The Possibility of Apostasy (11)

(Hebrews 6:4-6)

Mike Johnson

Many passages teach that a child of God can fall from grace. One such passage is in Hebrews 6:1-3. Here, the writer urges certain ones (who he had characterized earlier as “babes” in Christ- v. 13) to “go on unto perfection.” He wanted them to become mature; they needed to leave the elementary principles.

In verses 4-6, he tries to get them to see the dangers to which they were exposed. These verses say, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

The writer starts by speaking of that which is impossible. Before identifying what is impossible, he describes the characteristics of whom it is said. Consider the following descriptions.

They were once enlightened. Being once enlightened undoubtedly refers to people who had become Christians. “Light” in the Scriptures refers to holiness, happiness, and knowledge. God’s Word gives light (Ps. 119:130; Ps. 119:105), and Jesus said (Jn. 8:12), “…” I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Paul, in Ephesians 5:8, describes Christians as “light in the Lord” and tells them to walk as “children of light.” Thayer defines the Greek word used in Hebrews 6:4 to mean, “. . . enlighten spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge of the gospel: hence . . . of those who have been made Christians, Heb. vi 4; x. 32….” These people had been translated from darkness to light, from God to Satan—they were Christians.
They tasted the heavenly gift. The word used here, translated as “tasted,” means to “partake of” or “experience.” There are various ideas about what the heavenly gift is. Some say that this refers to Christ. Others say it pertains to the Holy Spirit, the remission of sins, or the Lord’s Supper. It is possible that the “gift” has a broader meaning and refers to the new life in Christ, which Christians enjoy. If so, this would include many aspects of the Christian’s blessings. Regardless, it speaks of one who is a Christian.
They were partakers of the Holy Ghost. Does this phrase sound like the description of the Christian?
They were partakers of the power of the world to come. They had participated in blessings associated with the age, or realm, to come. This participation may have some reference to miraculous powers, which they shared in some sense.But, again, this is speaking of one who is a child of God.

Let us go back to what is impossible for them to do. Verse six says, “if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance. . .” As we have seen, it is clear he is speaking of Christians. These Christians could fall away and, in so doing, crucify the son of God all over again and put Him to an open shame (v. 6). They would be lost!

The objector will frequently make much of the word “if” found in verse six and say he is only speaking hypothetically. He is only saying “if” he falls away, which can’t happen. From what I understand, the word “if” was inserted into the King James Translation by a person named Beza, a disciple of John Calvin, and there is no justification for it whatsoever in the Greek. The NASB says, “and then have fallen away;” the ASV puts it, “and then fell away”; Weymouth says, “and then fall away”; Goodspeed translates it as “and yet have fallen back.” Even if the “if” should be there, the Hebrew writer is still showing us a child of God can fall from grace. What is the point of even saying this if apostasy is impossible?