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What is the meaning of Hebrews 6:4-6? (Christian answers only please).?

For whatever reason, every time I read this passage of Scripture, the words frighten me. I don't really understand exactly what it means.

Please, genuine answers only.

14 Answers

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  • 5 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    There is no need to be frightened. Those verses are not directly applicable today. Below are the verses in question.

    Heb 6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 6:5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6:6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame

    They key phrase is "tasted of the heavenly gift". The gift being referred to is "receiving the HS" (see Ac 8:18 and Gal 3:2-5). That was only accomplished through the laying on of an apostle's hands. Here's how Hebrews 6:4-6 worked.

    Let's say you were one of the Ephesians who received the HS (i.e. tasted the heavenly gift; Ac 19:1-5). Then later you rejected Christianity. It would be impossible for you to repent because your attitude is reprehensible and beyond reprobate. Your situation would be similar to blasphemy of the HS. In both cases, miracles were clearly demonstrated (and in your case even directly experienced) and you rejected them and God.

    Since it's impossible for you to "taste the heavenly gift", it's impossible for you to ever be in the same situation as some of the Hebrews were back in the first century.

    It is very possible to fall away, but also possible to come to one's senses spiritually, repent, and turn back to God. That's the basic story in the parable about the lost son. He was spiritually alive, became dead, and then became alive AGAIN (Lk 15:32; emp. added).

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    It is speaking of those who had known the holy spirit, essentially them being chosen joint heirs to be Rev 5:10 kings and priests. See Eph 1:16 and Heb 10:26 1 John 2:18 Hebrews 10:29

    There were some in the first century 1 John 2:19 Hymenaeus and Philetus are named also Alexander at 1 Tim 1:18,19 they were handed over to Satan or expelled.

    Those who sin in such a way the Bible says

    they trample on Jesus sacrifice

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    To put these verses into context it helps to understand that chapters 3 to 4 are a warning based on the rebellion of the Israelites in the desert. Professing Hebrew Christians would not be able to repent if they adamantly turned against "the light" they had received. Expressions like "enlightened", "tasted the heavenly gift" and "shared in the Holy Spirit" indicate that such persons had come under the influence of God's covenant blessings and had professed to turn from darkness to light but were in danger of a public and final rejection of Christ, proving they had never been regenerated. See Hebrews 10:26-31.

    However, for all believers who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who have been regenerated, God has promised he will bring this work of sanctification to fulfillment. Also, Jesus has promised he will not lose even one of those given to him by the Father.

    To reject Christ's sacrifice for sins is to reject the only sacrifice - there is no other. That is the unpardonable sin. All who have come to saving faith in Christ Jesus, who have experienced the new birth and who are in the new covenant have nothing to fear from the warning in Hebrews 6:4-6.

    Source(s): NIV Study Bible notes
  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    What is the meaning of Hebrews 6:4-6? (Christian answers only please).?

    Hebrews was written to a Christian community that was dying. This passage is a threat that says if you leave, you can never come back. The Koran has a similar passage in either chapter 1 or 2.

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  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Hebrews 6:4-6Expanded Bible (EXB)

    4 For it is impossible to ·bring back again to a changed life [L renew again to repentance] those who were once ·in God’s light [enlightened], and ·enjoyed [experienced; L tasted] ·heaven’s gift [or the heavenly gift; C perhaps the gift of salvation], and ·shared in [partook of] the Holy Spirit. 5 They ·found out [L tasted] how good God’s word is, and ·they received [L tasted] the ·powers [miracles] of ·his new world [the coming age/world]. 6 If they have ·fallen away [committed apostasy], it is impossible to ·bring them back to a changed life again [L renew them again to repentance], because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are ·shaming him in front of others [making a public disgrace/exhibition of him].

    If you had a fiancé who you REALLY got to know, and

    you had the rings, the date, put yourself out for them

    in EVERY WAY sharing all your hopes and dreams,

    and then

    ....he was caught in bed with your best girlfriend, could you

    take him back again? Even if he was a very nice person?

    How would YOU feel?

    It takes a very long time but we actually are invited slowly

    to become spiritually 'intimate' with God. Same idea.

    But before that? Of course, it is even expect that people will

    waffle back and forth. I don't because for me....it's

    'to do' or 'not to do' and I made that decision.

    And in ways, it was 'made for me'....but...I could have rejected,

    and COULD....theoretically any time. God is fair.

    To me, that would be entering the black hole, the void.

    I'll never do it, by the grace of God.

  • 5 years ago

    These scriptures can't be understood by reading just by themselves. You have to read the whole chapter. It seems by reading what you have, you can never come back. That is not what the whole passage is saying. There is still forgiveness in squandering your salvation. There is a very bitter repentance involved.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    The key that unlocks the mystery of this difficult Scripture is the ord "impossible" in verse 4. The writer is saying that the person who so sins will find it impossible to repent again.

  • 5 years ago

    There are 3 main interpretations - (1) Some Christians will lose their salvation.

    (2) - It is a hypothetical argument to warn immature Hebrew Christians (see Heb 5:11-14).

    (3) - It refers to professing Christians whose apostasy proves that their faith was not genuine (see 1 John 2:19).

    (with Judas Iscariot being the first example of this).

    In light of the following scriptures, I would go for No. 3:

    “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:5

    “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…

    “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 & 22-24

    “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

    All Christians continue to sin after they come to saving faith in Christ. Just read 1 John chapter 1 through to chap 2 v 4! But provision has been made as Jesus is our Mediator, who understands our failings and intercedes for us. We repent of our sins and the Holy Spirit helps us become more Christ-like – “By one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14

    Because salvation is a gift from God, not given because we deserve it but because He loves us with an everlasting love, we know God will not take that gift away. He is not capricious, saying “Here’s a free gift” but then laying down conditions which, if we don’t keep till the day we die, will result in Him taking that gift away. AiH

  • 5 years ago

    This chapter is about becoming mature; understanding God speaks to everyone, we have learned to be obedient to Jesus Christ, and we are governed by the Holy Spirit!

  • 5 years ago

    Those who are revealed the truth, I mean the TRUTH, the absoulete Truth, they have felt GODS GLORY WITHIN THEIR BONES, and then turn back to chase after money, are damned. Not the God will turn away from anyone who calls on him, Jesus will bring us back. Too Continue to Sin is to continue to crucify jesus. Don't you know you and I were responsible for his death? Our Ancestors, and our continued actions. We do not learn? or do we?

    "The Beginning of Wisdom is the fear of the Lord."

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