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Hebrews 6

Chapter 6 in 30 seconds

Time to grow up. Then the scariest warning in the book: those who fall away cannot be brought back. But the writer is sure of better things for his readers. God swore an oath to Abraham, and that hope is an anchor for the soul.

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In this chapterThe Big Question · Christians disagreeCan a Christian Fall Away? · after verse 12

A Call to Maturity

¹Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, ²instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³And this we will do, if God permits.

⁴It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— ⁶and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

HEB 6:4[NOTE]CAN A CHRISTIAN FALL AWAY? This and 10:26 to 31 are the hardest warnings in the book. See the two Big Question pages.

⁷For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. ⁸But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

⁹Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. ¹⁰For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

¹¹We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. ¹²Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

The Big Question · Christians disagree

Can a Christian Fall Away?

The Warning Passages

Hebrews 3:12 to 14 · 6:4 to 12 · 10:26 to 39

WHAT HEBREWS SAID: It is impossible for those who have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit, and then have fallen away, to be restored to repentance, 6:4 to 6. If we deliberately go on sinning after we know the truth, no sacrifice for sins remains, 10:26. But the writer also says: we are confident of better things in your case, 6:9, and we are not of those who shrink back, 10:39.
THE FIRST CHRISTIANS: The Shepherd of Hermas, about AD 140, taught only one more chance to repent after baptism. Tertullian, about AD 210, used Hebrews 6 to say the church could not forgive the worst sins after baptism. When Emperor Decius persecuted the church in AD 250, many denied Christ. Novatian said they could never come back. Most churches, led by Cyprian of Carthage and the bishop of Rome, took them back after real repentance.
AUGUSTINE: About AD 428 Augustine wrote that God gives His chosen people the gift of perseverance, so they keep going to the end. He also believed some baptized people do not persevere.
THE REFORMATION: The Catholic Council of Trent, 1547, taught that grace can be lost by serious sin and regained through repentance and confession. John Calvin taught that true believers cannot finally fall away, and that Hebrews 6 describes people who tasted but never truly believed.
ARMINIUS AND DORT: Followers of the Dutch teacher Jacob Arminius said in 1610 that the question needed more study. The Synod of Dort, 1618 to 1619, answered with the perseverance of the saints. Later Arminians, and John Wesley in the 1700s, taught that a true believer can fall away and can also be restored.
TODAY: Many Baptists and Presbyterians say once saved, always saved, or that true believers persevere. Methodists, many Pentecostals, Churches of Christ, Catholics and the Orthodox say a believer can fall away. The next page gives every view.

Every View · The Case Each Side Makes

Hebrews 6:4 to 9 · 10:26 to 39 · John 10:28 to 29 · 1 John 2:19

THEY WERE NEVER SAVED: The Reformed view. These people tasted, but never truly fed. Like the field in 6:7 to 8, they never bore real fruit. Key verses: 1 John 2:19, John 10:28 to 29, Philippians 1:6 and Hebrews 6:9. Best case: it keeps every promise that God finishes what He starts.
TRUE BELIEVERS CAN FALL AWAY: The Arminian and Wesleyan view. Enlightened, sharing in the Holy Spirit and sanctified by the blood, 10:29, sound like real Christians. Key verses: Hebrews 3:12, 2 Peter 2:20 to 22, Galatians 5:4 and John 15:6. Best case: it reads the warnings plainly. Some say this falling away is final; others say a person can come back.
A WARNING GOD USES: Many today say the warnings are real, and they are one of the ways God keeps His people from falling, like a sign that says bridge out. Key verses: Hebrews 6:9 to 12, Philippians 2:12 to 13 and 1 Corinthians 10:12. Best case: it holds both the warnings and the promises together.
ONLY IF IT COULD HAPPEN: The hypothetical view. The writer is saying: if a Christian could fall away, there would be no way back, because Christ cannot be crucified again, 6:6. Since that is unthinkable, hold on. Best case: it explains the word impossible.
LOSS OF REWARDS: The Free Grace view. Falling away brings God's discipline and lost rewards, not hell. The burned field, 6:8, is like works burned up while the person is saved, 1 Corinthians 3:15. Best case: it guards that salvation is a free gift.
CATHOLIC AND ORTHODOX: Grace can be lost through serious sin and restored through repentance and confession. John Chrysostom, about AD 400, read 6:4 to 6 as no second baptism, not as no way back. Key verses: 1 John 1:9, James 5:19 to 20.
THE FIRST READERS: Many think the danger was Jewish believers turning back to the temple sacrifices. If you leave Jesus' sacrifice, no other sacrifice is left, 10:26.
WHAT ALL SIDES AGREE ON: Jesus' sacrifice is the only one. Keep going, keep meeting, and keep your eyes on Him, 10:24 to 25 and 12:2. Many pastors also point out that a person worried about falling away is not the hard hearted rebel of 6:6.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

¹³When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, ¹⁴saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” ¹⁵And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

HEB 6:13[QUOTES]Direct ← GEN 22:16-17

¹⁶Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. ¹⁷So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. ¹⁸Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

HEB 6:18[FULFILLS]Cities of refuge gave safety to those who fled there ← NUM 35:11-12MEDIUM

¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

HEB 6:19[NOTABLE]The anchor became one of the earliest Christian symbols, carved in the Roman catacombs.
HEB 6:20[FULFILLS]A priest in the order of Melchizedek ← GEN 14:18
HEB 6:20[FULFILLS]A priest forever in the order of Melchizedek ← PS 110:4

Hebrews 6

A Call to Maturity

God’s Unchangeable Promise

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