There is great danger in remaining spiritually immature and the writer of Hebrews wanted to warn his readers; furthermore, he challenged them to become spiritually mature in their faith, reject dead works, and embrace Jesus Christ (6:1). It appears that the readers also had great misunderstandings about numerous issues, especially those which found their basis (faith) in Old Testament rituals (6:2). God was the only one who would be able to assist them in their spiritual maturity if they would only believe the revelation which He had already given (6:3). Verse 4 begins a highly debated passage of scripture which many people use to support the loss of salvation to those who walk away from their faith. I want to say that I reject this view because salvation is eternal (John 10:27-29) and the passage seems to indicate that if you can lose salvation, you can never get it back (“impossible…to renew them again to repentance”). This view presents salvation as something that has to do more with the individual than the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. My view of Hebrews 6:4-8 is that the writer is speaking to readers who had “experienced” the glories of salvation, but only gave intellectual belief to it’s facts instead of also believing with the heart (leads to life change). The words enlightened, tasted, and partakers do not mean that this group of people had experienced salvation; these words indicate that they had been connected with people who were truly saved and as a result experienced by observation. Ultimately the writer was saying that those who reject the finished work of Jesus Christ have no chance of ever being saved from their sin (6:6). Verses 7-8 illustrate the two responses to the Gospel: those who believe with their heart grow (v.7) and those who reject it will experience eternal judgment (v.8).
Dear God, help those who are Yours to experience true life change through the power of Your Holy Spirit!
