There are two elephants in the theological room today.
Simply put, as the author of Hebrews describes, we often lack enthusiasm for wrestling with biblical truths, especially when they are challenging. We are too prone to mutter, “Whatever!”
This was also an issue for the audience receiving the book of Hebrews. In today’s reading, as soon as the discussion of the supremely remarkable “priest forever” (Hebrews 5:6), Melchizedek, was just getting underway, the author breaks off. It’s as though someone had just said the equivalent of “Why do we need to talk about Melchizedek anyway?” We can infer that the audience was content with matters the author declared to be elementary—mere baby food.
And now to the second elephant: it sounds like I can lose my salvation! That butts up against dearly treasured assurances. Isn’t it ironic that the discussion on Melchizedek is postponed, and instead, we address this gnarly topic?
It starts on a somber note: “It is impossible…” (Hebrews 6:4). In the Greek text, readers are left hanging. We only discover what is “impossible” after we first read that these persons have been enlightened, tasted, and shared in the Holy Spirit. “Taste” does not mean a tentative superficial sample; it means to enjoy fully. These sound like bona fide children of the living God. The words could be testimonies in a revival service. Their spiritual journeys, however, come to a crashing halt. Most of us know individuals who affirmed their belief in the transforming power of the Word and Spirit but chose to step away. That move implies deliberate disavowal.
Enter the land metaphor with the key word—“cultivated” (v.7). Caring for land is hard work; so is cultivating our souls. Thorns and thistles speak volumes of neglected land. To riff momentarily on the earlier metaphor, those who stay on baby food or only milk may have compromised immune systems later. When virulent spiritual viruses attack them, they succumb, especially if they have not learned to discern evil from good, an exercise lodged in the study of the Word.
To be sure, the author is confident of “better” things for the “dearly loved” audience (v.9). Rather than tie up loose theological ends into a nice package, the admonition goes directly to our tendency to coast when rest is not appropriate in the face of evil within and without. We need to be warned lest we neglect necessary spiritual disciplines.
I’m very confused about todays reading.
Amen Angie Mills. The Lord has a way to keep us from stumbling, especially when He is the right hand intercessor next to the Judge and with indwelling Spirit within us to keep us tethered. It is secure. Thank you for taking the time to go in depth like you always do. I love it.❤️ Praise the Lord for you.
They were being warned not to return to animal sacrifices. They would lose the progress they had made from faith in Christ and his sacrifice for sin.
To all She’s who are confused about Hebrews 6:6:
I do also believe that once you have been saved and trusted Jesus as your Savior, you are always saved. Just as salvation is not a work that we do on our own, but an acceptance of the gift of salvation that God so freely and graciously gives us; so is our perseverance. If it were up to us, we would so easily fall away whenever great trials or tribulations come … or small ones for that matter. We cannot cling to Jesus hard enough in our own power. Without Him, we can do nothing! But, praise God, Jesus is omnipotent and is always strong enough to hold on to us. He is omnipresent and always with us to uphold and help us. He is omniscient and knows our weakness and intercedes on our behalf. It is because of His past work on the cross and His continued work of intercession on our behalf at His Father’s throne that we cannot fall away.
This definition of “falling away” comes from Vine’s Expository Dictionary from blueletterbible.org
Fall, Fallen, Falling, Fell: (Verb)
Strong’s Concordance Number: g3895
Greek: parapipto
– akin to: Fall, Fallen, Falling, Fell:
primarily “a false step, a blunder” (para, “aside,” pipto, “to fall”), then “a lapse from uprightness, a sin, a moral trespass, misdeed,” is translated “fall” in Rom 11:11, 12, of the sin and “downfall” of Israel in their refusal to acknowledge God’s claims and His Christ; by reason of this the offer of salvation was made to Gentiles; cp. ptaio, “to stumble,” in ver. 11.
See FAULT, OFFENCE, SIN, TRESPASS.,
– properly understood as: “to fall in one’s way” (para, “by”), signifies “to fall away” (from adherence to the realities and facts of the faith), Hbr 6:6.
I believe that this verse is saying that there are those in the church who are not true believers. They do not truly confess Jesus as their Savior or as the Lord He rightfully is. They may look like they are in their actions, but their hearts are far from Him. The Word of God teaches us this truth throughout Scripture. There were those who were Jews who kept doing the good works of Judaism so people thought they were good Jews, but God said that their hearts were far from Him. Jesus told many parables and teachings about the weeds being among the wheat, people claiming Him as Lord but not doing His work, and whether or lives are producing fruit that matches what we believe.
This section of Scripture is asking us to examine ourselves. If you have placed your trust in Jesus as your Savior and proclaimed Him as the Lord He is, you have received the gift of eternal life and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Is your life manifesting that fact? Can others tell that you are a Christian? Are you seeking to grow more and more into godliness? If on the other hand, you made a profession of faith at one time (or several times) in your life and it made no significant impact on your life, you need to ask yourself why that is the case. When you truly belong to Jesus and place your trust in Him, He sends His Holy Spirit to you who will help to transform what you love and the way you think and live. If you are someone who claims to be a Christian but look and think and act exactly like those in the world do, ask yourself if you genuinely believe what Jesus claims about Himself. He is the ONLY way to the Father. He is the ONLY means of eternal life. We must come to Father God only by the grace He has given us, through the faith He gives us, and only on Jesus’s work.
As long as you have breath on this earth, it is never too late to repent when you truly turn away from the sin of unbelief and fix your eyes on Jesus.
I am praying for each of you who are struggling with this passage. I pray that God gives you His wisdom to understand the truth that is being spoken here. I pray that He would assure your heart of your salvation if you are truly seeking to live for Him. If you have only professed belief but have not chosen to live out that profession, I pray that today will be the day that you choose to follow Jesus no matter the cost and cling to Him for your life.
I have always believed, based on scripture, that we can’t loose our salvation. I do know that the author isn’t just referring to a simple falling away, but a deliberate walking away.
I too am confused by today’s reading. I know
I pray that I would grow up in Christ. I want the take a step back and really see how much I have grown in Christ.
Amen!