It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8
About 10 years ago, I was teaching a class in a preeminently Calvinist group of people. The scope of my engagement was that I would present “controversial” passages giving the various interpretations, and then let each decide their own view. In teaching this section, I presented various views and then broke down the various arguments and ended by saying “We report, you decide!”
The following week, a guy came up to me and said, “Boy Don, you really had me going last week! I had to go home and look this up in my study Bible, and then I saw the note that said that the author obviously was talking about people who weren’t really all the way saved. That was sure a clever way to get us to go deeper into the word!” Yes, clever.
I thanked the man and told him that it was great to hear that he went deeper into the word, and found the answer in a margin note… the irony, I’m afraid, was lost on him that day. Clearly, his margin note might reflect they way this is often explained, but it seems at odds with the text under review.
Let’s get back into context. We are in a section of warning to Christians enduring terrible persecution, not to fall away from the faith. We just covered in the last post the section referring to spiritual maturity, and now the warning gets a little pointed. It is not possible for someone who falls away from their faith in Christ to return to the faith. Now, a closer look:
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, (6:4) This verse is a parallelism., thus “enlightened”, “the heavenly gift” and “shared in the Holy Spirit” are all referring to the same thing: receiving the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Let’s be very clear and simple. It doesn’t really matter what your doctrinal position is, the only way that someone can receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit without “really” being saved, is if they could fool God. It seems unlikely to me that this is possible! Moving on, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age (6:5) this also provides a challenge for some, for how does an unbeliever “taste the goodness of the word of God”? The only way would be if the “Word” is something on a printed page, rather than a Person. (cf. John 1:14) Tasting the powers of the coming age…? Isn’t that the power to overcome death? (Hint: Yes) So far, the author is referring to a person who has received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and received the gift of eternal life, and then… and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (6:6) Here you can see that they have fallen away and would need to be brought back to repentance. Repentance is something that we do after we first believe. This person, who has received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the gift of eternal life, would need to be brought back to repentance, so it is impossible since they would be crucifying the Lord over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace. It sure sounds to me like this person had been a real Christian, but they gave it all up and now can’t come back. Verses 7 and 8 use another metaphor (land) to underscore that conclusion, or at least that’s how I read it.
If you, dear reader, prefer the doctrine of eternal security, that’s OK by me, but I wouldn’t suggest this text as being one that supports it. Yes, I know there are other passages; maybe they support it better than this one.
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:9-12
This paragraph begins the transition into the next area of discussion in the letter, and it does so on a more optimistic note, showing the love and mercy of God. Even though our author has just delivered a very serious warning, he believes that the people who read it will heed the warning and remain faithful. Notice he says “in your case” as opposed to in every case, meaning that some others might not be so wise. Notice also that our attention is now turned to God’s mercy and forgiveness. This is a really important thing for us to bear in mind, for God is not looking for a technicality to have as an excuse to cut anybody off from relationship. He knows that we will make mistakes, He knows that we will slip up, and the blood of Christ is sufficient for those cases. If we can lose our salvation, we would have to really work at it before God gave up on us; we would need to utterly reject Him and walk away, and to me, this seems like a very rare thing, as opposed to those who might have a season out in the wilderness, or benign neglect of our relationship with Him.
The whole point of the warning bears this out; God loves us, even when we aren’t doing a very good job in following Him. Yet, it is much better if we hang in there and see things through!
Life Project Blog 
Don, I find myself in a quandary. And I prefer to share it and learn rather than sit on it and stew. For what is in my mind is this:
This teaching today could be so easily absorbed as an “applies to everyone in every life” kind of way. As such, I feel no need to find other passages – I do not read this text as even relevant to “eternal security” whatever that my be – nor do I need to live my life in fear of being shut out. Not unless …
Yet this book of Hebrews is a letter to a specific group of people. A group who are fearful of their lives and freedom. Who are already hiding (something Jesus also did when he veered away from certain locations in favour of others). Seems to me this specific group faced a very real decision: to continue holding their faith and if caught to be tossed on a fire for amusement, or to publicly denounce their God Jesus and avoid that death.
In context that is a very conscious choice/decision. And one rarely presented to the fumbling, error strewn, try hard and try again life most of us live. “Giving it all up” in the context of this passage to me is not the slip-sliding living gifted to most of us. Rather it is a specific point made to a specific group at a specific time. And one each of us may at some point in our own lives face – that same moment of publicly choosing faith – or publicly choosing to denounce God. I pray I am never faced with that moment – and if I am … I will get back to you!
So these words are valid and are part of my faith. As always – with Love and God as their core. And as always you have an ordinary take on this small part of this passage. As always my words are just me being me. Not seeking debate. Simply seeking that consistency of God that we must.
