Hebrews 6:4-6

1. Intro.
1. this passage of Scripture has been the focus of much debate
2. the opinions stated about these verses are as different as the north and south pole
3. let us approach this passage today with the mind of a child
1. whatever we find stated therein, let us believe it
2. let us be prepare to cast away every false notion of our own, rather than one passage of Scripture
4. by looking at the context of these verses, we find that Paul is trying to build the readers up in the faith – 1, 9-11
1. there is a tendency within man to stop short of the heavenly mark
2. after we reach a certain level, we are prone to sit still
3. the Christian life is intended to be a live of activity
4. Paul is seeking to urge us forward, so that we would run with diligence the heavenly race
2. who are the people spoken of here
1. many Bible believers would say that these are not Christians
1. they say that it is a person who is only a Christian externally; not a true believer
2. they would not say this if they did not have some doctrine to uphold
3. the context makes it very clear that Paul is talking about Christians
2. if the Holy Spirit wanted to describe a Christian, He could not have used more explicit language
3. how could these things be said of someone who is not a child of God
1. "who were once enlightened"
1. refers to the influence of the Holy Spirit on our souls at the time of conviction
2. the first work of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten the soul (see spiritually)
3. by nature we have no light in us
2. "have tasted of the heavenly gift" (the gift of salvation)
1. it is not enough for a person to be enlightened, they must taste
2. the heavenly gift includes: pardon, justification, imputed righteousness
3. anyone who has been enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift is a Christian
3. "were made partakers of the Holy Ghost"
1. no man can be a partaker of the Holy Ghost and still be lost
2. where the Holy Spirit lives there must be an absence of sin (security of salvation)
4. "have tasted the good word of God"
1. they know the sweetness and richness of God’s Word
2. they have found the Word of God to be food for their souls
3. if these are not real Christians, who are
5. "tasted … the powers of the world to come"
1. these were not just children, they were men of faith
2. whatever the meaning of the text; we must conclude that these are real Christians
3. what is meant by "fall away" – 6
1. there is a difference between falling away and falling
1. nowhere in the Bible does it say that a man who falls cannot be restored
2. the Bible teaches just the opposite – Psalm 37:23-24, Matthew 18:21-22, Luke 17:3-4
3. if a person fall, God will lift him up again; but if he fall away God cannot save Him [it is impossible]
2. falling away does not mean to commit sin
1. to sin is to fall
2. Noah fell, Abraham fell, David fell, Peter fell
3. it cannot be said of a Christian who has sinned, that he fell away
3. what is falling away
1. there never has been a case of it yet, it cannot happen to a Christian
2. it would mean that the Holy Spirit would go entirely out of a man (promised to abide forever)
3. it would mean that God’s grace would cease
4. it would mean that the good work that God had started, came to a stop – Philippians 1:6
4. falling away would involve …
1. God’s grace changing its nature
2. God’s power being limited
3. God’s immutability becoming wishy-washy
4. God’s faithfulness becoming unfaithful
5. God becoming a non-deity
4. what is meant by "it is impossible … to renew them again"
1. if a child of God could fall away, it is impossible for him to be saved again – 6
1. not very hard, but impossible
2. God will not grant a second salvation to whom the first one was not good enough
2. why a second salvation is impossible
1. to be saved a second time is to crucify "the Son of God afresh" and "to put Him to an open shame"
2. Christ offered Himself only once – Hebrews 9:28, 10:12,14
3. if the offering of Christ has failed us, what can save us
1. is there anything superior to Christ
2. is there any greater mercy to be found
3. is there a better robe of righteousness, than the one given to us by Christ
4. the teaching of our text is this: if grace does not keep a man saved, than there is nothing left but damnation
5. this text also proves that God keeps what He saves – I Peter 1:5
3. why is there an "if"
1. it causes us to be thankful
1. the scientist may say, "if there is no oxygen, we would die"
2. we become thankful for the oxygen
2. to motivate us to work – Hebrews 6:10-12
3. God want us to be sure of our salvation – Hebrews 6:17-19
5. are you sure of your salvation, then keep on laboring for Christ