Christians - Help me with the meaning of this passage from Scripture...?

Question

Hebrews 6: 4-6 (NASV)

4For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

6and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Now I'm often told that it is possible to understand the Bible better not by taking passages, but by reading them in context. But even IN context with the rest of Hebrews chapter 6, or even the rest of Hebrews, this appears to say exactly what I think it says, namely that it is UNFORGIVEABLE to be an apostate (Be a Christian, and forsake the faith).

Tell me if I'm wrong, and if so, what the actual interpretation is. If I'm not...doesn't that mean there's no point in trying to convert me, being that I used to be, and am not now, a Christian?

Answer 1

It is not merely the cessation of godly practices in one's life that seems to constitute 'the unforgivable sin', but an unrepentant lifecourse in conflict with the action God's holy spirit. Even a seemingly unrepentant person may "turn around" before it is too late.

(Hebrews 10:26) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left

(Matthew 12:31-32) Blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come.

(Acts 3:19) Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out

(2 Peter 3:9) Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19960201/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_15.htm

Answer 2

In the first century a Pagan that investigated Christianity and than went back to Paganism made a clean break with the Church. But for Jewish Christians that decided to return to Judaism the break was less obvious. There lifestyle remained literally unchanged. However by deliberately turning their backs on Christ, they were cutting themselves off from God's forgiveness, those who persevere in believeing are true saints those that continue to reject Christ are simply unbelievers no matter how well they behave.

6:6

This verse points to the danger of Hebrew Christians returning to Judaism and those committing Apostasy. Some apply the verse today to superficial believers who come close to salvation and then turn away. Either way those that reject Christ will not be saved. Christ died once for all, he will not be crucifed again. Apart from his cross there is no other possible way of salvation. Although the author of this book does not indicate that the reader was in danger of losing their salvation he was only warning against hardness of the heart that would make repentance inconceiveable for the sinner..

Hebrews:

The name of the author of this book is not given in the text but it has been attributed to Paul, Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, Silas, Phillip, Pricilla and others. Whoever it was referred to Timothy as brother.

The book of Hebrews was written to the Hebrew Christian that may have been considering a return to Judaism, perhaps because of immaturity and a lack of understanding of Biblical truths. This book which has been referred to a letter is the form of a sermon and is also directed towards all believers in Christ.

Please keep in mind that these Jewish Christians were probably undergoing fierce persecution from both Romans and Jews. Christ had not yet returned to establish his kingdom and the people needed to be assured that Christ was the Messiah.

Anyway, that is what those verses mean, not taken out of context from the context of a good study Bible.

I hope that this helps shed some light on this subject.

Have a great day!

Answer 3

Some people have periods of years in which they 'go to sleep' in the faith.

This does not necessarily mean that they have committed the unforgivable sin.

If a person has been baptized AND has come to the understanding in the faith once that it is a MUST to lead a holy life, to abstain from sin, and to do Christian Good works -- then if such a one with all this knowledge -- the knowledge also of the truth, (who is God, who is Jesus, what happens when we die, the resurrection on the last day, judgment, etc)

-- then such a person if he goes back to the world and leads an immoral sinful life (practice willful sin) and forgets his Creator and his Lord Jesus, well that person probably has committed the unforgivable sin.

But do not prematurely conclude that you have done this. Few have done the above, but some have.

There is also this: some people are 'baptized' children who later leave to go the world. Such ones when they grow up and come to their senses really did not understand what they got baptized into. God didn't punish anyone under 20 when he killed the disobedient Israelites during the 40 years.

Such ones may repent, produce works of repentance, dedicate themselves as adult and perhaps re-baptize?

