Hebrews 6 -- Here Goes!

“Some people cannot be brought back again to a changed life.  They were once in God’s light, and enjoyed heaven’s gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit.  They found out how good God’s word is, and they received the powers of His new world.  But they fell away from Christ.  It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again, and are shaming Him in front of others.”

My commentary calls this one of the most controversial passages in the entire New Testament. 

Who are these people?  My commentary urges us to look closely at what’s not been said – “It is never clearly stated that they have been born again.”  Nothing is said of saving faith, redemption by His blood, or eternal life for them.

They’d heard the gospel – they weren’t in darkness.  Neither was Judas Iscariot.

Just as it’s possible to taste without eating, they’d tasted the heavenly gift but hadn’t truly received Him as Lord.

They were partakers of the Holy Spirit only in Hi preconversion ministry in their lives – convicting them of sin, of righteousness, of judgment, and leading them to repentance.  “Men may thus partake of the Holy Spirit’s benefits without being indwelt by Him.”

They’d “tasted the good word of God”, but they were like the seed that fell on rocky ground.

They’d tasted the powers of the age to come (miracles) – think of those present at the miracles of the loaves and fishes.  Though they’d tasted the miracle, Jesus said they didn’t really believe in Him.

My commentary wrapped it up:  “If they fall away, after enjoying the privileges just enumerated, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.  They have committed the sin of apostasy.  They have reached the place where the lights go out on the way to hell.”

The last part of verse 6 “signifies a deliberate, malicious spurning of Christ, not just a careless disregard of Him.  It indicates a positive betrayal of Him, a joing of forces against Him, and a ridiculing of His person and work.”

An unbeliever never should go there.  A Christian cannot go there, for our hop is anchored in the heavenly sanctuary (verse 19).

Father, thank You for calling out loudly and long enough to me and never giving up until I surrendered to You.  Now I know my future.  Thank You for letting me spend eternity with You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford