05/04/2025 – Day 280 – Hebrews – Chapters 5 – 7 / 6: 4-6 – Is it possible to fall out of salvation?
In our first cycle, there are three posts to this reading dating 02/21/2021, including in large part commentary on “Who was Melchizedek?”. Today’s commentary on three verses is by way of “The Apologetics Study Bible”
“For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened , who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucitying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.” (Hebrews 6: 4-6)
The Apologetics Study Bible commentary:
“6: 4-6 This passage, with its warning, is controversial and difficult. Some persons believe this text teaches that it is possible to fall out of salvation. Though a cursory look at this text might lead one to think that Christians can lose their salvation, that idea is not the issue. These verses instead speak of the need for believers to persevere in the Christian faith. The verbs ‘enlightened’ (v. 4), ‘tasted’ (vv. 4-5), and ‘became companions’ (v. 4) describe persons who have professed Christ and claim to be believers. To ‘have fallen away’ (v. 6) means to commit apostasy. The writer of Hebrews admonished his readers not to go back to the Old Testament sacrificial system because Jesus is superior in every way. If they were to turn away from Christ, repentance would be impossible because it cannot be found anywhere else once Jesus is rejected (10: 26-27). By their actions, such persons disgrace Christ openly and try to re-crucify Him. If they forsake faith in Christ after having professed it and go back (i.e., do not persevere), they never were actually saved to begin with (see Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13).”
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.