GROW OR DIE

HEBREWS 6:4–8

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened … if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance

(Hebrews 6:4–6).

The last two “elementary things” the author mentions are the resurrection from the dead, which establishes that Jesus has entered God’s rest and we will follow Him, and eternal judgment, which establishes that some day God will call us to account.

The author issues a great threat. He says it is impossible for people who have entered the kingdom, if they fall away, to be brought back. There are several ways of taking this statement. One is to say that it is impossible for men but possible for God, but this interpretation has no root in the context.

Another avenue of interpretation is to say that the author is setting forth an hypothesis. In this view, nobody who is truly in the kingdom will ever fall away, but if they did, nothing could be done for them. This interpretation sees the author encouraging his congregation to persevere, especially since he is persuaded that they are truly saved (v. 9).

The third view is that the people who might fall away are people who have experienced a real deliverance and have entered the kingdom in a covenantal sense, but who are not of the elect, not fully regenerate, and thus not destined to persevere. This view takes note of the context, which discusses the people who were delivered from Egypt but rebelled and died in the wilderness. This view says that those who fall away have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Thus, this interpretation sees the author issuing a serious warning to his readers, even though he has high hopes that none of them will actually fall away.

If we read the description of those who might fall away, in verses 4 and 5, we can see how they can fit both the hypothetical interpretation and the real-threat interpretation. Whichever interpretation of this particular paragraph is right, two things are certain: (1) true believers cannot fall away, and (2) there are people who come into the kingdom and then apostatize. Such people, by rejecting Christ, join hands with those who crucified Him and affirm that He deserved to die (v. 6). Such people deserve their condemnation.

CORAM DEO

Isaiah 58–60

Real Christians cannot remain static in the wilderness forever. Eventually, God will shake them up, and they will begin to grow again toward maturity, toward God’s rest. If a “Christian” refuses to grow, he will die in the wilderness. Evaluate yourself: Are you growing or dying?

For further study: John 6:35–40; 10:22–30 • 2 Peter 3:3–9

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june