Paul I really wish that everyone took the view you express here, but sadly they don’t, or at least many don’t, favoring one of those “isms” out there. Ironically, it’s one of those “isms” with lots of extra rules, one that is quite common in the US today. I try to teach a little bit when opportunity arises, I suppose…
Suppose nothing! You are gifted with the teaching gene. In one of the kindest, gentlest and most consistent ways I have come across. Each book you touch glows a little brighter, his words speak a little clearer, and his love and purpose flow more freely. All you do is go and open a page and beckon an invitation to me/us: “come and see what I can see …”
And I keep a-coming!! 🙂
Thanks Paul, i appreciate that… you are really too kind
The Scriptures you shared do confirm Don, what you said; falling away is not just sinning, we will do this before we come to heart repentance and put our flesh to death by the Spirit (Romans8) and are Born again and perfected in Love. Until then we can be forgiven if we sin, Jesus is our Advocate and God knows who are His, He protects our Soul and will rescue us. God knew we would repent before we were conceived and so He Chose us to be conformed into the image of Jesus but it means we are still in darkness if we sin. Those who will fall away, are those who never come to heart repentance, which means they are rejecting Jesus.
How can anyone be brought back to repentance if they reject the person who brings them back, does Jesus have to die again, making a mockery of His Sacrifice, besides they wouldn’t even want to repent and we can see this Truth clearly in the following verses.
Those who fall away were not Born again (see below) they were not saved and they showed it, they did not have God’s seed because they were not Born of the Spirit , if they were baptized it was a bath without soap. Yes like King Saul with his Prophesying, they may have had a Spiritual gift and knew of God and were even part of a Church but they were not Saved. The Scriptures confirm when we are Born again we do not sin, we can’t, we have God’s seed the old seed of Adams is gone, the new has come, we will show we are saved, which the rest of the Chapter is confirming, Jesus has set us free from sin’s bondage and no Temptation will be greater than we can bear, Jesus is our Armour.
Regardless of what people think with their own fleshy understanding, God makes it perfectly clear in the Scriptures below, just what it means to be Born again and when we are, we can’t loose our Salvation because we already had it before we were Born, God knows those who are His and there is no time in Heaven, only events.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1 John 3:9 No one who is Born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been Born of God.
1 John 3: 6-8 whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
1 John 2:4-6 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1John 3 No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.
Romans 6:18-20 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
1John 4:16-17 And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us. God is Love; and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our Love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.
1 John 5:18-20 We know that no one who is Born of God Sins; but He who was Born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
Anne, thank you so much for your comments and the verses you have shared. I am quite certain that you have given us all something to reflect upon here.
Blessings and grace to you!
Don
Thank you Don for you encouraging reply, but it is not me who has given you or others food for thought but God as we can see in the Scriptures I shared, He wrote them not me. To claim we go on sinning after we have been Born again and that we can even loose our Salvation, shows lack of understanding of God’s Truth in them.
Because as we can read these Scriptures say the opposite, we must not Trust in what we think or have been told, do I understand others confusion, yes I walked in darkness for many years until my eyes were opened but only after I asked in Faith for God’s wisdom and for the Holy Spirit and then through His empowering Jesus is now leading me into all understanding even of mysteries, His Truth sets us free, we must believe this or we will stay bound in ignorance and fear and so loose our eternal rewards.
James 1:4-8 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Don I don’t believe in arguing but we are to reason together when we have differences, God will show us who is in error, we do not just agree to disagree, we either believe and Trust in what He tells us or we wander through the fog of our own fleshy understanding or others , not one of us were Born with God’s wisdom, we ask and receive, it is the principle thing and is found in Christ Jesus.
Thanks Don for the opportunity to share – Blessings Anne
Thanks for sharing with us!
Interesting study! Thanks for sharing this.
The problem with teaching that one can lose their salvation goes back to the old arguments concerning works vs. grace. If you can lose your salvation, then it is not a gift, but something you earn. Not to mention, God knows our hearts perfectly, and he promises to keep and protect his own to eternity (John 6:39–40; 10:27–29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 John 2:1).
Here is an interesting take on this from Warren Wiersbe.
“Note from the beginning that the issue here is repentance, not salvation: “For it is impossible… to renew them unto repentance” (vv. 4, 6). If this passage is talking about salvation, then it is teaching that a believer who “loses salvation” cannot regain it. This means that salvation depends partly on our own works and, once we lose salvation, we can never get it back again.
But the subject of the chapter is repentance– the believer’s attitude toward the Word of God. Verses 4-5 describe real Christians (see 10:32 as well as 2:9, 14), and v. 9 indicates that the writer believed they were truly saved. We do not have “almost saved” people here, but real believers.
The two key words in v. 6 are “fall away” and “crucify.” “Fall away” is not the Gk. word apostasia, from which we get the English word “apostasy.” It is parapipto, which means “to fall beside, to turn aside, to wander.” It is similar to the word for “trespass,” as found in Gal. 6:1 (“if a man be overtaken in a fault [trespass]”). So, v. 6 describes believers who have experienced the spiritual blessings of God but who fall by the side or trespass because of unbelief. Having done this, they are in danger of divine chastening (see Heb. 12:5- 13) and of becoming castaways (1 Cor. 9:24- 27), which results in loss of reward and divine disapproval, but not loss of salvation. The phrase “seeing they crucify” (v. 6) should be translated “while they are crucifying.” In other words, Heb. 6:4- 6 does not teach that sinning saints cannot be brought to repentance, but that they cannot be brought to repentance while they continue to sin and put Christ to shame. Believers who continue in sin prove that they have not repented; Samson and Saul are cases in point. Hebrews 12:14-17 cites the case of Esau as well.”
If this is the case, then this passage is actually a great reference for eternal security. It shows that true believers will persevere, and perseverance serves as evidence of a genuine Christian faith.
I am not looking for a debate either, just another side of the coin I guess. I think the last two sentences in your study says it all. Thanks again for helping us dig deeper into the Word of God!
“The whole point of the warning bears this out; God loves us, even when we aren’t doing a very good job in following Him. Yet, it is much better if we hang in there and see things through!”
I really appreciate your contributions here; you have shown the other side of the coin very well, and I’ll join you in being happy to let everyone decide the question as the Lord leads them!
I have for a long time now believed with MacArthur that these people were not truly saved, but this view makes a lot of sense too. I will have to study it further. I know it is true that the more one sins the harder it is for him to repent, but not impossible. Thanks for this.
Thanks Stephen… this is a tough one for sure!
Thanks for this. I grew up believing “once saved always saved” but I never really knew why. As I got older and read more, I now believe it is possible to “lose your salvation” or fall away from the true Christian faith. The letters in Revelation in chapters 2 and 3 really cemented it for me with the words of Jesus. He means business and isn’t fooling around. He rebukes sternly, yet lovingly, and always ends with a word of hope. And we’re all still here because our Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but wishes all would come to repentance. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, Lord Jesus.
Thanks Rebekah, I’m with you on this one!
I always had problems with the ‘once saved always saved’ position, because of this verse. I worried as a teenager that I might somehow accidentally ‘lose’ my salvation. I was reassured at that time by believers who helped me to ‘balance’ the passages a little more. Now I am older, I don’t believe that it is possible to ‘lose’ one’s salvation – based on the verses quoted by Freedomborn. I do, however, believe that it is possible to consciously turn one’s back on it and walk away in rebellion. I don’t think that God is going to force a person who has turned against Him to endure an unwanted eternity with Him. I don’t believe that this is something that can happen accidentally or unconsciously, or just because of human weakness, which is very reassuring for an imperfect person like me.
Me too! I think we are in agreement on this one, too.
I agree with you, Don. It is clear to me that some people who have know Jesus as their Lord and Savior turn their backs on Him and walk away. I have seen that with a couple people who are very close to me. It is disheartening because they professed Christ as their Savior and, by all appearance, truly loved and served the Lord. I pray for them regularly that the Lord will once again get their attention and they will return to their ‘first love.’ This passage makes that seem unlikely. But we know that with God all things are possible, so I will continue to pray for these lost sheep to return to the flock.
I understand what you’re saying, Susan. We can only hope that what they say isn’t quite what is really in their hearts and minds!
Reblogged this on Floetic Poectic Melodic Tunes.
Thanks for approaching this subject! Your boldness in teaching this is of vital importance in today’s world!
Well bless you!
Denine’s two cents. We the church are the bride of Christ. Matthew, 19 tells us the two become one flesh. When we receive Jesus Christ, we have become one with Him. (saved) We are in Him, He is in us. Jesus goes on to say in Mathew 19 the only reason a man can give his wife a divorces is for sexual immorality. If we turn from our faithful Husband and choose to follow after “whore” after false religion, false gods, worldly “wisdom” and worship, it is likened to spiritual adultery. The one reason Jesus gives for divorce – unfaithfulness. Just like in Rev.14:5 where no one is two worship the beast or take His mark or they will suffer God’s wrath. Spiritual unfaithfulness.
Thanks Denine, I think you are on to something here in the extreme case, rather than a stuble
Now I am going to have to think some more. See how you are. LOL
It might have been easier for you had I done a better job of typing! 🙂
You won’t see me throwing any stones. On FB I am known as the typo queen. I just need to read it again. I don’t always get it the first, second, or even this years maybe. LOL As God reveals. Blessings
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