Hebrews 6:4-6
What is written? (ESV)
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
What does it say?
It’s impossible to restore to repentance those that have fallen away after coming to understand and experience salvation – having shared in the Holy Spirit and the goodness of God’s word and the power to come – since they crucify all over the Son of God, putting him to public shame to their own harm.
What is its immediate context?
The Hebrews writer is arguing the “better” things in Christ, contrasting with things from the Old Law these Hebrew Christians had turned from, but apparently were at risk to turn back. He is chastising them for having become “dull of hearing” (5:11) and requiring someone to still need to teach them these “basic principles” (5:12).
How Hebrews 6:4-6 is applied across Bible answers
Are God’s word and the Holy Spirit the same thing?
A Christian having "shared in the Holy Spirit" and "tasted...the word of God" are two distinctly different things.
Can our free moral agency be lost?
The Hebrews writer describes a state in which a Christian finds it "impossible" to repent.
Can repentance become impossible (Hebrews 6:4-6)?
Those who "fall away" from having "tasted the heavenly gift" and all that is involved will eventually find it impossible to return to God.
Does man have free will?
A situation is described where those who have been saved can choose to "crucify once again the Son of God" by their actions.
Is God’s grace irresistible?
The writer is emphasizing the grave consequences for the saved ("elect") to return to God if/when they "have fallen away". The Hebrews writer is stating an opposite reality to an "irresistible grace" of God.14
Is there an inward call of God?
The writer is clearly speaking to those who would have received the "inward call" since they have "shared in the Holy Spirit." Nevertheless, he warns them about falling away...why would he do that?
Top 10: Passages that must be reconciled before concluding that the Holy Spirit indwells representatively through the Word?
The Holy Spirit is "shared", and the word of God is "tasted".
Top 3: Scripture challenges to once saved always saved?
There is a circumstance3 in which a saved individual might "fall away" whereby it is "impossible" for them to return.
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? (Matthew 12:31-32)
"Crucifying once again" and "holding him up to contempt" are similar to "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit." Someone who had responded to the grace of Christ can become unredeemable in their contempt and blasphemy.
