“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Our first question tonight is ‘Why is this a tough text?’ It is clear on reading through it why this is such a difficult passage. It says many things that seem problematic, it raises questions that are difficult to answer, and it seems to teach things that contradict many other passages of Scripture. While the beginning and ending of this passage seem fairly straightforward, the difficulties are mainly found in v4-8.
Let me begin by saying this. The book of Hebrews is wonderful. It’s rich in theological depth and practical application. It was written to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and were tempted to abandon Christ. So the author's primary aim is twofold: first, to demonstrate the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Covenant. And second, urge these Christians to persevere in their faith and grow in spiritual maturity.
This passage, 6:1-12, is truly one of the most debated and, for some, unsettling passages in all of Scripture. Our goal tonight is not to shy away from the difficulties but to engage with them thoughtfully, seeing the full counsel of God's Word to shape our understanding and strengthen our assurance in Christ. By the end of this study, I pray not only that our understanding clarified, but that our faith will be deepened, and that we would grow in our own assurance as well.
Here's the plan for tonight. First, we’ll briefly examine v1-3. Second, we’ll linger on v4-8 seeing the difficulties, asking our questions, and giving possible answers. And third, we’ll briefly look at v9-12.
v1-3
To understand the beginning of chapter 6, we must turn back to the end of chapter 5. There in the end of chapter 5 the author of Hebrews teaches us the difference between the mature believer and the immature believer and the difference in their spiritual diets, milk and solid food. As chapter 6 begins that same idea carries forward with a call to spiritual maturity in v1-3. Leaving behind elementary things and pressing forward to maturity in our faith. That’s the call. And in v3 we find that we will grow and mature in our faith, if God permits it. So right away as this tough text begins we see how God is sovereignly at work in our lives as Christians.
v4-8
Here we come to it. And right away one can see the numerous difficulties present. This seems to teach about one who enjoyed so many Kingdom benefits but was ultimately removed from the Kingdom for falling away. This raises important questions like: can we lose our salvation? What do all the characteristics mean in v4-5: once being enlightened, tasting the heavenly gift, sharing in the Spirit, and tasting the goodness of the Word of God, and the powers of the age to come? Does that mean they were a Christian? What does it mean to have fallen away? Why is it impossible for such a person to be restored to repentance? How would that be a re-crucifying of Christ?
As is the case in many tough texts, options for interpretation abound. So, in that light here are three options for this text.
Interpretation 1: The Plain Sense (Arminian)
It is right and good of us to begin with a view of this text that takes this text on its own, as it stands, with no qualifications. This view, held by many of an Arminian persuasion, believes that if a true believer commits apostasy and falls away, even after enjoying all the benefits mentioned here in v4-5, that they do indeed lost their salvation, such that they cannot come back at all. Those who hold this view believe they are being faithful to the plain sense of the text, and that any who disagree with this plain sense are twisting to text to a set of preconceived theological opinions. So in sum, this first view believes the warning here exists to do just that, warn true Christians that they can truly fall away.
Interpretation 2: The Hypothetical Warning (Piper)
One interpretation views the warning in Hebrews 6:4-6 as hypothetical. This perspective argues that the author is suggesting a hypothetical scenario. The argument is that if it were possible for a truly saved person to fall away in such a manner, then indeed, their restoration would be impossible because it would entail a re-crucifixion of Christ, which is absurd.
Proponents of this view often point to verse 9, where the author states, “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” This verse is seen as the author’s clarification that his audience, being true believers, are not the ones in danger of this ultimate apostasy. The warning thus, serves as a powerful deterrent and a means by which God preserves His elect, not as an actual real case scenario. It highlights the heinous nature of rejecting Christ after having experienced abundant exposure to the truth, and it underscores the seriousness of perseverance. The warning is real and serious, but the outcome for the elect is secure due to God's preserving grace.
Interpretation 3: External Profession/Participation (Sproul)
A second prominent interpretation believes the individuals described here to be those who are part of the visible covenant community, but who are not necessarily truly regenerate. This view highlights the distinction between external participation in the blessings of the church and internal, saving faith. The five attributes listed in v4-5 are interpreted as describing a profound external experience with Christianity, but not necessarily internal regeneration.
“Once been enlightened” can refer to intellectual understanding of Christian truth, and exposure to the true gospel. Unbelievers can be intellectually enlightened to theological truths.
