This chapter starts off with the writer admonishing believers to press on to “perfection” – which is maturity.

Heb. 6:1-2 “Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

These are some of the basics: the foundation of repentance, baptisms (both Spirit, which we are saved by and water which shows our first step of obedience from being saved).

V. 4 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, v. 5: And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, v.6: If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

The writer gives a strong warning to those who have been enlightened (were given light, knowledge) being among believers and being believers themselves. Partakers of the Holy Spirit (means they shared in its power, being born again and saw its work among them). They have both seen and tasted the goodness of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, as it states in Ps. 34:8 ‘Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” As Peter describes “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3). Same word is used of Jesus that tasted “death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9), meaning He did actually die. In other words, salvation was applied and they were currently active and are warned not to turn back to Judaism from which they came out of.

The background of this Hebrew epistle (one of 5 letters written specifically to the Jews after Jesus’ ascension). At that time there was great persecution and pressure for Jewish believers to conform to Judaism (could be the same persecution mentioned in Acts 8:1). They thought they could give up their belief in the Messiah Jesus temporarily, which resulted in their salvation. Their following Jesus could be annulled and they could go back to Judaism and wait for the persecution they were experiencing to subside. The author says to do this would require a new crucifixion (crucifying the Son of God afresh) and Jesus cannot be re-crucified. He died once for all.

For they were:

1) once enlightened they believed, apprehending the light.

2) tasted of the heavenly gift they received from the Messiah giving them the promise of Holy Spirit

3) Were made partakers of the Holy Ghost they have received the Spirits indwelling

4) tasted the good word of God they recognized the word as from God and were born of it, and lived by it.

5) tasted the powers of the world to come they have seen and experienced the Spirit, what would be manifested in the Millennial reign of Messiah, (possibly healings and miracles as mentioned in Heb.2:4). All of these descriptions show us they were true believers. They have experienced five things that show they were regenerate.

However, the writer says there was one thing that was impossible for them to do. It is “impossible to renew them again to repentance.” If we look at that word repentance, notice that it does not say it is impossible to renew them again to salvation. In fact, this Greek word for “fallen away” is adunatos which can literally be translated “to stumble or fall alongside.” It is not apostasia from which we get the idea of apostasy or being an apostate of the faith. So this is describing a backsliding, not a complete apostasy (as in turning from belief to unbelief).

So, what kind of repentance do they mean, and what are they falling away from? They cannot renew themselves unto repentance means, once one repents, they go from unbelief to believing; they cannot repeat the act that resulted in their salvation. One cannot have salvation, then lose their salvation and then be saved again at a later time. This would require as the writer describes (most think is either Apollos or Paul) a re-crucifixion of Jesus which would put Him to an open shame. This is like saying His death was insufficient to save completely the first time.

Repentance for salvation is once. Consider the how the word once is used in Hebrews,

Heb. 7:27: “Of the sacrifices, He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

Heb. 9:12: “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

The principle of divine judgment is often physical death. We see this example with Moses in the Exodus who disobeyed misrepresenting the Lord (striking the rock twice when he was instructed to strike it once, representing God to the people as if he was angry at them). Few will say Moses lost his spiritual salvation (We know he didn’t as he later appears on the Mt. of Transfiguration with Elijah). Everyone of that first generation that left Egypt that were in rebellion, disobedient died in the wilderness. Only two men made it to the Promised Land from that original Exodus generation; Joshua and Caleb, men who had a different spirit, who had faith. So these Jewish believers have two options before them, to identify with those who rejected the Messiah or break with Judaism totally and press on to their maturity in Christ, which is God’s purpose in using suffering and persecution.

Notice how the writer puts this in perspective, what he thinks of them. V:7-10 “For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

He acknowledges their work has been for the Lord and that they should continue in it. That they are not what is cursed and God has seen their work for Him. Vs. 11-12: “And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” That you may not be sluggish, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The entire chapter of Hebrews 6 is devoted to the Hebrew believers showing their faith through their works. The writer emphasizes the believers security in their salvation when he makes statements like “the full assurance of hope until the end” (vs. 11); “The unchangeablenss of His purpose (vs. 17); and “this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast” (vs. 19).

