Beth-El Baptist Church

08/12/2007

Greg Tomlinson


How are we to understand Hebrews 6:4-8?


There are many people who use Hebrews 6:4-8 as justification for the idea that a person can lose their salvation. It is good to understand what the author of Hebrews, and God, meant by these verses if a Christian cannot lose their salvation.


  1. What is the greater context of Hebrews 6:4-8?

Hebrews 5:8-14

Jesus was identified as a priest according to the order of Melchisedec, instead of Levi (Aaron), whose priesthood is based on his perfect obedience through suffering. It is this priesthood and this Jesus/Son who made the way of salvation possible to all who are obedient.


The Hebrews author has much more to say about Jesus the High Priest in the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7) but they are not ready to hear about that. They are expected to be mature believers in Jesus Christ and reaching out and teaching others regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ but in a rhetorical fashion, he points to their behavior as being more infantile and in need of baby food rather than adult food. They are behaving as though they are incapable of handling, and obeying, the deeper things of God and of Jesus Christ. Their lives need to reflect the presence of spiritual discernment that is grown by use and experience and it is not to be shelved.


Hebrews 6:1-3

The readers are being encouraged to leave behind the infantile, juvenile, entry level teachings of the faith and move on to perfection. Some of these entry level teachings: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms (plural), laying on of hands, resurrection, eternal judgment. The desire of the writer, according to God's will, is to depart from the beginnings of the faith and move on to perfection (cmp v1 and v3).


Hebrews 6:4-8

This is our passage in question and will be returned to shortly.


Hebrews 6:9-12

The writer loves the reader and are confident that the reader will perform much greater things, things that are in accordance with true salvation. The encouragement to the reader is that God does not and will not forget the ministering of the reader toward the saints. The expectation of the writer then is that they will be diligent in their efforts with eagerness according to the fulfilling of the hope that they have. Their effort is expected to endure to the end of their life or time, whichever comes first.


  1. What are some of the key terms and phrases that we need to understand?

Impossible – Matthew 19:24-26; Acts 14:8-10; Romans 8:3-4; 15:1-3; Hebrews 6:18; 10:4; 11:6

Once – 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:7, 26-28; 10:1-3; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Jude 3

Enlightened – Ephesians 1:17-19; 2 Timothy 1:9-10

Tasted – Matthew 16:28; 27:34; John 2:9; 8:52; Acts 10:10; 20:10-11; 23:14; Hebrews 2:9

Fall away – Only occurrence. Fall or slip aside or to deviate from the right path


The reader is confronted with an impossible human situation that must be against God, for nothing is impossible for God. It cannot be the loss of salvation for they must have committed the unpardonable sin, yet the context of what they have done is completely different than that passage (Matthew 12:31-32). The context of the current passage has to do with their works not with blasphemous feelings about the work of the Holy Spirit.


The identification of the people in question as 'once enlightened' (a one time event, that is never to be repeated again, nor needs to be), 'tasted of the heavenly gift' (sampled – Mat 27:34 or consumed Heb 2:9 is the most common) seems to indicate that the writer considers them as true believers. Especially in light of Hebrews 6:9-12.


This seems to be more of a hypothetical situation in verses 6-8 since they appear to be considered true believers by the author of Hebrews. He raises the question about if they were to 'fall away' or abandon walking worthy (Ephesians 4:1-3) of the calling, there is no other form of repentance except what has already been done and taught (repentance from dead works) nor is there any other time or mode of crucifixion/sacrifice for sins. The foundation of the Christian message was laid down once and only once (1 Corinthians 3:10) and yet the conceptual falling away denigrates and shames the name of Jesus Christ.


  1. What then seems to be the issue?

Matthew 5:16 Ephesians 2:8-13

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Titus 3:8

1 Corinthians 8:9 Galatians 5:13-14


The author of Hebrews is trying to encourage the readers to understand that as believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, they need to get away from being self focused and to do the work that God called them to do. They are to be teachers of others concerning the entry level issues of Christ as well as the deeper things of Christ. They are not to abandon nor get tangled up with the affairs of this world but to do and obey the word of God. There is no other hope for man but Jesus Christ. There is no other sacrifice for man but Jesus Christ. It is the works of the brethren that is to be remembered and seen in order to glorify God in heaven.


Summary:


This passage does not advocate the idea of losing ones salvation but instead it is used by the author to encourage the brethren to do the work that God has called them to do. As believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are to reach out to others and to show them the love and care of God through his people and especially through Jesus' sacrifice, the only hope of sinners.