The problem has arisen because scholars have, in some instance, gone too far. They have presented a sovereign grace that ignores our behavior. This position cannot be validated by the writings of the New Testament.

One can understand how such a conclusion could be reached, provided the remainder of the New Testament—and in fact, the Book of Hebrews itself—were ignored.

The Book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who, according to the text itself, were saved, filled with God's Spirit, had witnessed the powers of the age to come, and had joyfully suffered persecution. These were not baby Christians.

Yet the Book of Hebrews in its entirety was a powerful rebuke, a severe warning. The warning was that the believers were coming short of the rest of God and were liable to perish in the wilderness of unbelief and disobedience.

Now, if once having accepted Christ we are eternally forgiven apart from our behavior, the writer of Hebrews would not have warned the believers that if they drew back they would perish.

The Book of Hebrews exhorts us to labor to enter the rest of God. The rest of God is that state of being where we have found rest in God and God has found rest in us. This state is possible only when the three great branches of sin in us have been dealt with and removed. So the idea of an eternal forgiveness apart from a diligent pursuit of Christ finds no support in the Book of Hebrews.

Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)

According to the Scripture, sins were forgiven by the atonement made through the blood of bulls and goats.

According to the Scripture, the blood of bulls and goats could not take away the sin itself. The inference is that the atonement made by the Lord Jesus Christ, both as to the slain goat and also the goat of removal, can indeed take away our sins until we are set free from sin.

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36)

Whoever commits sin is a slave to that sin. The Lord Jesus came to set us free from sin, to remove the chains of sin from us.

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."  Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."  And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 10:12-18)

To be continued.