SGYA: Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Dwelling Richly-Always Prepared-Thinking Biblically

Understanding Hebrews 6:1-8

So Glad You Asked.

Listen to or Watch the complete message about what Hebrews 6:1-8 is teaching.

Some parts of the Bible feel like a warm hug—comforting, clear, easy to hold onto. And then there’s Hebrews 6:1–8.

This is one of those passages. The kind that makes faithful Christians pause and ask questions like:

Could I lose my salvation?
Have I messed up too much?
Is this talking about me?

If you’ve ever wrestled with those thoughts, you’re not alone. And I’m so glad you asked.

A Passage That’s Prompted Centuries of Debate

Hebrews 6:4–6 is one of the most hotly debated texts in the New Testament. Scholars and pastors across the theological spectrum—Calvinist, Arminian, Conditional Security, and everything in between—have written volumes on just a few verses.

So what’s actually going on here? Is this a warning that a Christian can lose their salvation?

To answer that, we have to do what I always remind my Bible study friends to do: Context! Context! Context!

The verses right before Hebrews 6—specifically Hebrews 5:11–14—are about spiritual immaturity. The writer is urging believers to grow up in their faith and stop settling for spiritual milk. And he’s not talking to brand-new believers here. He’s addressing Christians who had become spiritually lazy and sluggish.

So the issue isn’t salvation—it’s sanctification. The warning is real, but it’s not about being unsaved. It’s about being unfaithful, disobedient, and at risk of losing something precious—not your position in Christ, but your progress and reward.

A Serious Warning, A Shepherding Tone

When we get to Hebrews 6:4–6, the tone is weighty. Words like “fall away” and “impossible to renew to repentance” sound final and frightening. But here’s something fascinating: verse 6 contains four Greek words that appear nowhere else in the New Testament. That alone tells us this passage must be handled carefully and humbly.

And when we do, we see something powerful emerge—not a threat of damnation, but a warning of discipline. The same kind of discipline Israel experienced at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13–14) when they refused to trust God and missed out on entering the Promised Land.

Like Israel, the believers in Hebrews were tempted to shrink back—to abandon spiritual maturity, to avoid persecution, and to take the easy way out. The author is saying: Don’t do it. Don’t stop short. Press on to maturity.

Three Hearts, One Savior

In my sermon, I described three kinds of hearts I believe are listening:

The Worried Heart
You’ve lived with fear and doubt—wondering if you’ve believed enough or done enough. This passage, surprisingly, is for your assurance.
The Casual Heart
You’ve treated grace lightly. You’ve worn the “Team Jesus” jersey but ignored the Coach. This passage is your wake-up call to real repentance.
The Equipped Heart
You’re walking with Jesus. You love His Word. And you want to help others. This passage will deepen and strengthen you as you disciple others.

So… Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation?

If you’re truly in Christ, the answer is no. But Hebrews 6 is asking a different question:

Are you pressing on in maturity—or pulling back in disobedience?

This is a passage meant to stir us—not into anxiety, but into action. Into trusting Jesus, not ourselves. Into obeying, repenting, encouraging one another, and holding firm to the faith we profess.

So glad you asked.

🎧 Listen to the Full Sermon

Podcast: Dwelling Richly on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more
YouTube: Hebrews 6:1–8 – “Too Far Gone”
On the Blog

🙌 Let’s keep asking good questions—and digging into God’s Word for faithful answers.

I hope this gives you clarity and maybe even sparks more questions. If so, please reach out—I’d love to hear from you!

You are loved, you are prayed for, and I’m so glad you asked.

Questions about the Bible? I’m so glad you asked!

You can submit questions about the Bible, living the Christian life, dealing with difficult situations/people/life issues – really anything on your mind, and I’ll share my thoughts and responses. I’d love to hear from you. No question is off-limits – Submit questions about this or any topic to DwellingRichly@gmail.com or https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/podcast/#question

Here are some online resources you can explore to deepen your understanding of the passages and topics discussed in this episode:

https://www.biblegateway.com/ – A comprehensive resource for reading and comparing multiple Bible translations, which can help clarify challenging passages. It also includes commentaries and study tools.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/ – This site offers verse-by-verse study tools, including original language lexicons, concordances, and commentaries. It’s a great resource for digging deeper into the text.
https://www.gotquestions.org/ – An extensive database of answers to common biblical questions. It provides clear, biblically sound explanations on a wide range of topics, including the afterlife and resurrection.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments. Leave a note below and be sure to join the mailing list and stay in touch!