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, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If 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 fact Christians often ignore is that, within Scripture, there are difficult passages. Because a passage is difficult, we have a choice: ignore it or accept it by working to properly interpret and come to understanding. The danger with difficult passages is the error of using it as a proof text, outside of Scriptural comparison, to arrive at a dogmatic conclusion. Hebrews 6 is such a passage. Do these verses teach loss of salvation or loss of the benefits of salvation? Do they speak of an unbeliever or an immature believer? To discover the Biblical answer, we turn to:
- Historical Context: Written about 65 A.D., the authorship of Hebrews is often attributed to Paul but that assertion can not be confirmed. Regardless, the book’s canonicity has never been questioned. The Book of Hebrews addresses three separate groups: believers in Christ, unbelievers who had knowledge of and an intellectual acceptance of the facts of Christ, and unbelievers who were attracted to Christ, but who rejected Him ultimately. It’s important to understand which group is being addressed in which passage. To fail to do so can cause us to draw conclusions inconsistent with the rest of Scripture. The writer of Hebrews gives ample encouragement to believers, but there are five solemn warnings we must heed. There is the (1) danger of neglect (Hebrews 2:1-4), (2) the danger of unbelief (Hebrews 3:7–4:13), (3) the danger of spiritual immaturity (Hebrews 5:11–6:20), (4) the danger of failing to endure (Hebrews 10:26-39), and (5) the inherent danger of refusing God (Hebrews 12:25-29). And so we find in this crowning masterpiece a great wealth of doctrine, a refreshing spring of encouragement, and a source of sound, practical warnings against slothfulness in our Christian walk. But there is still more, for in Hebrews we find a magnificently rendered portrait of our Lord Jesus Christ—the Author and Finisher of our great salvation (Hebrews 12:2).
- Grammatical Usage: In v. 6: “away” is “Parapipto” in the Greek meaning, “to deviate from the right or correct or prescribed path”; “repentance” or “Metanoia” means, “a change of mind; change of commitment”.
- Literal Application: “If they fail to do what is righteous (as the Lord instructs), to be brought back to their commitment, to their loss (temporal and eternal reward) they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”
- Contextual Interpretation: Essentially, there are four views on this passage:
1. The Armenian View
Summary: A Christian may turn away from his faith and thus may lose his salvation.
Main elements:
A. Those warned are genuine believers.
B. Future salvation is not assured (no eternal security).
C. The warning concerns eternal judgment (hell).
Positive aspects:
A. It appears to take the description of those warned at face value.
B. It appears to take the warnings literally.
Concerns:
It contradicts the doctrine of eternal security and raises doubt as to the certainty of one attaining salvation.
2. The Loss of Rewards View
Summary: A Christian may fall away and thus lose future rewards, as well as encounter severe discipline in this life (1 Corinthians 5:5)
Main elements:
A. Those warned are viewed as genuine Christians.
B. Future salvation is assured for every true believer.
C. The warnings concern future rewards and earthly discipline.
Positive aspects:
A. The warnings apply to Christians (just as the exhortations do).
B. The warnings are taken seriously, as a very real possibility.
C. This view undergirds assurance and confidence in one’s confession.
Difficulties:
A. Is “earthly discipline” as severe as the description of the judgment on the one who falls away?
B. Is “earthly discipline” severe enough to match the description of judgment?
3. The Calvinistic View
Summary: If an apparent Christian apostatizes (falls away by denying the faith), then we know he was never really saved in the first place.
Main elements:
A. Those warned and disciplined are not true believers.
B. Only an unbeliever can apostatize or fall away from the faith.
C. The warning of eternal judgment is for unbelievers.
Positive aspects:
A. It is consistent with the doctrine of eternal security.
B. It means that a Christian can never lose his faith.
C. It takes the warning of judgment seriously (for unbelievers).
Difficulties:
A. Can those described in verses 4-5 really be unsaved?
B. The emphasis falls on unbelievers, rather than believers (to whom the author appears to have consistently been speaking up to this point).
