The joy of Bible study often becomes a storm of clashing
views when Hebrews 6 is involved. J.
Vernon McGee had this to say:
As we study this section, we are immediately confronted
with the amazing fact that generally commentators have avoided this chapter.
Even such a man as Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, the prince of expositors, has
completely bypassed it in his book on Hebrews. However, when we do come upon
the interpretations available and summarize each, we can well understand why
men have chosen to remain clear of this scene of confusion because we can get
many interpretations. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas
Nelson)
Makes you consider staying away from Hebrews 6 and going for
a nice walk in a peaceful park. But wait
there may be something very helpful in all this. Hang on until the end and see what good may
come. The primary passage of concern is
this:
4For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were
once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and
shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness
of the word of God and the power of the age to come—6and
who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to
repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the
cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT
Now that you have taken a look at the passage consider what
you think it is saying. Compare what you
think with the following views supplied by Charles Ryrie:
This much-debated passage has been understood in
several ways.
(1) Arminians hold that the people described in
these verses are Christians who actually lose their salvation. If this be
so, notice that the passage also teaches that it is impossible to be saved a
second time.
(2) Some hold that the passage refers not to
genuine believers but to those who only profess to be believers. Thus
the phrases in verses 4-5 are understood to refer to experiences short of
salvation (cf. v. 9). The "falling away" is from the knowledge of the
truth, not personal possession of it.
(3) Others understand the passage to be a
warning to genuine believers to urge them on in Christian growth and maturity.
To "fall away" is impossible (since, according to this view, true
believers are eternally secure), but the phrase is placed in the sentence to
strengthen the warning. It is similar to saying something like this to a class
of students: "It is impossible for a student, once enrolled in this
course, if he turns the clock back which cannot be done, to start the course
over. Therefore, let all students go on to deeper knowledge." In this view
the phrases in verses 4-5 are understood to refer to the conversion experience. (The
Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Translation: 1995. Moody Publishers)
Did you find a view that seemed to fit what you saw in the
passage? Good. There are general and technical pros and cons
to each. The more research you do on
this the more details will emerge. It is
worth discovering more about the passage.
If you have patience for another perspective I’ll share this
with you. The book of Hebrews is an
incredibly encouraging book providing glorious views of Jesus and of what God
is offering His people. He invites us
all to enter into this life of faith and enjoy the richness of the promises of
God some of which we will experience in this life and some yet to come. So, what of Hebrews 6?
Hebrews 6 is indeed a warning of the seriousness of missing
out on what God has planned for those who walk faithfully with Him in
Jesus. The book of Hebrews is addressing
those who are God’s own and those who are going to heaven so it isn’t a passage
about heavenly salvation, but of the earthly.
Let me explain, if you will.
The book of Hebrews uses Hebrew imagery throughout to
illustrate New Covenant truths. One
great lesson of the Hebrews was their walk of out of bondage and into the land
of promise. Remember the land flowing
with milk and honey? It was a real
place. Truly offered. The people had seen the great acts of God in
delivering them from Egypt, in crossing the Red Sea, in the giving of the Law,
in the provision of food and water and in guiding them. Then when offered the land they refused. They were afraid God wouldn’t or couldn’t
take care of them. Caleb and Joshua were
two strong voices for going on with God, but the masses of the Hebrew people
said no to God. They died in the
wilderness and missed out on what God had for them. Even Moses sinned against the Lord and was
not allowed to enter in to the land of promise.
There is a New Covenant with God in Jesus. A promise of better things. It is available now. In the book of Hebrews it is often referred
to as God’s rest. God doesn’t want us to
miss out as the Hebrews leaving Egypt did.
Did those who sinned and missed out on the land of promise miss out on
heaven too? No. In fact, Moses, who was denied entrance, is
found meeting with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration along with
Elijah. Moses was with God and was sent
for this special meeting. Missing out on
the earthly promises doesn’t mean expulsion from heaven. But God desires His people to enter into His
rest in this new amazing relationship in Jesus.
The book of Hebrews repeatedly says: “When you hear God’s voice; don’t harden your hearts.” It is a reminder not to do what the early
Hebrews did and miss out. We are told in chapter 4 that we have a great
High Priest in Jesus. And He will be
there for us. To help us enjoy a deep
intimacy with God. To help us enter into
all His wonderful plans and promises in this life in His rest. And as a result
we are invited to come to the throne of God:
So let us come
boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and
we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT
We will find grace to
help us when we need it most. Have
you thought about that? Out of context
this verse is used to apply to anything and everything people imagine. However, there is a context, and it is
dealing with God’s people entering into God’s rest. We are invited by God to boldly go to Him and
get the gracious help we need to enter into His rest…”the land of promise.”
The book of Hebrews elaborates on the role of the High
Priest and of Jesus being the greatest High Priest. It is in the midst of the discussion of Jesus
as High Priest that Hebrews 6:4-6 falls.
More on the priesthood follows and in greater detail. At the end of chapter 5 the writer of Hebrews
stops and says he would like to say more about the astounding things regarding
Jesus and Melchizedek and the priesthood, but the readers are not able to
handle it. They are immature. They need to get the basic realities down and
then move on.
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about
Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our
understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental
importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. Hebrews
6:1 NLT
Look at that verse.
Rehearsing the elements of salvation over and over again. The author says, “Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of
repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” The assumed answer is, of course, no. Why would the person who wrote this
straightforward statement of the assurance of salvation begin a few verses
later to tear it apart? That would be strange. The controversy about who has salvation and
if it can be lost is the very thing the writer says to stop. This isn’t about heavenly salvation. Heavenly salvation is wonderful, but it is basic,
and we are now going on to maturity. Because
God has more for you.
So what is happening in Hebrews 6:4-6? The person who is a true believer has
rejected the Lord’s way and gone with his or her flesh back into the world’s
way of doing things. Just as the people
of Israel did at the edge of the land of promise. They were still God’s people, but the
benefits that could have been theirs they would now leave behind. There are consequences. What about the phrase they cannot be brought
back to repentance? Ryrie says it
well. It is like the student wanting to
reset the clock and start the class over…it is impossible. Our only option is to go forward. Which is the point of the passage as a
whole. Let us go on to maturity. Let us go on with God. Let us enter into His rest. Let us go His way.
Going on in Hebrews 6 we come to this in verses 7 and 8:
You can see how the idea of consequences from verses 4-6 is
picked up in 7 and 8. A Christian who is
fruitful (cf: Mark 4, Galatians 5, John 15) has God’s blessing. The consequences for going another way are to
burn off the field and start over. The
burning isn’t a picture of hell, but of discipline or like pruning or correction
in order to get something good going. God
wants all His people to enjoy His goodness and to enter into His rest. Sometimes it takes some tough things to get
their (our) attention so they (we) will do what is good for them (us).
At the end of Hebrews 6 in verses 18 and 19 are these
comforting words:
Amen.
Randy Huddleston
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