Hello
@Benoriel,
You question Hebrews 6:4-6,
'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,
And have tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the world to come,
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.'
(Heb 6:4-6)
First of all,
@Benoriel, these people to whom Paul spoke, were believing Hebrews. The believing remnant called out of Israel during the Gospel ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the ministry of the Twelve and the other Apostles during the Acts period that followed. They were SAVED, and would not lose their salvation, what they could lose were those things which accompany salvation, that is the reward for faithful service and of reigning with Christ at His return.
Though saved, they were in danger of giving up and going back into Judaism. Paul urges them to 'go on' to perfection (i.e., maturity) to stop wavering, to become strong in faith, nothing doubting, so that God could permit them (Hebrews 6:3) to go on into further enlightenment without fear of them falling away.
This cannot apply to you, though it is worth seeking to become strong in faith, by reading the Bible record and looking to your Saviour, prayerfully, for His grace, and enabling.
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
In case any one applies Hebrews 6:4-6 in any other way as if one can lose their salvation and thus cannot be saved again, if we include the verses at the beginning of the chapter, we can see why there is no need for any saved believeer that fell away that needs to be saved again to go through all that after they got saved the first time because they could never become unsaved after having been saved by Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6:1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
That is why the above is not necessary to repeat again for that would mean the unthinkable below as if Christ has to die for them again which He does not.
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, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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.
Since that foundation has been laid by Jesus Christ that can never be removed with that seal of adoption that is not going anywhere, is why the rain is Jesus Christ that has been received in the earth but the saved believer sowed to the works of the flesh instead thus producing weeds and thickets fit to be burned but the life has still been received in the earth.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
One can see this analogy in verses 7-8 above in this reference below for why they are still saved in that day when God judges the works on that foundation, burning off all that offends as they die a physical death but are saved anyway..
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.
But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 1
1 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
So no loss of salvation, but there is a consequence more dire than just losing the rewards of crowns, because one may find himself as a castaway; left behind to die, but their spirits will be with the Lord in heaven awaiting for their resurrection after the great tribulation as vessels unto dishonor in His House, vessels of wood & earth, in serving the King of kings on earth.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
That is why we are to call even former believers to look to Jesus for help to discern the lies that turned them away from Him so they too can obtain that eternal glory of being that vessel unto honor in His House that comes with our salvation in Christ Jesus. As former beleivers would deny him verbally for why He would deny them, yet though left behind, He is faithful for He still abides for why they are still to be called to depart from iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
2 Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Anyway... as there is necessity to run that race by faith in Jesus Christ to help us lay aside every weight & sin daily, it is not for obtaining salvation since those left behind are still saved but for the high prize of our calling to be that vessel unto honor in His House to attend the marriage Supper in Heaven held in His honor and to His glory as the crowns we receive are really His crowning achievements in us for why we would cast them at His feet.
