Of the five warnings in the book of Hebrews, warning #3, found in chapters 5:11-6:8, is one of the most controversial and severe passages in the entire Bible.
It is important to remember that eternal security for the possessor *of salvation is a given and therefore loss of salvation is not the issue in this warning. The corollary is also essential for correct understanding: certainty of salvation is not compatible with faith and therefore not in play this side of the grave.
However, chapter 6 teaches that legitimate assurance is important, encouraged by God, and hinges on a heart for obedience.
The Hebrews referenced in this letter are professors of salvation but are criticized for their immaturity. They have continued holding onto the old and comfortable Judaistic ways as well as not maturing in their new faith in Christ.
Chapters 6, vv. 1-2 include practices associated with life under the Mosaic Law. But verses 4 and 5 are marks associated with those who profess new life in Christ. Thus, the author is indicting those Hebrews who are attempting to live under both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
The crux of most controversy is the warning embodied in the term “fall away” in v. 6. It carries the idea of “abandonment”. Consider vs 4-6:
“…those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame”.
Considering the givens of eternal security, profession not equaling possession, and certainty in this life being untenable, and holding these in tension, then the assurance of salvation of the targeted group in verses 4-8 is brought into question, not the fact of salvation.
Consider also: “But He, when He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God…” (Hebrews 10:12).
This teaches that Jesus only needed to die once as the total remission of sins, past and future. To return repeatedly to the cross for salvation after sinning or “falling away” is paramount to putting Him back on the cross in shame and treat His work as insufficient. His sacrifice is fully complete as we “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace” (4:16) and confess our sins, experiencing His forgiveness (I John 1:9).
These are hard words. The warning in v. 6 does not define the parameters of salvation-that is God’s prerogative. Warnings are intended to shape our behavior, not define boundaries of God’s mercy.
The warnings necessarily carry the fear of consequences for not heeding them, which at minimum include the lack of assurance but also the possibility of failure to persevere (falling away) and finding oneself “yielding thorns and thistles, close to being cursed, and end up being burned” (6:8). But the author in vv. 9-10 calls attention to past works of the readers as evidence of their profession. They are to be diligent in obedience (v.11) which yields assurance of hope.
*Eternal security (“once saved, always saved”) is the teaching of Scripture. There are, however, “professing” Christians who may not be “possessing” Christians. Professors are those who claim belief in the tenets of the gospel as outlined in I Corinthians 15:3-4, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and resurrected.
Possessors voice the same belief as professors but also possess the gift of eternal life. The danger arises when professors assume they are possessors.
All possessors are professors, but not all professors are possessors (Matthew 7:21-23).
Questions for application:
- What does “pressing on to maturity” look like (6:1)? What steps can you take to do this?
- What constitutes solid food for the believer as opposed to milk? (5:12-13)
- How can you avoid becoming dull of hearing? (5:11)
- Is there evidence to back up your profession which can provide legitimate assurance?
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