C. Does this view undermine the confidence and assurance of believers in their confession? Will true believers always be doubtful of their salvation? Yes – yet Scripture affirms otherwise.
4. The Historically Unique View
Summary: The situation this group of professing Jewish believers faced is unique and is not like any situation believers face today; thus the warnings are for those people in those days, but not so much for us.
Main elements:
A. This is a unique situation.
B. Thus its application to us is minimized.
Positive aspects:
The historical setting is taken into consideration in the interpretation.
Difficulties:
A. It sets a bad precedent. No circumstance described in Scripture is ever identical to our circumstances.
B. Do we take this same interpretive approach with every passage that has its own setting? No, all Scripture is intended for our instruction (2 Timothy 3:16).
C. The failure of the first generation of Israelites in the desert was unique, and yet both the author of Psalm 95 and the author of Hebrews believed that there were lessons for us to learn from Israel’s failures. Paul applies the same lessons in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.
D. It blunts the force of the author’s argument.
The crux of the issue rests with the words, “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance….” The passage is definitely referring to believers, but it is not teaching that “falling away” means ultimate damnation. To the contrary, the believer can never lose his salvation but he can lose everything else about his experience except his salvation. To “fall away” is to fall into a permanent condition of stunted spiritual growth that renders a person totally fruitless and unable due to unwillingness to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The author maintains this same theme throughout: Hebrews 3:6, 14; 10:23-25, 35-39. The author counsels a review of the basics of the Christian faith (6:1) as a remedy. Clearly, Christ is not dying again in order to redeem the redeemed (1 Peter 3:18). Hence, they are saved but their works or lifestyle prove not just inconsistent but contrary to their position in Christ. Compare Galatians 5:4 where Jews rejected the work of Christ in favor of the law and works – these have unequivocally rejected grace (rejected the message of salvation) and consequently are not saved. Christ is not dying again for them either. The single act of Christ’s propitiation is enough. In v. 6 “renew” is linked to “repentance” which, according to definition, does not mean “a man once saved and lose salvation” but “a man once saved can not be saved again…and again…and again, etc., because once saved is always saved” (Romans 8:38, 39). It is now a matter of subjection to the Savior as Lord. This is not the first time this concept appears as Paul speaks of being disqualified for service in 1 Corinthians 9:27 due precisely to loss of subjection, which is not a reference to lost salvation. The same is affirmed in 2 John 8.
This passage refers to persons who could not be won back to the state of repentance (lifestyle reflecting their position in Christ) which marked their original conversation to Christianity. In affirming this, the author indicates a hardening of the heart against all efforts to win them back – not to Christian conversion but Christian commitment.
Clearly based upon Romans 8:38, 39 as well as other passages where the eternal security of the believer is affirmed, the best possible understanding of this Hebrews’ passage is the loss of rewards view. The key to understanding this particular difficult passage which is specific to believers is to understand that the book of Hebrews is exhorting believers to:
- Gain an appreciation for the sufficiency of Jesus Christ alone as our Great High Priest (1:1-2:8);
- Recognize our inadequacies and our dependence upon God’s provisions through His Son (3:7-4:13);
- Draw near to Him for help in our time of need (4:14-16);
- Pay closer attention to God’s Word (2:1-4; 4:12-13);
- Press on from “milk” to “meat” (5:11 – 6:3).
In short, get real with your life. Understand the spiritual is played out in the temporal: real choices, real decisions and real consequences for both good and bad. We are talking about God’s reputation and will as expressed (or not) through the life of a believer as opposed to an individual’s salvation status. This was a critical message given that the Hebrews were about to enter into another period of persecution (Hebrews 10:32-34). The point had to be made to stand firm. One can not stand firm with one foot in the camp of God and another in the world.