Answer 4

You are correct if a person is regenerate (Born Again) and turns from their faith rejecting the grace that Christ died to offer there is no repentance. That said, I have seen many tell me that they were Christian and then go on to tell me they left because of the hypocrites in the Church. They don't live it so it can't be truth.. Or they call it fable after have been raised in a Christian home. When I hear someone tell me that they left the Church because they once had faith unto salvation and they don't want it anymore. It always about a hurt that they suffered by someone in the Church, or about not believing the Bible anymore. They never did believe God, They have had their eyes on others not on Christ how can you trust someone you don't know.. NOPE 99.999% of those that say they were once Christian and are no longer never were Christian to start with.. IHS Jim

Answer 5

The easy way to understand these Scriptures is to determine what is the "heavenly gift" here. The Greek word here is "dorea" which refers to a person and not "charisma" which refers to a gift like salvation. The heavenly gift here is Jesus Himself whose good word and powers were tasted by those who were alive when He walked on earth. The falling away here is from the person of Jesus and not from salvation so these people who fall away from Jesus were not saved as they did not accept Him as Lord and Savior. If they did not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior there is not other way for repentance (changing of mind) for another Savior in place of Jesus to come along. This passage talks about people who were unsaved because they did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah after enjoying His good teaching and powers of the age to come (but when Jesus died and rose again the powers of the age has come to believers in the person of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:8) and not about those who are born again. Hebrews 6:9 confirms that the precending verses 4-8 do not speak of things that accompany salvation. This passsage does not contradict the belief "once saved always saved".

Answer 6

I agree but would add one thing. it is not just that fact of being a Christian, but to have come to a clear understanding of the truth and then reject it. It is the unforgivable sin.

edit: I don't know your heart so would not judge you concerning whether or not you have. My guess however based on that questions you ask is that you have not. As I said above, it is a matter of having a clear understanding of the truth. You may have never reached that point. Many young Christians leave the faith for one reason or another. I did this when I was young. The story of the prodigal son is a story of hope and forgiveness. It was given to us as an example of God's love and understanding that we as humans can and will make bad decisions in life but that our heavenly Father will be there for us when and if we decide to come home.

Answer 7

That is what it appears to say. I believe that God gives us one chance to to make the right choice and that those who willingly turn away from the faith do so at their peril. However, becoming apostate is not the same as merely not being obedient or failing to keep from sinning. Paul said that he too didn't do what he was supposed to all the time. The difference is that he did so with an unwavering belief in Christ. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Only a few people would fall in this catagory. You have to do it knowing what you are doing and do it wilfully. If a person does what this says they will no longer even care or be concerned about whether they are going to heaven or hell.

You would have to be a very strong follower Christian, understood the MEAT of the Word. Have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and then totally reject the free gift that of salvation that you had received. A baby Christian cannot do this.

You are right.
God Bless You as you continue to study His word.

Answer 9

You're not wrong. If someone deliberately and decisively abandons the faith and denounces Christ, they become as those who crucified Jesus. What could be worse? Someone who is saved will not lose their salvation as a result of an act of sin. However - if that person actually mocks the blood of Jesus then they may have lost their salvation. It's hard to imagine though that someone who was ever actually saved would ever turn that far away from God as to completely mock the sacrifice of Jesus.

It doesn't mean that there's no point in trying to convert you. Anyone at any time can repent and return to Christ.

Answer 10

I understand both sides of the argument and so I have about this many times over. My impression is this that once you have been a true follower of Christ and walked away from him not by the deception of sin but while fully understanding what you are doing you close your heart completely to Him. This is the unpardonable sin.

Sometimes we all get so busy we lose our way forget our relationship. Sometimes we get deceived and we think something that is not true and run with it. But because we never close our hearts to Christ and His gospel; thus door is left wide open for Him to return us to Himself.

If you are still yearning for the relationship; then obviously you did not close your heart to Him; and Christ will never refuse anyone who comes to Him.

In all matter of the condition of the heart; whether you have made your heart unreachable to the prompting of the Spirit of God.

Answer 11

Not everyone who is a "partaker" of the Holy Spirit is a saved Christian. I believe the writer is referencing people who never truly believed and later fell away from the faith. 2 Peter 2:20 reads: "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning." Here, Scripture is telling us that an apostate develops a contempt for the faith and is highly unlikely to ever return to it again. It's the Biblical equivalent of saying "so close, but yet so far."

Before you doubt this interpretation, read Jesus' 'Parable of the Sower,' and note that Jesus Himself stated that each of the four received ("partook") of the Gospel, including the first three, who are unbelievers. While it is our responsibility to preach the Gospel, it is the Holy Spirit's work to draw men and women close to God THROUGH the hearing of it. This is what the writer of Hebrews meant.