Here he is proposing the mature way, to stay in the will of God. Let the persecution give them endurance. If they refuse to press on the consequences will be physical death in the present life and a loss of rewards in the next.

1. They knew Jesus was the final sacrifice for sins, once for all

participation appropriating the word in their lives. If this passage means, as some say, a losing of salvation - then one cannot be renewed to repentance ever again, ever. Therefore they can never be forgiven. But this sin is reserved only for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which is saying Jesus did His work when he was incarnated on earth by an evil spirit (when he was there physically present in front of the people). So this must mean something other than the way some people interpret it. The Jewish background of the letter helps clear up the confusion.

Once we understand the context of Heb. 6 it should help put into further perspective Heb.10

First the writer exhorts for them (and him) to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Heb. 10:23)

V.25 “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” That day is the judgment Jesus spoke of on Israel for their unbelief (

The ‘Ifs” of Hebrews 2:3; 3:6-14; 6:3-6; 10:26, 38

Some have interpreted the “ifs” to mean that one can lose their salvation. These are specific warnings to those who are to press toward to spiritual maturity. Failure to do this will result in some kind of divine discipline. This divine discipline should not to be interpreted as exclusively spiritual death, but include physical death.

Heb. 10:26-29: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there

remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (similar to Hebrews 6:6 crucify the Son of God again)

The temple is still standing when the book of Hebrews has the writer speak of them going back to their sacrifices. So this takes place before 70 AD.

V. 27: “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the

adversaries.”

If one can lose their salvation then you can never get it back. Again, like in Heb.6 the author warns the Jewish believers that if they received Jesus they cannot go back into Judaism. There are no more sacrifices to go back to there was one for all time, the messiah as the lamb of God. God provided the one last sacrifice – Jesus; this will be proven to all of Israel after the temple is destroyed in 70 AD. V.29: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

If one deliberately rejects the knowledge they have and experienced by the New Covenant by their going back into Judaism, they are resisting, and even rejecting the Holy Spirit’s work. They are trampling the Son of God’s sacrifice as insignificant and regarding Jesus’ blood as regular blood, not holy and complete. All that will remain for them is judgment, they will be punished along with the rest of unbelieving Israel that were disobedient. So they will lose their physical life and have a loss of rewards entering heaven ashamed, yet saved. The new covenant still has punishments attached to its agreement, just as the Mosaic Law did. God still chastens the believer and the New Testament mentions a sin unto death. They will end up identifying with the generation that committed the unpardonable sin. While they themselves did not commit it, they will be punished along with them if they accompany them in their continued rejection.

It is a known fact that when Titus came with the Roman armies to conquer Jerusalem those who believed in Jesus separated from that generation who disbelieved and escaped. They remembered the prophecy to watch when Jerusalem is surrounded with armies and to flee. Over one hundred thousand fled to Pella and escaped with their lives, while over one million one hundred thousand people who stayed died or were captured. This was the judgment both Jesus and the writer of Hebrews warned of.

V. 35: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. V36: “For you have need of endurance, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. V.37: “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. V.38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” V. 39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Here the writer encourages them to keep the faith by being confident in the promises of God which has rewards for perseverance in persecution and trials. It does not say they will lose their salvation because that is a gift given to us. It is not earned, it is by grace through faith (though we are to have continual faith). Here he is speaking of rewards given to those who endure in faith, the concept of faith in Judaism equals faithfulness. You cannot receive salvation twice, but once. He then contrasts those who believe in which their soul is saved and those who do not believe. He says they are not among those who do not believe so they should trust in Christ who will repay the wicked and they are to press on.

The writer is not saying one loses their salvation because previously in Heb.10:14, 17-18, speaking of the new Covenant,” “For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more an offering for sin.” Christ’s sacrifice is efficacious, it continually will cleanse, unlike the Old Testament sacrifices that had to be repeated. So we have one sacrifice by one high priest (who is eternal) and have received salvation once.