Page 51 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

Study Section 9: Chapter 6 – Falling Away

9.1 Connect

Today we are going to look at one of the most difficult passages of Scripture to interpret.
Those who believe that a person can get saved, then walk away from Christ, and lose their
salvation, the text in Hebrews 6: 4-6 is their proof text. However, as we will see in this
lesson, there are various ways to interpret this passage. In light of all other Scriptures,
which clearly declare that salvation is a gift from God and it cannot be taken away or lost,
we will look at the various ideas that make this passage fit better with the rest of the Bible. The passage
is, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who
have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the
coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.

If this is talking about a saved believer who walks away from God, then He loses his salvation and cannot
repent in the future. But it may be talking about unbelievers who are convinced of the basic truths of
the gospel but who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. They are intellectually
persuaded but spiritually they are uncommitted with unbelief. Let’s see if we can figure these verses
out...

9.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain the difficult passage of 6:4-6 in light of the balance of
Scripture.

2. The student should be able to come to a conclusion of who is being addressed in this
chapter.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN, Read Hebrews Chapter 6 from your Bible...

9.3 Chapter 6

CONTEXTUAL GGUIDE for 5:11-6:12

A. Because of the use of the PRONOUNS "We/us" in 6:1-3, "those/them" in 6:4-8, and "you" in
6:9-12 and 5:11-12, I believe that two distinct groups are being addressed in chapter 6:
believing Jews and unbelieving Jews. Also, the Jewish (not Christian) nature of the basic
doctrines of 6:1-2 must point to truths shared with Judaism. There seem to be three groups mentioned.
1. The author and his/her mission team ("we" and "us," vv. 1-3,9; 5:11)
2. Unbelieving Jews ("those" and "them," vv. 4-8)
3. The believing Jews ("you," vv. 9-12 and 5:11-12)

B. There have been several theories about who is being addressed.
1. It is a hypothetical (which usually supplies an "if" in v. 6)
2. It refers to Jewish unbelievers
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