John MacArhtur Nullifying the Word of God

In his introduction to a series on the book of Hebrews found at http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/1600 John MacArthur claims this epistle was written to more than one type of people. He says: “Now here is the very critical basis for understanding the book, and this is where people get all messed up, especially interpreting Hebrews Chapter 6. We must understand that there were three basic types of people in view throughout this Epistle. Three basic types of people. If you do not understand these three basic types of people then it becomes very confusing.”

Just who are these three basic types of people the book of Hebrews was written to according to MacArthur? They are the believing Hebrew Christians and two types of unbelievers: the Hebrew non-Christian intellectually convinced and the intellectually unconvinced. In other words, he is basically saying it was written both to believers and unbelievers.

Now what would lead him to consider this book was written not just to believers but to unbelievers also? It seems a bit fishy to me that two of the strongest warning passages against apostasy in all of Scripture (6:4-6; 10:26-27) are found in this book and both of them, according to MacArthur, were not written to believers but to unbelievers or the Hebrew non-Christian intellectually convinced, as he calls them. Actually, there is a very purposeful reason for him to come up with this interpretation. It keeps the system of Calvinism intact. Because, according to this theology, no true believer could ever forfeit their salvation and be lost forever. If that could happen then the whole system of Calvinism crumbles. Therefore, there are really only two ways a Calvinist can interpret these warning passages and maintain their system; either they are hypothetical and could never truly happen or they were written to unbelievers. MacArthur, it appears, opted for the latter.

This is actually a very dangerous proposition to teach. These warning passages serve to keep believers continuing in the faith and not falling away by genuinely warning them of what could happen. But when Calvinists like MacArthur undermine the authority of these Scriptures they are setting up true believers to possibly fall away. I am terrified to think that there may be some believers who actually have left the faith because MacArthur nullified the word of God (see Matt. 15:6) by making the warnings of no effect. The internationally reaching platform he has to teach from influences untold multitudes.

The apostle Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus: “Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (Acts 20:26-27). I am fearful for MacArthur’s sake that he may not be innocent of the blood of some men.