(I Timothy 6:12)

It is obvious, to me at least, that the Scriptures are being distorted in order to prove that Christianity is adherence to a set of mental beliefs and that an outworking in actual righteousness and holiness of behavior, while certainly desirable, is not essential to salvation. Once we have subscribed to the correct position mentally and confess this position with our mouth we are forever eligible for eternal residence in the Paradise of God and no behavior of ours can jeopardize our security.

It is because of this fallacy that Hebrews 6:4-6 cannot be accepted as the inspired Word of God but must be wrenched and distorted until it does not apply in a straightforward manner to the believers of today.

It is impossible to renew them again to repentance.

Does this mean that if you have failed God at some point you are doomed? You never again can repent?

No, it does not mean that.

It means that if you are a well established Christian of several years experience, rooted and grounded in the Lord and His Word, and then turn around and go back into sin, you may or may not be able to find the gift of repentance. The ability to repent is a gift from God. Don't play around with it. You may lose it.

I have seen a sobering example of what can happen to a Christian who goes back into sin. I was waiting to go into a service to preach and was accosted in the hallway by a man possibly forty years of age. He was very feeble. I did not recognize him. He who once had been a vibrant Christian was now appearing as a street bum wearing an old coat.

He said, "Don't you recognize me"?

I said, "No, I don't."

And then he gave me his name.

A few years ago he had been active in the ministry, bouncing around and praising the Lord like we all do.

Then he fell into sin and apparently was in sin for some years.

Now he was terrified. He felt he had sinned past the point of forgiveness.

Please don't give me all this stuff about how you just ask for forgiveness and bingo you're perfect again. I am talking about a real person having a real experience. He could not find the joy of the Lord!

He kept saying, "I can't sweat. If I could only sweat but I can't sweat."

I don't know what kind of medical problem he was having. But he was one sick dude, not only physically but spiritually.

I tried to encourage him but he kept trembling and talking about sweating. He was asking me if I thought he had sinned beyond the point of no return.

I saw that no glib answer was going to suffice.

I said, "Come into the meeting tonight. Every time the doors open come to church. Sit in the back if you want to but come. Maybe at some point the Lord will meet you."

To be continued.