Hebrews - worksheet 11
Jesus the only way - Hebrews 6:4-9
NKJV heading is The Peril of Not Progressing

Teaching video by David Guzik

Hebrews chapter 6 context
Chapter 6 completes a warning begun in the last verses of chapter 5. The author has deep points to make, but doubts that the readers are ready for them. Yet the only course of action is to press on: there is no time to re-establish the ABCs of the faith. Spiritual immaturity prevents growth, leading to doubt, discouragement, and eventually to judgment. Those who only scratch the surface of Christianity, then fall into disobedience, can’t be restored to good standing until they’ve experienced some level of judgment. Rather than make that mistake, we should trust in the absolute promises of God, and the work of Christ, as we patiently pursue godly wisdom. Chapter 7 will resume the extensive discussion of Melchizedek’s priesthood (BibleRef).

Hebrews 6:4-9 (NKJV) says ⁴For it is

for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶if they

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, to renew them again to

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, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open

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. ⁷For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; ⁸but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. ⁹But, beloved, we are

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of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany

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, though we speak in this manner.

This is a hard message. It seems that people who were born-again, have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and have insight in prophecy, and then fall away from the faith, that they will ever come to faith and repentence. I personally think that is is not to blame God for. These are people who are fully knowingly crucify Christ again. It’s good that we, lowly people, are not about to judge someone else’s eternal salvation nor demnation.

It is quite dramatic read the word impossible. Let’s look at scripture references where the same word impossible is used:
- Hebrews 6:18
- Hebrews 10:4
- Hebrews 11:6
In all these verses the word really means impossible.
Then, what about verse 6. Is it really impossible for people who fell away from the faith to come to repentance? Isn’t the door to repentance always wide open to all people?

Q1 For what kind of people is repentance impossible? List which spiritual kinds of characteristics these people have experienced (verses 4-5).

Based on this list there are controversies amoung pastors, teachers, scholars. Do these characteristics define a true Christian? Or is there a need to see transformation in a true believer?

Being a Christian is more than receiving a ticket to Heaven.
There are people who had all these experiences, but still didn’t have a transformed heart, such as the Farizees.

Q2 What is the difference between falling and falling away? Remember Peter and Judas. Which of the two did fall, and which has fallen away? Who of the two was restored? And who didn’t seek repentance in Jesus?

Christian cliches
There are Christian cliches that are widespread, although not found in the Bible.
1. Loosing your salvation. It’s not possible to be unborn-again. You cannot be unsealed. We suggest to replace this unbiblical phrase by the falling away of the apparent believer.
2. Once saved, always saved. It’s assuming that we already have received the entirety of our salvation. We suggest to replace this unbiblical phrase by really saved, always saved.

Verses 7 and 8 contain the serious consequences of falling away. The transformation that needs to happen in every Christian, needs to produce fruit, no thorns.

Some Christians don’t want to live according to the high moral standards, and fall away, weak and discouraged. So sad … . but the writer of the book of Hebrews says in verse 9: No way, not you! There are better ways concerning you.

Q3 If you are a discouraged Christian, go and tell Jesus. Ask Him to reinstall the power of transformation in your life.
Acts 4:12 says there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Write down your prayer in the blue box below.

After that, sing this song.