Unsaved Christians
Hebrews 6:4-8
Hebrews 6:4
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, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
1. The illusion of salvation
1st They had been enlightened
Hebrews 6:4a
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
The word “enlighten” in the Greek is the word photizo.
-It means “to give light by knowledge or teaching.”
-It means to be mentally aware of something, to be informed, or to be instructed.
-It has nothing to do with the response of a person.
Matthew 4:16a
the people walking in darkness have seen a great light...
2nd They had tasted of the heavenly gift
Hebrews 6:4b
...who have tasted the heavenly gift,
You say, “What’s the heavenly gift?” The heavenly gift is Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
Hebrews 6:4b
...who have tasted the heavenly gift,
3rd They had shared in the Holy Spirit
Hebrews 6:4b
...who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
4th They tasted the goodness of the Word of God
Hebrews 6:5a
...who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
5th They tasted the powers of the coming age
Hebrews 6:5a
...who have tasted...the powers of the coming age,
2. The illustration of salvation
Hebrews 6:7
When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing.
Hebrews 6:8
But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.
Luke 8:5
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Mark 4:8
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
James 2:14, 17
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?...So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
3. The impossibility of salvation
Hebrews 6:4
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened...
Hebrews 6:6
if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,
Hebrews 6:18
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,
Hebrews 10:4
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God,
Hebrews 6:4
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened...
Hebrews 6:6
if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,
Hebrews 6:6c
because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
