Taking into consideration that this epistle was addressed to a Jewish membership, I will stretch the scope just a bit more and start with verse 1.
In the context of verses 1-3, I see verses 4-6 as a rhetorical statement.
In other words, it is not saying that a person can remove themselves from salvation and has no other resolution…
…but it is saying that it is impossible for that condition to even exist, and couldn’t happen since the reason it’s impossible is because there would be no 2nd or 3rd crucifixion available.
It actually affirms to me that a believer can not stray from Salvation or lose it, but it is not addressing a believer in their path of Sanctification.
Hebrews 6:1-6
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.
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 then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
These verses speak of one who has rejected Christ, not a believer (or a past believer)
This is a leveling of condemnation on an unbeliever who is still in their sins, who rejected the Gospel after hearing it.
Hebrews 10:26-29
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
An unbeliever would never experience those things. You are right.
What I am saying is that that sentence gives the reasons it is impossible, and why I call it a rhetorical statement.
The statement is not about a believer who has removed themselves from the faith, it is about how that is an impossibility, given the reasons listed.
I have to think the author of Hebrews was addressing a very seriously legalistic mindset of the topic in the question they were answering.
Would have loved to see the other side of that conversation.
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 then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance
Yes Ed, I know it looks like that to you. But please get in line…take a number…the check is in the mail
Just playin around. Ok, but please keep in mind you are thinking in terms of Western 21st ideas. Put yourself back in the 1st century as a Hebrew.
We should not take transitional doctrine as though it were declarative to all generations.
As opposed to what? Going home, watching TV, and just doing the sports thing? You know…like takin a knew…no pledging to the flag…yeah like that?
Think about this though Ed. What is this apposed to? “Remember when you used to care. Now you just going around ripping off old ladies?” We need to ask “in contrast to what?” What is the point?
The point is: “Remember when you were enlightened (and the seed of truth was making its way into your heart/soil).” If a person confesses Christ and goes back to Judaism saying, “Nah…we need the law too…too much pressure not to.” Was that person saved? What happened to Mark? He got scared and went home. Felt shame and wanted to come back. He was saved. Someone who wants to go after Christ (while it was initially introduced) and then turns back to Judaism “while it is still an open temptation and available to do so–before 70AD,” would not be saved. How could they ultimately go back to the law?
Something we don’t share today. A MAJOR TRANSITION FROM JEW TO GENTILE–at least I believe, bro. We are not alive at a time when a new covenant was coming out challenging an old one. We are not alive at a time when Judaism ruled the religious world concerning the oracles of God. They haven’t for 2,000 years.
I don’t think this is a reasonable question. In all honesty Ed I think you are not coming at this from the best direction my brother. When we look at algebra we take “like terms” to simplify and boil down. So we are not looking at a 20 digit problem. We want to look at a 5 digit problem. I believe the way to boil it down is not try to match verses with theology. But to get our theology from exegesis. The study of culture, history, timing, significance, idioms etc. If we understand that Hebrews 6 & 10 are talking about returning to Judaism, we see the struggle. To me…it was like the Pharisees who saw miracles of Christ and could not be saved because of how they saw Him. To see God in the flesh start a new covenant and go back to the old means you have nowhere to go. It was a special point in time where it could only happen like that then…is how I understand it. How do we know?
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.
This is because the word of God was no longer, “don’t work on the sabbath or you are struck dead.” Now it was “Believe on My Son who died a brutal death for you. And if you don’t, you have denied God and have done worse than worked on the Sabbath by which instant stoning occurred.” People were stoned for disobeying the word. Then the word was made flesh. And they were commanded to obey. As a race…as a people (brought through Stephen Acts 7 & Paul up through Acts 28) and reject Him as a nation = not honoring the word. It is dismissing oneself from further real revelation (special revelation). There is no sacrifice after Christ. IMAGINE: “Go on sinning…i.e. trying to obtain salvation via the law of God.” Wow…the irony.
Brother I understand how you feel. But these people were telling Christ why they should be called believers. Its not about what they did. No one who comes like that is saved. When Christ turned to the other crowd in Matt 25 they said, “Lord when did we…?” I think the things to settle FIRST is what is actually being said and told before we go to these passages with all sorts of ideas. I used to do that a lot. But I’m just saying Ed…what I am sharing here is real. The emphasis away from eisegesis = clarity. Our age is knee deep and drowning in eisegeses. We need to learn the careful skill of exegesis. Or we will be approaching everything from mere emotions.
