Hebrews 6:4-6

Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV) 26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The Point of No Return Is there A Line That One Can Cross That Returning To God Is Impossible? Crossing the Rubicon is a metaphor for deliberately proceeding past a point of no return. The phrase originates with Julius Caesar's invasion of Ancient Rome (January 10, 49 BC), when he led his army across the Rubicon River in violation of law, thus making conflict inevitable. Therefore the term "the Rubicon" is used as a synonym to the "point of no return". Alea iacta est ("The dice is cast"), which is reportedly what Caesar said during the aforementioned crossing of the Rubicon. The equivalent expressions Burn one's bridges. The expression is derived from the idea of burning down a bridge after crossing it during a military campaign, leaving no option but to win, and motivating those who otherwise might want to retreat. This expression can also be used figuratively, as in, "On my last day at my old job, I told my boss what I really think about the company. I guess I burned my bridges." Burn one's boats, a variation of burning one's bridges. The Muslim commander Tariq ibn Ziyad, upon setting foot on the Iberian Peninsula (711 AD), ordered his ships to be burnt, so that his men had no choice but to thrust forward and conquer the peninsula. The same strategy was used by Hernan Cortes (1485-1547), who burned and sank his boats, so no other option was left than to advance into Aztec territory. It happened several times in World history such as the famous Mutiny_on_the_Bounty#Mutineers_on_Pitcairn_Island. "Break the woks and sink the boats (破釜沉舟)", an ancient Chinese saying referring to Xiang Yu's order at the Battle of Julu (207 BC); by fording a river and destroying all means of re-crossing it, he committed his army to a struggle to the end with the Qin and eventually achieved victory.

The Point of No Return Pharaoh – Exodus 9:7,34,35; 10:1 Saul – Jeremiah 7:16-20 (NKJV) 16 "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. 19 Do they provoke Me to anger?" says the LORD. "Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?" Pharaoh – Exodus 9:7,34,35; 10:1 Saul – 1 Samuel 15:23,26; Israel – Isaiah 44:18,20 Judah – Jeremiah 7:16-24 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." Isaiah 44:18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. Exodus 10:1 Now the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, Exodus 9:7 7  Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

The Point of No Return Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV) 1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Rejection of Spiritual Instruction The Point of No Return “He who is often rebuked” Rejection of Spiritual Instruction Physical evidence – (Rom 1:20; Ps 19:1) Circumstances – (death of loved one / Birth / hardships / moments of decision) God’s word – (Prov. 1:14-31) Proverbs 1:15-16 (NKJV) 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, Psalm 19:1 (NKJV) 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Stubborn Disobedience The Point of No Return “and hardens his neck,” Stubborn Disobedience Openly defiant – (Psalm 14:1) Pride – (Jer. 13:15-17; Jam 4:6-10) Covetousness – (Ez 33:31) Pleasure of sin – (2 Tim 3:4; Eph 4:17-19) Procrastination - (Prov 27:1; Acts 24:22-27; James 4:13-17; 2 Cor. 6:1; Heb 3:7; 4:7) 2 Timothy 3:4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, Ezekiel 33:31 (NKJV) 31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Psalm 14:1 (NKJV) 1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. Proverbs 27:1 (NKJV) 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Jeremiah 13:15-17 15 Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the LORD has spoken. 16 Give glory to the LORD your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death And makes it dense darkness. When a man has pleasure in unrighteousness – he chooses that which is deceptive – it is wrapped in delusion – It is part of God’s righteous judgment that those who choose the delusion instead of the truth that they receive what they want – A man wants his pleasure – so here comes a preacher preaching he can be saved while continuing in his sinful life – he joyfully believes him.

Stubborn Disobedience The Point of No Return “and hardens his neck,” Stubborn Disobedience "The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't." ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~ When a man has pleasure in unrighteousness – he chooses that which is deceptive – it is wrapped in delusion – It is part of God’s righteous judgment that those who choose the delusion instead of the truth that they receive what they want – A man wants his pleasure – so here comes a preacher preaching he can be saved while continuing in his sinful life – he joyfully believes him.

“Will suddenly be destroyed,” The Point of No Return “Will suddenly be destroyed,” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Sudden Destruction Separated from God – (Isaiah 59:1,2) Literally, “shall be broken” – (Pro 6:15 – Not instant physical death – but spiritually broken beyond the possibility of restoration –1 Tim. 4:2) Strong delusion – (2 Thes. 2:10- 12; John 12:39-43) Isaiah 59:1-2 1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. The door of penitence, to which earnest, well-meant admonition calls a man, does not always remain open. He who with stiff-necked persistence in sin and in self-delusion sets himself in opposition to all endeavours to save his soul, shall one day suddenly, and without the prospect and possibility of restoration (cf. Jer_19:11), become a wreck. literally, “shall be broken” Pro_6:15.

“that without remedy.” The Point of No Return Without Remedy Hebrews 6:4-6 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. Jeremiah 7:13-16 13 And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, 14 therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren--the whole posterity of Ephraim. 16 "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Deuteronomy 4:29-30 29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice 31  (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. Ezekiel 18:21-23 21 "But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live? Without Remedy God will not refuse the truly penitent – (Deut. 4:29,30; Ezek. 18:21-23;) But the heart can be so destroyed by ones own sin that he will not repent – (Jer. 7:13-16; Heb. 6:4-6) The door of penitence, to which earnest, well-meant admonition calls a man, does not always remain open. He who with stiff-necked persistence in sin and in self-delusion sets himself in opposition to all endeavours to save his soul, shall one day suddenly, and without the prospect and possibility of restoration (cf. Jer_19:11), become a wreck. literally, “shall be broken” Pro_6:15.

The Point of No Return Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV) 1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Attitude and Direction is the Difference The Point of No Return Attitude and Direction is the Difference Sin / Repent Stumble / Repent

Attitude and Direction is the Difference The Point of No Return Sin / Sorrow, but refuses to repent Sin more / Rejects God’s plea Sins even more / hardens heart Sins even more / Heart destroyed Sin way of life / No remedy Attitude and Direction is the Difference

The Point of No Return “that without remedy.” Without Remedy There are some that preaching, pleading, and loving will not penetrate their calloused heart! They have hardened their hearts against the truth – They have destroyed their conscience so that they cannot feel their guilt and need – They are without REMEDY The door of penitence, to which earnest, well-meant admonition calls a man, does not always remain open. He who with stiff-necked persistence in sin and in self-delusion sets himself in opposition to all endeavours to save his soul, shall one day suddenly, and without the prospect and possibility of restoration (cf. Jer_19:11), become a wreck. literally, “shall be broken” Pro_6:15.

The Point of No Return 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Point of No Return Today is the day of salvation – 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb 3:7; 4:7; Jesus invites you to come – Mat. 11:28-30; Rev. 22:17 Satan wants you to resist, reject God and be destroyed! How will you respond to God’s rebuke, mercy and LOVE?

The Point of No Return There is a choice you have to make, In everything you do. And you must always keep in mind, The choice you make makes you.

There is a POINT of return! Please come forward as we stand and sing! Obey God Today! Hear Believed Repent Confess Be Baptized Live a faithful life Please come forward as we stand and sing!