Text: Hebrews 6:18
Man is always thinking about possibilities – what could be, what might happen, etc. We dream about what might be possible and plan based upon what is impossible. The Bible also discusses possibilities and impossibilities. In this lesson, we are going to see what the Bible says is impossible.
Impossible for God to Lie (Hebrews 6:18)
- This is about the nature of God, so it is of utmost importance – God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19); contrary to His nature (1 John 1:5; Psalm 119:151, 172)
- Because God cannot lie, we can be encouraged to take hold of the hope He provides (Hebrews 6:18) – God made a promise to Abraham and fulfilled it (Hebrews 6:13-17); we have His promise and oath (Hebrews 6:18); therefore, our hope is sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19); no reason to doubt because God promised
Impossible for Blood of Bulls and Goats to Take Away Sins (Hebrews 10:4)
- Under the old law, sacrifices continued to be made for sins (Hebrews 9:25; 10:1, 3) – yet those sacrifices were never designed to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4); they looked forward to a perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-3, 5-12)
- This means two things – first, it is futile to go back to the old law (Hebrews 3:5-6; 8:8-13; Galatians 5:4); second, forgiveness can only be found through the one who fulfilled the old law (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44; Galatians 3:24); forgiveness is possible through the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22) which was done by Christ (Ephesians 1:7)
Impossible for Jesus to Be Held in Death (Acts 2:24)
- On Pentecost, Peter charged the crowd with being responsible for Jesus’ death (Acts 2:23) – He was rejected, yet this was God’s plan (Acts 2:22-23); but He would not just die, He would be raised from the dead (Acts 2:24)
- Why Jesus could not be held by the power of death – He was the creator (John 1:3); He existed prior to His incarnation (John 1:1-2); therefore, the resurrection was no more difficult than incarnation
- His resurrection gives us hope (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-22; Hebrews 6:19-20) – if we will conform to His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4-5)
Impossible to Please God without Faith (Hebrews 11:6)
- We cannot please God without faith, which involves belief and trust – must believe in the existence of God (cf. Romans 1:20); must trust Him to keep His promises (Hebrews 6:18)
- However, this faith is not passive or merely mental – must be an active faith (examples in Hebrews 11); faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:26, 24); Biblical faith is an obedient faith (Romans 1:5; Luke 6:46)
Impossible to Renew the Fallen (Hebrews 6:4-6)
- This passage does not teach that a Christian who falls away is without hope (Romans 11:20, 23; 2 Peter 3:9) – this passage is about those who are crucifyingChrist and putting Him to open shame; they are brazenly and openly rejecting Christ
- Why it is impossible for us to restore them – they knew the gospel and have rejected it; nothing else to appeal to (Romans 1:16); they will repent only whenthey change their heart; we can only admonish them in hopes that they do (2 Thessalonians 3:15)
Conclusion
- As we think about what the Bible says is impossible, we have noticed two things – God is not limited (He will always be God, act like God, and have the power of God); we are limited (we cannot save ourselves apart from God and cannot save others apart from His word)
- We need to have faith in God – who He is and what He can do
- If we do this, we can then please Him and receive the reward for the faithful
