As I dig again into my precious box of treasures, I bring out this very interesting and most important study entitled, "The Five Warnings of Hebrews". It is a little longer than most, but certainly well worth the read. Two of the most abused, misunderstood, and misapplied passages of Scripture pertaining to a Christian's ability to lose his/her salvation is Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-31. Neither of these passages teach as purported - but reader, I am going to ask that you faithfully, prayerfully, and carefully read the study for yourself.
This particular uncopyrighted, out-of-print booklet was written by John W. Lawrence, Th. M., of the Open Door Bible Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
THE PREFACE
Today we are living in a period of time like the days of Noah when there is no fear of GOD before men's eyes (Romans 3:18). The unsaved know the judgment of GOD is upon those who do such things as they do today yet they not only do them but they have pleasure in them that do them (Romans 1:32). They are treasuring up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgments of GOD (Romans 2:5).
What is even worse than this, if such could be the case, is that the saved have no fear of GOD before their eyes. You do not love someone you do not respect. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10; cf. 1:7). "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13). The early church had a correct Godly fear of their GOD, and this is the reason they went out and turned the world right-side-up. Notice this is Acts:
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul" (2:42-43).
"And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things . . . And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (5:5, 11).
"Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied" (9:31; cf. 19:17).
May GOD be pleased to use these pages to help stem the tide of fearlessness among believers today. "Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28-29). "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name" (Malachi 3:16).