Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to today's broadcast. My text for this morning will be found in Hebrews chapter six. It's Hebrews chapter six. I want to read the first nine verses. Hebrews chapter six, verses one through nine. where the Hebrew epistle says this, therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on into perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms and laying out of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permit.

Now here's my actual text. Here's what I want us to look at, for it is impossible For those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing that they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain, that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing of God. But that which bare thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak thus."

The subject of Today's text is apostasy. You hear that word? Apostasy. The equivalent in my text to apostasy is found in chapter six, verse six. If they shall, and here's the word apostasy, fall away. In the Greek, that's one word. And it even sounds like our English word apostasy. That's it, right there. Fall away. Fall away.

Now sadly, in my experience, Most who profess to be Christians today have never heard of this biblical subject. Anyone I've ever been talking with and just bring up the subject of apostasy, they look at you as though you can realize that they've never heard of this subject before, but it's right here in the book. If they shall fall away, it's impossible to renew them again into repentance. So again, I'm saying it's a biblical subject.

And here's my title. Here's the serious matter of this thing. Here's my title for this message. No Remedy for Apostasy. Do you hear what I'm saying? No Remedy for Apostasy. because the writer says, and this we will do if God permit, verse three, for it is impossible, and then you can move to, then he explains who these people are, for it is impossible, then move to verse six, if they fall away. It's impossible to do what? To renew them, to renew them again unto repentance. So again, no remedy, no remedy for apostasy, first of all.

First of all, this is not novel to the Hebrew epistle. This is not just something found one place in the Bible. Listen to what the Apostle John wrote concerning this thing of apostasy. He put it in slightly different words, but he's saying the same thing. He's talking about apostasy. And we read of it from John in 1 John 2 19 specifically. They went out from us. Do you see it? They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. He talked about apostasy. People who had joined up, as we say. People who maybe had made a profession, as we say, but it didn't last. They went away, and they went away in such a manner that they made it clear, we don't believe like you believe. We don't believe who you believe. They went away, they fell away. That's what John said about the matter.

Listen to what John also said, he records, an account concerning a time with our Lord Jesus Christ. And our Lord Jesus Christ had given some people some very tough language to chew on, if you will. And listen to what he says about them in John chapter six. And let me just begin in John chapter six and verse 60. So it says, many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is a hard saying, who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, does this offend you? Now, remember they're called disciples, they were following, okay, they were following. Does this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life, but there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, therefore said I unto you. Now he's already said this once, he's saying it again. Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my father. He spoke of the fact that it takes an act of God for this to happen. It takes an act of God for a man or a woman to be saved.

And look, and from that, now if you're reading along, you notice the word time there, it's in italics. It's not about a time per se. That doesn't destroy it, but you gotta, it's because of what he said. From that, many of his disciples went back and walked, do you see it? And walked no more with him. So that's apostasy. That's apostasy in what I'm going to call its negative form. It's true, that is actual apostasy.

But we also see the opposite of that. Now, listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Colossae. And Paul wrote these words to our brothers and sisters at the church at Colossae. He wrote in Colossians chapter one, in just a few verses, Colossians one and verse 20. And speaking of Christ now, and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. Now we're going to see, we're going to read the opposite of apostasy. If you continue in the faith, do you see it? If you continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister. If you continue, do you see that?

Listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. And he wrote, this is the opposite now of apostasy. We looked at apostasy. They were a part of us, but they went out from us. And to make sure, to make it manifest that they weren't really of us, listen to the way Paul put it to the Church of Philippi. Philippians 1, Paul. And to Mothius, the servants of Jesus Christ. And to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which were at Philippi with the bishops and deacons. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. always in every prayer of mine for you all, making requests with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first until now, being confident of this very thing. Now here it is, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

You see, the problem was these other people, these apostates, these people who had went into apostasy, if you will, mentioned in Hebrews chapter six, They made a profession. They joined up. They joined the group. They may have even been baptized. They may have even stood before the congregation and said, I believe who you believe. I believe like you believe. But it didn't last. Eventually, they turn away from it. They fall away from it. They no longer believe its apostasy.

There are many more references in the scriptures to both the actual act of apostasy and the opposite of apostasy, but I'm not going to just go over that and over that and over that. There are two things there. When God saves a person, when God starts the work, when God does it, God will perform it all the way to the end. But if God's not really in it, they won't last. They'll turn away. They'll fall away.

So first of all, remember, Remember, it's not novel to this Hebrews chapter six. I realize this chapter six is astounding because it says, for it is impossible. That's what it says. For it is impossible if they shall fall away to renew them again into repentance. And it means exactly what it says. It is impossible.

