Hebrew 6:4-12
Introduction:
1. In our previous discussion, we saw the writer’s call for them to go on to maturity.
2. In this discussion, we see a warning about an eternal danger if they remain sluggish.
3. This section presents some difficulties, but the context will bring clarity.
Discussion:
I. The Real Danger of Apostasy
A. The Calvinists deny the possibility of apostasy.
B. Scores of passages in the NT warn against it (Acts 20:28-32; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 1:6-9; 5:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 4:1ff; 2 Timothy 4:1-4; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-14; 4:1, 11; 10:26-31; 12:15-17, 25; James 1:12-16; 5:19-20; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 2-3; etc.).
C. None is as plainly stated and forceful as Hebrews 6:4-6; there is no logical way to take these as anything other than Christians who fall away.
II. No Chance of Repentance?
A. This passage creates internal tension, stating the apostate cannot be restored to repentance.
B. How do we square this with passages that say He desires all to repent (1 Timothy 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9).
C. Some try softening the word “impossible,” but it means what it says (6:18; 10:4; 11:6).
III. Layers of Context
A. From the broad perspective, the Bible is full of calls to bring the erring home (1 Timothy 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9ff; James 5:19-20; Jude 23; etc.).
B. Within the letter, the main concern is:
1. Drifting from the word (2:1-3).
2. Hardening hearts and departing (3:12).
3. Failing to enter His rest due to unbelief and disobedience (3:16-4:7).
4. Falling away and thereby making public mockery of the Christ (6:4-6).
5. Falling into willful, persistent sin (10:26-31).
6. The danger is total repudiation of the Christ; set aside= lit. reject, declare invalid (10:28).
C. The nearer context of the statement concerns their sluggishness leading to such a fate (5:11-6:3).
1. Faith is a battle for the mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
2. Dullness made them vulnerable to a fall.
D. The specific statements are crucial to understand.
1. The key lies in the verbs for crucifying and holding Him up to contempt/open shame.
2. The KJV/NKJV/ASV/NASB all read “they crucify again…and put Him to open shame.”
3. The ESV/NRSV/NIV all read “they are crucifying…and putting Him to open shame.”
4. The latter explicitly capture the ongoing force of the present active participles used.
5. There are about fifteen ways these can work, but in this context, there are only two.
6. The translations take it as causal: since...
7. Their most basic use is temporal: as/while…
E. 10:26 has the same structure pertaining to no sacrifice remaining in the case of willful sin.
F. If we take the event of falling away as a singular event removing all hope of repentance, we must do the same thing with one point of willful sin.
G. It is more consistent with the full context, the nature of God, and the construction to take it to be impossible while the actions continue.
H. The land analogy speaks to an assessment of its final state, not a specific point of nonproductivity.
IV. Confident Expectation
A. Having issued the warning, the writer encouraged them with an expression of confidence in them.
B. He commended their labors, urging them to continue to the end and inherit the promises.
Conclusion:
1. The point is that, if a child of God fails to progress in knowledge of Christ and His will, He faces the real threat of falling away and the helplessness it creates.
2. This is why we must exercise our senses to discern good and evil.
3. If we walk away, there is no hope of forgiveness apart from Christ.