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. (Hebrews 6:4-6)
Hebrews 6:4-6 is not talking to “newbies” in the faith. It refers to people who have been enlightened. Those are people who have received and understood revelation knowledge from God about His Word. It also describes people who have tasted of the heavenly gift - this is talking about Jesus; they have received Jesus as Lord. It goes on to say these people are partakers of the Holy Ghost, meaning these people have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. And, he continued, have tasted the good word of God. These are people who have been well taught in the Word. They really know and understand what the Bible says. They haven’t just sat in a church, but rather they’ve received consistent, transformative teaching.
Scripture says that if these mature individuals in faith fall away from the faith, it is impossible to renew them to repentance. This is not talking about someone who has sinned or periodically makes decisions against God’s Word. It refers to someone who deliberately and specifically denies the Lord Jesus and goes against God’s Word. The analogy of crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting Him to an open shame highlights the gravity of someone making this decision. This is not a mere backslide; it's a blatant denial of the sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross. It's a posture that rejects the core of Christianity, leaving no room for repentance.
Practical Application
Hebrews 6:4-6 should be comforting to some and concerning to others. Those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and faithfully serve God should never worry about their salvation. However, it’s important to know it’s possible to deliberately walk away from God and His saving grace.