But here's the second thing. Those who go into apostasy look like those who never do in the beginning of a conversion experience, and that's what the writer says here. He says in verse three, and this will do if God permit, for it is impossible, then he defines some of the characteristics these people had went through, something that had happened to them. Look, for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted of the good word of God and of the powers of the world to come. If they fall away, if they fall away, it's impossible to renew them again into repentance.

So they look like their experience, what they seem to have went through looks outwardly just like what everybody else has went through, but they turn from it. They fall away. And we will also read this in Acts chapter eight, Acts chapter eight. And Luke tells us of an account of this, and I'm not going to read all of it, it's quite a lengthy passage, but in Acts chapter eight, and the main verses I'll give you, you can study it later, are Acts eight, verses nine through 23, this man called Simon. He was a sorcerer. And it says in verse 12, but when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also. He says he believed, believed also. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered and behold the miracles and the signs that were done. But then he tried to buy this power. One thing, he didn't have it. His believing came from something other than God. His believing welled up within himself, but it wasn't an act of God.

His baptism was just, it looked just like everybody else's, but it wasn't out of submission to Jesus Christ for everything, because he thought he could buy this gift of the Spirit. But I want you to look. I want you to look in verse 18, what Simon Peter said, and when Simon Peter saw, I'm sorry, what Simon, the sorcerer, and when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money saying, give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

You see, it's not up to men. This is an act of God. He still thought it was an act of men because God hadn't acted on him. He believed and was baptized and was totally flesh. But look, but Peter said unto him, thy money, look at it, thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter. Oh, here it is. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee, for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

And then look at what Simon says, we'll see how it was impossible for him, look at it. Then answered Simon and said, pray ye to the Lord for me. You see that? He couldn't do it himself. Couldn't do it, why? Because it wasn't real. It was all made up. It looked just like everybody else's, but it was all made up. Then answered Simon and said, pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. How sad a situation is that?

And even looking, listen to what Matthew records in Matthew chapter 24. And of course he is speaking here, giving us the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, Matthew chapter 24. And let me begin in verse 10. And Jesus is talking about the end times and things that would happen near the end. And he said in verse 10 of Matthew 24, and then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise and deceive many. Do you see it? They're still religious. They're still preaching the Bible. They may even talk about Jesus, but they're what? False prophets. They're deceivers. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. That's apostasy. The love of many shall wax cold, but he, you see it? But he that shall endure unto the end. Not be endured at the end. That's not what it says. It says he that endures unto the end, the same shall be saved.

So again, those who go into apostasy look like those who never do in the beginning of a conversion experience. But here's the third thing I wanna bring to your attention. The apostate has no remedy. The apostate has no hope. Now, you and I cannot look at a person, and they make a profession of faith, they are baptized, they join the church, and we begin to see some things that look a little off, but we can't really know. We don't see the heart, but God knows the heart. God sees whether or not he's done a work down in here or not.

But these apostates, they have no remedy. We don't know this individually of people, but we know it's true of some people. The apostate has no remedy, no hope, no escape from the dilemma which he or she has fallen into. What does it say? For it is impossible. if they shall fall away, if they do, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing that they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." Oh, how sad are those words. Listen to how Peter put it. Peter speaks of the same thing, and the same kind of people, if you will.

2 Peter, and verse... 2 Peter 2, and let me just begin in verse 20. Now listen to it. 2 Peter 2 and 20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and here it is, and overcome, there's the thing. God's people, true believers, true born-again believers fall, and they sin, they sin. But no, they, what? They are entangled therein and overcome, look at it, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. See, they turned, they turned away, they fell away, they abandon it.

But it has happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog. The dog is turned to his own vomit again. And the sow that is washed, she's still just a sow, but the sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire. Do you see it? Oh, how sad, how sad. You see, again I say. First of all, this is not novel. Apostasy is not novel. It's not found just in one place in the Bible. It's all throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament as well. And secondly, those who go into apostasy look just like everybody else in the beginning, but they're not. And thirdly, the apostate has no remedy. You hear me? No hope, no escape. It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance.

Now, religious zealots can argue once saved, always saved, or they can argue, can a person be lost after they saved? They can argue that all they wish. The prophet of old said, let's let the pot sherds strive with the pot sherds, but let not a man strive with his maker. And you could argue about these things all day long, but let me tell you something. This is the validity of scripture. This is the truth of scripture. From beginning to end, here's the question, who saved you? Who saved you? If God saved you, it'll be forever, Ecclesiastes chapter three. But if you work this up yourself, if this is an act of what you call your own free will, if this is something that you've kind of mustered up within yourself, I'm gonna tell you, it won't last. It takes an act of God Almighty from start to finish for a man or a woman to continue, to continue on in the end.

Does your pastor do that? Does he teach this? What about your denomination? What about your church? Is it your opinion that one can be lost after they're saved? Okay, then stick with the facts of what it says here. If you believe this is talking about a saved person, a truly saved, a person saved by God, and you believe that that person is lost, then you better tell the truth that you're not saved and lost and saved and lost and saved and lost. You're saved and then lost forever. if you're consistent. But this is not talking about a person God has saved and then becomes lost. This is talking about a person who's made a profession of faith under the power of their own flesh and of their own will and of their own way. They don't last. They fall away. And if they've heard the truth, If they've heard the truth and it's been the truth that stirred them up, the truth that moved them, but not no spirit of God with it, no power of God in it, then eventually they'll move away. They'll fall away. They will walk no more with Christ nor with his people. This is exactly what the text says.

The fact is this, if what you believe about Christ and his cross work, if that's not enough, If what he did the first time, if what he did the first time when he converted you, if what he did the first time when you were saved, if that's not good enough, what good will a second one do? Salvation's by the work of Christ, not by how you respond to it. You respond to it because of the power of God if you continue in the faith. Grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.

But if you turn your back on it, If you move away from it, you're a goner. You're a goner. So away with this, well, I've been saved and lost several times. Well, maybe so, but you weren't saved by God. The salvation you experienced, and I'm not doubting you had an experience, but the salvation you experienced was not an act of God, it was an act of you, and therein lies the problem. Therein lies the problem. You see, it is a matter of who does the saving, and that's exactly what the writer goes on.

For the earth, which, verse seven of Hebrew six, for the earth which drinketh in the rain and cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing of God. You see it? but that which bear thorns and briars, what is rejected and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. But beloved, we're persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak thus." A little bit of hope there, right? Why? Because you're continuing on. You're holding to it firm and steadfast.

You see, the fact is, if what you believe about Christ, again I say, if the fact is what you believe about Christ and his cross work is not enough, then what else is there? What else is there? Here is our text epistles truth on Christ's person and cross work. Hebrews chapter two, let me read that. Hebrews chapter two, listen to what it says. This is about Christ and his cross work. Hebrews chapter two and verse 10.

For it became him, this is speaking of Christ. For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings for both he that sanctified and they who are sanctified are all of one. Did he sanctify, did he sanctify you or was you sanctifying yourself? Now which one is it? It's one or the other. It's one or the other. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, behold, I and the children, which God, do you see it? Which God has given me.

Look at chapter three. Look at chapter three of Hebrews. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, and as much as he who hath builted the house hath more honor than the house. Now, here's the question. Who built your house? Did God build your house or did you build it yourself? You say, well, preacher, I believe what you believe. You turn from it, that's fine. But you turn from it, you'll perish and you'll have no hope. You'll have no relief. You'll have no relief.

For every house is built by some man, but he that built all things is God. For Moses truly or verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were spoken of after. But Christ, you see it? But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm unto the end. That's who he died for. That's who he stood for. That's who he sanctified. And he who sanctifies and they who are sanctified, they're all of one.

Did he do the sanctifying? Is he the one that done it? Look at chapter six in our text chapter and look at what it says, verse 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which ye have shewed toward his name and in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister. And we desire that every one of you shew the same diligence of full assurance of hope unto the end. that you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, saying, surely, blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. Who did the blessing? Did God bless you, or was you there blessing yourself? Was God doing something for you, or were you doing something for God? Which one is it? And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men, truly, they verily swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife, wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath he swore on it.

that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled, do you see it? Fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and that which entereth into that within the veil, whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made in high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, you see?

If you can be saved and lost, saved and lost, and saved and lost, then you evidently got another Jesus. You got one that don't have the power to keep you, the power to save, that when he saves you, he has the power to keep on saving you. It's one or the other. It's one or the other. And if you say, well, I used to believe what you believe, preacher. Well, if you've turned your back on it, you're in trouble. You're in trouble because it is impossible. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance. Why? Seeing that they crucify to themselves, to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame. That's saying Christ Jesus, what he did is not good enough.

Do you hear the truth of our epistle? Have you heard this truth? Does it strike fear within you? Listen to what Paul put in chapter 10, and I'll summarize this with this. Hebrews 10, 38, now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, do you see that? If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Now here's the glorious thing, look at it. But we are not of them who draw back. unto utter ruin, do you see it? Unto utter ruin. But of them that believe, and you could say from the Greek, you could say, and to them that keep on believing. But to them that believe, they believe to the saving of the soul.

Once God Almighty lays hold of you, he will never let go. You ever turn your back on Christ, you're a goner. You're a goner, amen.