Is Hebrews 6:4-6 saying that if a person backslides (as I did for eighteen years), he cannot be forgiven and is doomed to hell?  I asked the Lord to forgive me six years ago and have been living the way His Word says to, but I’m unsure about this Scripture.  Please help if possible; I want the truth.

Sincerely,
Forward Slider

Dear Forward Slider,

Heb. 6:4-6 says that it is impossible for others to renew to repentance a brother who has fallen away.  It is always possible to come back to the Lord after falling away (1 Jn 1:9), but when someone has already been enlightened by the truth (Heb 6:4) and heard the word of God (Heb 6:4), there isn’t any teaching that can sway him from leading a wicked life.  If someone falls away from Christ, it means their heart has been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13), and it is up to that individual to soften their own heart and return to the Lord.  From your question, it is obvious that your heart has once again been pricked by the Scriptures, and you have made the decision to humbly return to the teachings of Christ.

I have a question about the Holy Spirit.  I know in the Bible that it says to deny the Holy Spirit is an eternal sin.  Does this mean that if I have ever said that the Holy Spirit does not exist – even after I have been saved (I had a falling out) – that I will go to hell?  I'd like an answer because I'm not in full understanding of what Jesus meant.

Sincerely,
Trying To Fall In

Dear Trying To Fall In,

The unforgivable sin is the sin against the Holy Spirit, and the fact that you are visiting this website is a pretty sure sign that you haven’t committed it.  Jesus says that any sin will be forgiven except for someone blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mk 3:28-30).  Jesus said this to the crowd that accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Mk 3:23).  That crowd could have been forgiven of any sin, but instead they rejected the miracles that testified that Jesus was from God.  Contrast that crowd’s attitude with Nicodemus’ attitude.  Nicodemus understood that the only way that someone could perform a miracle was if God was with him (Jhn 3:2).  When that crowd rejected the evidence that the Holy Spirit provided (in this case, the miracles), they rejected any chance to receive the forgiveness found in Jesus’ teachings.  When we reject the truth of God (the Bible), we reject the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s primary job is to bring the truth of the gospel to mankind (see the post “What the Holy Spirit Does” for more details).  Someone blasphemes the Holy Spirit by rejecting the truth that the Holy Spirit sent us in the Bible.  Any sin can be forgiven if we will turn to God’s Word and obey it (Rom 10:17, Heb 5:9), but there is absolutely no hope for someone if he or she will not accept the Holy Spirit’s Bible.

Therefore, since it seems that you are actively seeking the truth and trying to study and learn what God’s Word is – you can find comfort that you haven’t committed the unforgivable sin.

There was a page-sized ad in our newspaper last week from a church explaining why Jesus had to go to hell for three days and three nights.  What are your thoughts on this interpretation?

Sincerely,
Long Weekend

Dear Long Weekend,

Jesus went to Paradise when He died – He said so.  Jesus told the thief on the cross that they were both going to Paradise after they died (Lk 23:43).  Those who say that Jesus went to hell often refer to the verse where it states Jesus would spend three days and three nights in “the heart of the earth” (Matt 12:40).  However, that verse is simply stating that Jesus’ body would be buried for three days.  Jesus’ spirit was separated from His body at death (Jas 2:26).  Jesus’ body went into the ground, and His spirit went into Paradise.

I heard that it says in the Bible somewhere that the devil was seen coming to Earth as lightning from heaven, and I was told that translated in the old Hebrew, ‘lightning’ means ‘barak’ and ‘heaven’ means ‘high place’ or also ‘baumha’.  Is it true that this translation says He saw the devil come to Earth as “Barak Baumha”?  I’ve heard this many times.  Is it true?

Sincerely,
Red About Blue

Dear Red About Blue,

As interesting as the political implications of your question are, the answer is, “No, that’s not true.”  The verse you are referring to is Lk 10:18.  That particular verse is in the New Testament… which is written in Greek, not Hebrew.  The Greek word for ‘lightning’ is ‘astrapa’, and the Greek word for ‘heaven’ is ‘ouranos’.  So you can rest easy knowing that the whole barak-bauhma-equals-devil teaching is false.

A family member of mine said it was wrong according to the Bible and God that you should not take another christian to court.  What do you say?

Sincerely,
Legal Matters

Dear Legal Matters,

We say that your family member is 100% correct.  The Bible clearly states in 1 Cor 6:6-8 that christians shouldn’t take each other to court.  It brings shame upon the church, and it would be better to be defrauded and show love than to drag brethren to court.  Christians are supposed to have a higher moral standard than the average citizen… it only makes sense that brethren should honestly and faithfully try and handle matters with one another (1 Cor 6:1).