Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor I have heard at least a dozen or so explanations of Hebrews 6:4-6. And no two commentaries seem to be the same. I'd be interested just what your view is of these verses.”
John/ Columbus, Ohio
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Hebrews 6:1-6 KJV
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,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 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.
The group of people who espouse to “once save always saved,” will be more than glad to inform us that these people were “never,” saved to begin with. And the reason is that once saved, one can never be lost!
Let us take a look at what the Apostle Paul is saying here.
Hebrews 6:1 KJV
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,
Verse one, tells us right off, that Paul is talking about growing from the milk of the word, to the meat of the word (Spiritual growth.)
(Spiritual Growth, by the Apostle Paul.)
I Corinthians 3:1,2 KJV
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
I Peter 2:2 KJV (Peter)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 6:1,2 KJV
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,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The Apostle is speaking about Christian people.
Do you notice something important in these two verses? The thing to notice, as verse one has told us is, “spiritual-progression.”
First: (Verse 1)
Hebrews 6:1 KJV
“...the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”
Second: (Verse 2)
Baptism
The confession of a believing Christian.
Third: (Verse 2)
Laying on of hands.
Something done by the pastor and or deacons when elected within a special office in or for the church.
Fourth: (Verse 2)
Resurrection of the dead.
The spiritual promise for every Christian.
Fifth: (Verse 2)
Judgment:
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
On this spiritual journey one cannot “skip steps,” such as one and two and expect to be a minister of God!
Because one would “not,” be a Christian in the faith, nor would one be ordained by
God's church to the office of ministry!
This spiritual journey is one of progression!
And yes, this logic holds true also of spiritual regression!
One cannot, on their spiritual journey, go backwards!
A Christian who has passed into the portals of heaven, cannot wish once again to return to earth to have hands laid on him so that he may again be sent into ministry.
Anyone with any sense at all, would know this just can not happen!
Hebrew 6:3-6 KJV
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 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.
Alright, who, just who is the Apostle talking about in these verses? Well let's take a look.
1.) Enlightened (verse 4)
2.) Have tasted of the heavenly gift (verse 4)
3.) Made partaker of the Holy Ghost (verse 4)
4.) Have tasted of the good word of God (verse 5)
5.) “ “ “ “ powers of the world to come (verse 5)
These five categories refer to, without contradiction, the child of God!
1.)
It is the child of God, that has been enlightened......
John 8:12 KJV
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the World: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life.
2.)
It is the child of God, that has had his spiritual hunger satisfied by the Bread of Life.
John 6:35 KJV
And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.
3.)
It is the child of God, that is a vessel of the Spirit of God.
I Corinthians 6:19 KJV
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God..."
4.)
It is the child of God, that feeds upon the Word of God.
Jeremiah 15:16 KJV
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of Hosts.
5.)
It is the child of God, that has tasted of the powers of the world to come.
Matthew 28:19 KJV
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
I Peter 3:21,22 KJV
21"...Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
Yes verses 1-6 of Hebrews chapter 6, speak of Christians.
Well, if that be so, and it is, what is the Apostle saying.
Can Christians go back on their faith, yes, Paul says so, but ….
Hebrew 6:4-6 KJV
4 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;.....
One cannot skip ahead in his spiritual progression, nor go backwards!
Homily:
If you and I were in Minneapolis (Minnesota) and got on a train to go to Seattle, and we talked much, had our meals and saw the great scenery. And yet along the three day trip, while the train had stopped in Bismarck, North Dakota, for fuel, you got off, and of course the train left you behind.
I arrived at Seattle, but you were not there. Later you called me and said, “I went shopping and missed the train, what should I do?”
Well, what do you think anyone would have told them?
“Well, go back to Minneapolis, and get another train to Seattle!”
Are you “kidding?” Of course not, he was told (at Bismarck) to wait until the next train headed for Seattle comes by, and get on, after all, better late, than never.
Well, that's fairly simple isn't it.
The Apostle from the very beginning has told us that spirituality is a progression, cant' skip ahead, can't skip back!
That is how time flows, we are in the present, can't travel back to the past, can't jump to the future, we are in the present, and in the present we must act.
Whats all this mean.
Christians that have “fall(en/ ed.) away (Hebrews 6:6 KJV)” cannot again be “renew(ed/ed) ...again unto repentance.” (By the way, "renew," means they once were Christians.)
Repentance and faith in Christ, is the (1.) first step in Christian life.
Hebrews 6:1 KJV
“...repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God”
A fallen Christian cannot backtrack to the place of "original repentance and confession of faith," no matter if if were 30 years ago, or just last month.
What then is this person to do?
When a fallen Christian, comes to himself, like a Prodigal son, he must, in repentance and faith, “resume,” where he left off in his Christian faith.
Just as a man, who has regrettably committed many faults, cannot wish himself back to the womb, to start over, so to the spiritual man.
If we have gotten off God's Spiritual train of life and blessings, in repentance and renewed strength we must “not,” look back, but get back on track and continue the race for “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 KJV).
Hebrews 6:6 KJV
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.
A person may not spiritually go back to his salvation experience, but must go on from where he left off.
When a person comes to Christ, it is seen in their life that Christ was crucified, Christ died for them as individuals.
II Corinthians 5:21 NLT
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
When a person comes back from having fallen away, he cannot “re-crucify Christ afresh!”
Again, he must (in repentance and faith) pick up where upon he left his Christian calling, and go on.
Galatians 6:1 KJV
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Please note, this is referring to restoring one to Christian faith, "not," to religious office!)
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
This writing has not attempted to answer the question “once saved, always saved.” If the subject has not already been addressed it will be.
Romans 13:11-14 KJV
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of Light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
3 Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Be sure to read the blog .... Once Saved Always Saved
