A Thought on Hebrews 6
 

There are some passages of Scripture that have caused confusion in some people’s minds either because they are taken out of context, or because a word or words are not translated as clearly as they could be from the original.  Hebrews 6: 4-6 is one of these passages.

What I am going to give you in this column is just a brief summary of a message from April 29, 2007.  You can order a CD or tape of the complete message by emailing a request to the Berean Media Department.

In the case of Hebrews 6: 4-6, both the context and the translation are extremely important.  The context tells us who is being addressed.  Hebrews 5: 11-14 tells us they were converts who have been saved for some time, should have matured to where they were able to teach others, but had become dull of hearing (spiritually) and thus were like babies needing milk and not solid food.

The writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says in Hebrews 6:1 that the solution to their immaturity is to leave the elementary principles (the ABC’s) of Christ and go on to maturity.  To leave does not mean to abandon, but to build on these principles.  He says we do not need to lay the foundation again (6:1), but build upon it. 

In Hebrews 6:3 he says this is what we are going to do if God permits.  Then he gives the reason he is going to do that—Hebrews 6: 4-6, “because.”  (The following is my own translation based on a careful consideration of the words and grammar of the original.)  

“Because (6:4) to again and again and again make a new way of repentance (6:6) is impossible (6:4) for those who were once enlightened, those who have tasted the heavenly gift, those who have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come (6: 4-5), if they go astray.”

The Greek words and grammar make it clear that what is impossible is to continually make a new way of repentance for a believer who “goes astray.”

What we are talking about here is not a question of losing salvation, but rather, how is a dull of hearing, going astray believer brought to repentance so he can “press on” to maturity.

There is no “new way” of repentance.  But there is the “old way” and that is what is emphasized in Hebrews 6: 6b-12.  I can only summarize those here.  (Lord willing, I will be preaching this message at Berean on May 6, 2007, so that CD will be available after that.)

The old way of repentance is as follows: 

1.       Recognize the seriousness of my sin—Hebrews 6: 6b.  A believer going astray sins against Jesus Christ and puts Him to open shame as He was in His crucifixion.  Example:  David’s sin—II Samuel 12:14, “Because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.”

2.       Realize my accountability to God—Hebrews 6: 7-8.    I Corinthians 3: 11-15 is a parallel teaching of believers’ accountability to God and removal of the useless by fire.

3.       Remember the blessings of living in fellowship with God—Hebrews 6: 9-10.  Revelation 2: 2-5 is a parallel section—they are told to “remember” from where they had fallen.

4.       Repent of our going astray—Hebrews 6: 6-10.  Repentance is a change of mind:

a.       About my sin—verse 6—it is against Jesus Christ, it brings public shame on Him.

b.       About myself—verses 7-8—I am accountable to God.

c.       About God—verse 7—He has abundantly blessed me. 
Verse 10—He is just 
Verse 8—He will hold me accountable.

5.       Rededicate myself to diligently pressing on to maturity—Hebrews 6: 11-12.

May God draw each believer who has gone astray back to Himself through the old way of repentance.