“Tasted the heavenly gift” could refer to partaking in the Lord's Supper, experiencing the benefits of being in a Christian community, or receiving common grace blessings, none of which necessarily indicate saving faith.
“Shared in the Holy Spirit” could refer to experiencing the outward manifestations or gifts of the Holy Spirit (e.g., prophecy, miracles), which can be given to unbelievers (e.g., Balaam, Saul, Judas), or simply being part of a community where the Spirit is active. It does not necessarily imply the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that accompanies regeneration.
“Tasted the goodness of the word of God” refers to hearing and understanding the preached Word, perhaps even being emotionally moved by it, but without genuine conversion or submission to its authority.
“Tasted the powers of the age to come” could mean witnessing or experiencing miraculous works associated with the coming kingdom of God, again, without personal salvation.
According to this second view, the warning is directed at those who have had significant exposure to the truth and blessings of God within the covenant community but have not truly embraced Christ in saving faith. Their apostasy is severe because of the light they have received and rejected. The analogy of the land in v7-8 seems to supports this: the land receives rain (blessings/exposure to truth) but produces only thorns and thistles (unbelief/apostasy), indicating a lack of true fruit and ultimately leading to judgment. This interpretation aligns with 1 John 2:19, which states, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” The warning serves as a diagnostic tool, revealing the true spiritual state of those who fall away.
Also, this view emphasizes that the nature of the Church here in earth is and will always be a mixed bag. That is, a mixture of the sheep and the goats, or the wheat and the chaff. This means there will be those within the Church who are part of the body visibly, but are not part of the body invisibly. These unbelievers in the mix might be phonies masquerading as believers, or they might think they’re true believers but are dreadfully mistaken.
The severity of the language here emphasizes the inevitability of a continued persistent rejection of Christ after having received significant light and experienced the blessings of the covenant community. It is a warning against hardening one's heart to the point of no return, a state where repentance becomes impossible not because God is unwilling, but because the individual has utterly repudiated the only path to it.
Conclusion?
While these three interpretations offer distinct interpretations of this text, there is some overlap and commonality between them. Ultimately, I land in the third interpretation, that this warning here is for those who have had significant exposure to the truth and blessings of God within the covenant community but have not truly embraced Christ in saving faith. they are not mutually exclusive and often complement each other within Reformed theology.
But, there is a common thread to see in them all. Namely, the passage serves as a profound and serious warning. Whether hypothetical, descriptive of external church members, or directed at the Old Covenant context, the warning in this passage encourages us in many ways.
1) It encourages us to persevere in faith by showing us the severe consequences of apostasy.
2) It encourages us to examine our own faith, giving us a diagnostic tool to test the sincerity of our faith.
3) It encourages us to magnify Christ's sufficiency, reminding us that there is no other way to be saved apart from Christ, and to reject Him after such exposure is to reject the only means of grace.
v9-12
Now briefly, see how the passage ends in v9-12. After delivering such a robust warning, the author of Hebrews shifts to assurance, showing his pastoral heart and the true intent of the preceding verses.
These verses provide significant comfort and clarify that the warning in v4-8 was not intended to teach us about losing salvation but is intended to spur us on to perseverance.
Rich pastoral words of assurance abound here. The author calls his readers “beloved”, a term of deep endearment that contrasts sharply with the severity of the warning. He expresses confidence in “better things, things that belong to salvation” concerning them. This strongly suggests that he does not believe his audience is composed of apostates or those in danger of irreversible falling away. Rather, he sees evidence of true faith and spiritual life among them.
The author also appeals to God’s just character, stating that “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints.” This is an affirmation of God's faithfulness to His people. God sees and does not overlook the genuine expressions of faith and love demonstrated by His saints. This is not a statement about earning salvation through works, but about the evidence of salvation showing itself in good works, which God graciously acknowledges and will not forget.
The desire of the author is for his readers to continue showing “the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.” Assurance is not a passive thing but something to be pursued through persevering in faith. The goal is to avoid becoming “dull”, a term used earlier in 5:11 to describe their dullness in hearing. Instead, they are to be “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
In v9-12 functions as a comforting counterpoint to the preceding warning. It reassures genuine Christians of their secure standing in Christ, it highlights God’s faithfulness to His people, and exhorts them to continue pursuing full assurance and spiritual maturity.
