today I pray that you take this amazing truth and live a life worthy of your calling because you have been bought with a high price and with the precious blood of the Lamb.

Heart change comes quickly on the heels of Salvation. This is because at Salvation our entire being and nature is completely changed when we get the Holy Spirit deposited inside of us testifying to the fact that we now belong to the family of God. The Holy Spirit is given to us as the first fruits of our eternal redemption through Christ Jesus. This is a foretaste of the blissful things that are to come. Our bodies long to be clothed with Christ and like creation, we groan inwardly a waiting for this adoption to take place.

If the world and it's desires held anything over you, once you are born again, the illusions of this world seem to fade away. Replacing them comes a longing to be reunited with Christ. Paul talks in detail about this desire. In II Corinthians 5 Paul talks about a inward groaning in which we long to be further clothed and fitted with our heavenly dwelling. On this earth we long and groan under the burden of this body because we are being fitted with a heavenly body fashioned after Jesus ( II Corinthians 5:2-5 ). But in the same way that he is preparing us and making us fit for this heavenly body, the Holy Spirit is given to us as a guarantee of the fulfillment of this promise while on this earth ( II Corinthians 5:5 Amp ). So in this we can rejoice knowing that we have already received the firstfruits of our redemption.

The amazing thing about knowing this promise is that we can rest assured of our future with God. He left nothing up to chance but has done everything to bring restoration to us through his son Jesus. Today I am so blessed to be called a child of God. I am so blessed to have the Holy Spirit inside of me to testify to this wonderful truth every moment of the day. I pray that this truth blessed you today, Amen!