A True Pathway

Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
 
TO begin, this is one of the most difficult passages in Scripture to interpret. The main question that comes from these verses is, “Can one lose his salvation?” This writer has read numerous commentaries regarding this one long, complex sentence. There are many thoughts on its meaning. Sifting through the thoughts, understanding the context of the passage and knowing what other epistles say of the Christian life, here’s how we can understand this.
   First, the phrase those who have once been enlightened refers to a believing Christian. Then Hebrews describes the Christian experience. True believers are those 1) who have tasted the heavenly gift, which is salvation. 2) They have shared in the Holy Spirit. He lives within the Christian. We are united in him. 3) Christians have tasted the goodness of the word of God. We know how good it is to follow God’s commands and Jesus’ teaching. 4) We know about the powers of the coming age. We believe in God’s miraculous work to make all things new. Our sure hope is that Christ will come again in power to remove evil and establish his throne in the new creation.
   Then comes the challenging statement, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. This seems to be a condemnation of people who leave the faith. And it also seems to say that a person who leaves the faith can never be restored. But there are many Scriptures to assure us of God’s hold on our salvation and his acceptance of our repentance. Read further and you’ll find a teaching that once we are saved, we are always saved: Hebrews 6:17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. Our Lord will never reverse or neglect his Word to us. He is a promise maker and a promise keeper.
   The way we can understand this complex sentence is to see it as a teaching to assure the Christian Jews that their salvation is of God and cannot be reversed. Their sacrificial system was temporary. Jesus’ sacrifice is permanent. Remember, Hebrews is writing about Jesus, the High Priest. He is saying such a Priest will not allow the saved to fall away. For if they do, they would have to go through the entire process of salvation for a second time. Spiritually they would be crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
   True believers will not do this. True believers may have some times of struggling faith and fears. But they will not abandon Jesus. People of faith know Jesus has died for their eternal lives. He does not need to die again. Be secure in the wondrous gift God has given to you for your eternal life.