Scriptural Comparison: What we are dealing with is the issue of carnality in the life of the Christian (not the loss of salvation). We can not interpret a text in isolation, but in light of all Scripture. The Bible validates itself. This is why we can reconcile the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. God addresses the carnal nature extensively in His Word: a fact which in and of itself demonstrates discipline afforded his “children”. In fact, Hebrews 12:7 is a direct reference to Deuteronomy 8. The author’s point is that God uses “discipline” (adversity, suffering, etc.) to bring us to maturity as sons in line with Romans 8:29 which proves God’s first obligation to a believer. Thus, discipline is not the evidence of lost salvation – just the opposite: it is the confirmation of your salvation.
What we experience by allowing a carnal nature include:
(1) Loss of fellowship with the Lord plus loss of the control of the Holy Spirit and His fruit in the life (cf. 1 Jn. 1:5-7). Sin grieves and quenches the Spirit (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19). Sin affects our prayer life (Ps. 66:18), our witness (Acts 1:8), Bible study (1 Cor. 2:10-16; Eph. 3:16f), i.e., all the ministries of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is turned from enabling to convicting, etc., (1 John 1:5-7; Ephesians 4:30, 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Psalm 66:18; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
(2) Misery, loss of joy, because we are controlled by the sinful nature.
Psalm 32:3-4: When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long. 4 For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer.
(3) Dissipation or wastefulness of our spiritual, mental, and physical resources.
Ephesians 5:18: And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,
(4) Production of the works of the flesh with their awful consequences.
Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.
(5) Divine discipline, the heavy hand of God on our lives to turn us around.
Hebrews 12:5-10: And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” 7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. (1 Corinthians 11:29-32; Psalm 32:4)
(6) Broken relationships and pain to those around us, especially to our families.
Galatians 5:15: However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.
Hebrews 12:15: See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
(7) Loss of our testimony in the world and dishonor to the Lord.
1 Peter 2:12-15: and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. 13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. 15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
1 Peter 3:15-17: But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
1 Peter 4:15-16: But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. 16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.
(8) Loss of rewards at the Bema seat of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15: If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. 14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.
Consequences of Continued and Open Rebellion
In addition to the above the following apply:
- Increased discipline from the heavy hand of God.
Psalm 32:4 4: For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer.
Hebrews 12:6: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”
(2) Continuation in sin may require the church to take action even to the point of excommunication (1 Cor. 5).
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15: But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition you received from us. 7 For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you, 8 and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” 11 For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. 12 Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat. 13 But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right. 14 But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Matthew 18:17: If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.
(3) Divine discipline to the point of physical death.
1 Corinthians 11:30: That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.
1 John 5:16: If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.
Certainly, believers are secure in Christ and cannot lose their salvation, a salvation accomplished by the finished work of the Savior who sits victoriously at God’s right hand to plead our case. But reality and Scripture shows us, unless believers abide in fellowship and deal in faith with the sin in their lives, they can fall into serious conditions of sin just like David. Such can happen because the person was never truly saved, but quite often the real cause is a failure to abide in the life and power of the Spirit of God.
- Conclusion: The Apostle Paul staked his faith on the trustworthiness of God’s grace. Though some understand this to refer to God’s deposit of gifts in Paul, I believe that which he had entrusted, literally, “the deposit,” was his personal faith in the finished work of Christ as the basis of his salvation (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14; 2 Timothy 1:14). Paul was confident that this would be preserved until all the dangers and failures of life would be past with the coming of the Lord. It was Paul who called for all believers to run the race – despite all of the adversity and snares which lay ahead – knowing that which He has begun in us, the ‘good work’, He will finish (Philippians 1:6). This is why we will “rest” tomorrow but toil today. The goal of understanding our security is an assurance that motivates to godly living, never careless living or taking the Lord for granted. Remember, God is our heavenly Father who, in love, will discipline His children to draw them back to Himself for the sake of His reputation as well as work to which we have been called.