By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Can you help answer Hebrews 6:4-6?
(Hebrews 6:4-6) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Answer:
This is probaly the MOST misunderstood verse there is, and it is the FAVORITE of those that Preach, Teach, and Believe that a saved person can lose their salvation.
I call this their SO-CALLED Sugar Daddy verse. Lets find out what these verses are talking about.
The MOST IMPORTANT factor a person MUST REMEMBER is that a believer CANNOT and WILL NOT lose their salvation.
God OFFERS only one kind of salvation and that is EVERLASTING LIFE.
(John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
(John 10:28,29) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
In John 10:28 the word NEVER is the Greek word OUME it is in the Double Negative and means NOT AT ALL, BY ANY OR NO MEANS, NO AT ALL, IN NO CASE, NOT IN ANY WISE. I believe the Holy Spirit was pretty clear that he meant NEVER a Total Complete Impossability.
Examination of Hebrews 6:4-6:
Hebrews 6:4-6, is about Fellowship NOT Sonship(salvation)
(1 John 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
– V4: It is IMPOSSIABLE – If a christian could lose their salvation then as V4 says it would be IMPOSSIABLE to get it back, otherwise salvation would be based on works which CONTRADICTS scripture.
(Ephesians 2:8,9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Titus 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
V4 & 5 GIVES US the proof that IT IS written to christians with the following statements:
– Those who were once enlightened.
– Have tasted of the heavenly gift.
– Made partakers of the Holy Ghost.
– Have tasted the good word of God.
V5 says PARTAKERS of the Holy Ghost, ONLY those who have Trusted Jesus Christ ALONE as saviour RECIEVES the Holy Spirit, and once a person recieves the Holy Spirit, he indwells them PERMANENTLY.
(Ephesians 4:30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(Ephesians 1:13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
V6 is the STUMBLING BLOCK for most, Lets break it down:
– If they shall fall away = Go back into sin or Deny the Truth.
– To renew(Gr. Anakainizo = Restore) them again unto repentance(Gr. Metanaio = Change of Mind).
In otherwords if a christian/believer falls back into a sin lifestyle where they Deny or Refuse the truth of God’s Word concerning the ERRORS of their ways it is very difficult to impossiable to RESTORE(renew) them unto a Change of Mind (repantance) while they are in a backslidden condition BECAUSE they are NOT WILLING to accept the truth of God’s Word.
– Seeing they crucify to themselves.
This Part of V6 would have been better translated as ” While They Are Crucifying Themselves.
How does a Christian do this, by LIVING a life that is a DISGRACEFUL and a SHAME to the Lord. Until the christian CHANGES THEIR MIND about the way they are living and decides to “Walk In The Light” – 1 John 1:7 there can be NO FELLOWSHIP with the Lord. Hebrews 6:1 gives proof of this:
(Hebrews 6:1) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
The word PERFECTION is the Greek word TELEIOTOS and means Completeness or Maturity.
The Christian SHOULD desire to GROW in Maturity or Completeness in God’s Word to so that they can be USED of the Lord.
(2 Peter 3:18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
In V7 The Holy Spirit USES the earth that absorbs rain and the herbs that it produces as a object lesson for the Christian.
(Hebrews 6:7,8) For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God. (8) But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
God WANTS the Christian to ABSORB his word and live a life that is PLEASING to him and a BLESSING to others (bringing forth herbs).
In V8 the lesson that is taught here is that the Thorns and Briers (things that were NOT AFTER Christ) in the christians life WILL BE burned (their bad works) at the Judgement Seat Of Christ.
(Colossians 2:8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:14 can be crossed referenced to Hebrews 6:7.
(1 Corinthians 3:14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15 can be crossed refrenced to Hebrews 6:8.
(1 Corinthians 3:15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
In Conclusion:
Hebrews 6 is NOT ABOUT lose of salvation due to falling back into sin as some teach.
The MOST IMPORTANT factor a person MUST REMEMBER is that a believer CANNOT and WILL NOT lose their salvation. God OFFERS only one kind of salvation and that is EVERLASTING LIFE.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH