It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Impossible!

Faith - it is something which man must possess to be saved. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (all emphases mine - HL) (Hebrews 11:6). According to this verse, what is impossible? To please God without faith. According to this verse, what must one do? Believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek Him. How is the seeking to be done? Diligently.

There are three key words in Hebrews 11:6. In this article, we will look at one of them - "impossible". Impossible means "not capable of happening." What is not possible, according to this verse? To please God without faith. The word "impossible" is used few times in the New Testament, and only 3 times from Acts to Revelation; all three times are in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 6:18 says it is "impossible for God to lie." Can we conclude, then, that salvation is not possible for that one who does not believe that the Bible is God's book by which man is to be governed? Some may say we are to be subject to the law of Moses. Remember that in a previous article we mentioned the Alabama judge who posted the "Ten Commandments" on his courtroom wall. Remember, also, if we have faith in God, we will believe what His Word reveals to us. How important was it for the Israelites to believe and obey Moses' law (which was the law of God for them)? "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses" (Hebrews 10:28). What does God say, in the New Testament, regarding the Mosaic law? "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:14). Jesus Christ is "the mediator of the New Testament" (Hebrews 9:15). When He shed His blood on the cross, the veil in the Jewish temple (under the first testament) was "rent in twain." Therefore, if one does not believe the Word of God that a New Testament came into being, taking the place of the first Testament, it is impossible to be saved.

Man then must diligently follow the commands of the New Testament in order to be saved. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).Two verses previously, John alludes to the lifting up by Moses of the brazen serpent in the wilderness. By looking upon this serpent, all who were bitten by the "fiery serpents" would not die from the bites (see Numbers 21:6-9). John says Jesus must be lifted up, to die on the cross, so that when we look into the "perfect law of liberty," which was brought into force by His death on the cross, we can be saved. It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18)! It is impossible to be saved without this faith (Hebrews 11:6)!