What if in the Old Testament you could lose your salvation? The Holy Spirit came to dwell in the Church and seal us. What if you cannot lose your salvation in the New Testament? How might you reconcile that trying to blend new wine into old wineskins? How much of what Jesus was saying was transitional? The more we are clear there…the easier everything falls into 4 dimensional place I believe. If that makes sense. Love you dear brother. I left my “please kick me” sign at home. But if you’d like, i can put it on my frisbee. Tag…your it…in
So true brother Ken
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That is why it is so sad to see their doctor throwing their lives away by convincing them to get all yoked up on multiple toxic meds known to cause suicide ideation, and the loss of cause and effect thinking, ……then conducting covid jabs for the banana peel, when she AND her husband are medically “contraindicated” for ANY jabs.
Well said, and Agree a hundred percent.
I wish their doctor agreed too. They might still be well today.
I’ve seen a number of Christians who have taken the jab, remark that if there is any risk, no prob. Since they will simply see the Lord that much sooner if there is any issues later with the jab (? ) It’s sad.
We are not our own, but bought with a price, as the Word tells us.
It does cause me to wonder too if they stopped to consider what their decision may mean for the loved ones they leave behind.
I have to keep reminding myself that they are in their 70s. They are not toddlers. They are old enough to know better. Their doctor and pharma rules their lives, and as painful as it is to watch helplessly from the sidelines, while he negligently ends them, they too had a say and a choice to make in the matter. There was a crossroads somewhere.
We really cannot take responsibility for another’s lifetime of poor choices. Their diet for 30 years pretty much consisted of ice cream, hot dogs, and gas stationed food. The wife hates to cook. No adult can successfully claim infantile status when it comes to living with the reality of what they themselves chose and what they embraced most in this life.
Irony is, I used to think that if our family made healthy choices, ate right, stayed away from chem toxins, etc. as we did……that the fruits of caring for God’s temple may include being able to enjoy a little healthier life down the road.
Instead I’m learning that being surrounded by chem worshipers its kindof like a bad movie we can’t wake up from. Its like watching a loved one drink and drug themselves to death slowly, and being powerless to help or alter their course. And if one has the misfortune of also having a neighbor who enjoys poisoning the air, crops, water, and peace long enough---- it rather nullifies much of that hard work anyway. But God.
This world is not our home. But wow is it a dream come true for the devil and his chem pushers.
The good news is this veil of tears will soon be over, Jesus will triumph in the end. And the devil and all his sorcery chems won’t be anywhere to be found during the Millennium. The Lord said there will be an “abundance” of peace, joy., and healing It is hard to imagine now.
@wren
Really well stated my sister. Spot on except for one thing.
There will be pharmaceuticals in the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ not for us in our new everlasting bodies, but for the remnant of people repopulating the earth. But the big difference will be that they will be provided by the Lord.
Rev 22:2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Agape,
Ken
Thank you for that wonderful blessing of a reminder. Good one!
Leaves are all natural, zero pharma and God- made goodness. Chems are caustic man-made lab poisons that get locked up with the devil in the pit for a thousand years.
p.s. just a cool tid bit. God made olive leaves and they contain a wonderful substance that can stop viral replication in the RnA within 24 hours. Have seen it wipe out the flu in a day. Same with Vit. C, zinc, D3, K2, selenium, and lomatium Bear and Osha root…which grow out West. No need for ivermectin or any lab gunk at all.
But shhhh. No one is allowed to know the truth, it might topple the whole pharma empire overnight if people knew that God already has us covered.
disclaimer: not medical advice, if you want that, you have to see an allopath. but caution, many may prefer to only treat symptoms, not root causes of illness, hence, turn you into a permanent patient with lots of health pokes and chems.
Well said, and explained @FoxMan , but my bet is, not all have ears to hear [YET]
It’s always the first kick back to the [true gospel] from day one, starting when Paul preached it, all the way to JD’s forum. “nothing new under the sun”. It’s the same for over 2000 years, and on this forum. Paul answered:
Romans 6:15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Amplified Bible
What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under [God’s] grace? Certainly not!
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal 1:6-7)
Another thought: Even Peter said; about the Gentiles…
“So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers or we were able to bear?” Acts 15:8-10
I’m done let the onslaught begin [joking] not going to argue. Said my peace [pun] and moving on.
" Eph, 1:17 “that the Godof our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. 18 I ask that the eyesofyourheartmay be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe.”
hehe.
Good one!