Hebrews 6:4-6

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

While I believe in eternal security, it is a mistake to say that those people were not believers. Partakers of the Holy Spirit and still not saved? No, that can't be.

The Greek word for "renew" is "anakainizó", which means "to make fresh again" (which equals regeneration/salvation). The word "again" appears in the original text too, the word here is "palin", which means "once more". Hence, they cannot be renewed once more. Also, notice that "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh" is present tense active in the Greek. They are crucifying the son of man a second time by trying to be restored a second time. But are they in the need of being restored a second time?

Hebrews 6:1-2 is interesting.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

It is about not returning back to the basics and about encouraging believers to make a step forward in growing holier.

Hebrews 5:12-13 sheds further light on this subject.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

We see, Christians, who are still imature. It is encouraging them to make a step forward. And we should take that encouragement! Because one thing's for sure...

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

The Word has much to say about good and evil, many verses.
"Seek good, not evil, that you may live" (Amos 5:14).

Amen.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world

One must ask what are they falling away from? What is their sin?

Is that the issue? No, the issue is that they cannot be renewed a second time

Hi LW97, what, exactly, is a "partaker of the Holy Ghost"? Is that someone who has been born again and is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, or could it be describing someone else as well? Quite frankly, I'm not sure

The language/terminology used in this passage is unlike anything else in the NT. In fact, it seems to be terminology that could also speak of someone who is present and regularly takes part in the visible church, who has "tasted/experienced" all the good things that the church has to offer, yet has never surrendered/trusted their lives to Christ and actually become a Christian. It would have been helpful if this passage began with, "it is impossible for those who were once justified/saved/born again/had believed/etc .. rather than those who were once "enlightened", if by, enlightened, the author of Hebrews actually meant "saved", yes? For that matter, what does it mean to be "enlightened"? Perhaps Matthew 13:19-22 can help explain who some of these people actually were?

The Book of Hebrews was originally addressed to Jews who were associated with the 1st Century church, who would have certainly partaken of the Holy Ghost as Jews in the past (as He was often present in their day to day lives, some, like the temple artisans/craftsmen, were even indwelt by Him, though they were not permanently indwelt, like Christians are today).

As such, I have begun to consider that those who are being addressed in this passage were actually Jewish ~ALMOST~ Christians, IOW, Jews associated with the 1st Century church who had been "enlightened" with the knowledge of the truth about Jesus and about their sinfulness (and therefore about their absolute need to repent and to believe on Him as their Savior), who still refused to take that final step to believe/trust Him/surrender their lives to Him as their Savior, so that they might be forgiven/have their sins atoned for, and be saved from the wrath of God.

So, for those who, "go on sinning willfully [which refers specifically to those who continued to reject Jesus in chapter 10, BTW] after receiving the knowledge of the truth about Him], there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins, but only a terrifying expectation of judgment" .. Hebrews 10:26-27, because they have refused/rejected the One and only sacrifice that exists for their sins (and that with the fullest knowledge possible that they were doing so).

~Deut
p.s. - I am further considering this idea (for Hebrews 6 & 10) because, like you, I believe the Bible teaches the eternal security those who are truly Christians, and that believers prove themselves to be such BECAUSE they persevere in the faith to the end. If there are true believers who lost or who choose to permanently leave the faith, how could a passage like this one ever be considered to be true?

.......John 6:37-40 (excerpt)
.......All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me* and .. of all that He has given Me, I LOSE NOTHING, but raise it up on the last day.


*("No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them; and I will raise him up on the last day".. John 6:44)
.

One of the key things in this passage is "fall away" this to me shows not a sin, a bad day, some rebellion but a complete rejection of Yahshua and His path. To this there is no recourse back to Yah according to this passage, but again this is not a sin, a bad day, some rebellion but a complete rejection of Yahshua and His path. Yah will guide us, chasten us, humble us, etc. People live in a fake church world where "God" is all fuzzy and everything is "rainbows and unicorns" look at the world that is not reailty, Yah can at times bring us low that we may hold unto Him as our strength in our weakness...

Hebrews 6:1-11,1 Therefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Messiah, let us go on to perfection,a not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of belief toward Elohim, Mat 5:48."2 of the teaching of immersions, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of everlasting judgment."3 And this we shall do, if Elohim indeed permits."4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Set-apart Spirit,"5 and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come,"6 and fall away, to renew them again to repentance – having impaled for themselves the Son of Elohim again, and put Him to open shame. Heb 10:26-31."7 For ground that is drinking the rain often falling on it, and is bearing plants fit for those by whom it is tilled, receives blessing from Elohim,"8 but if it brings forth thorns and thistles, Gen 3:18 it is rejected and near to being cursed, and ends up by being burned."9 But although we speak in this way, beloved, we are persuaded, concerning you, of better matters which possess deliverance."10 For Elohim is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His Name, in that you have attended to the set-apart ones, and still attend."11 And we desire that each one of you show the same eagerness, to the entire confirmation of expectation until the end,"

Ezekiel 18:20-32, “The being who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the crookedness of the father, nor the father bear the crookedness of the son. The righteousness of the righteous is upon himself, and the wrongness of the wrong is upon himself. But the wrong, if he turns from all his sins which he has done, and he shall guard all My laws, and shall do right-ruling and righteousness, he shall certainly live, he shall not die. All the transgressions which he has done shall not be remembered against him – in his righteousness that he has done, he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wrong?” declares the Master יהוה. “Is it not that he should turn from his ways, and live? But when a righteous one turns away from his righteousness and does unrighteousness, according to all the abominations that the wrong one has done, shall he live? All his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered. For his trespass which he has committed, and for his sin which he has committed, for them he shall die. And you said, ‘The way of יהוה is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Yisra’yl, is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? When a righteous one turns away from his righteousness, and does unrighteousness, and he dies in it, it is because of his unrighteousness which he has done that he dies. And when the wrong turns away from the wrong which he has done, and he does right-ruling and righteousness, he keeps himself alive. Because he sees and turns away from all the transgressions which he has done, he shall certainly live, he shall not die. And the house of Yisra’yl have said, ‘The way of יהוה is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Yisra’yl? Is it not your ways that are not right? Therefore I judge you, O house of Yisra’yl, every one according to his ways,” declares the Master יהוה. “Repent, and turn back from all your transgressions, and let not crookedness be a stumbling-block to you. Cast away from you all the transgressions, by which you have transgressed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Yisra’yl? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” declares the Master יהוה. “So turn back and live!”

Contrast "fall away" with turn to or away from Yah as shown above.

Messiah seemed to think salvation and being saved is at the end, niot the moment we say words with our mouth...

Matthew 10:22, “And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Matt 24:12-13, “And because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold. But he who shall have endured to the end shall be saved.”

Hebrews 10:36, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of Yah you may receive what is promised.”

1 Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the Strength and Father of our Master יהושע Messiah, who according to His great compassion has caused us to be born again to a living expectation through the resurrection of יהושע Messiah from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in the heavens for you, who are protected by the power of Yah through belief, for a deliverance ready to be revealed in the last time, in which you exult, even though for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by manifold trials, in order that the proving of your belief – much more precious than gold that perishes, and proven by fire – might be found to result in praise and respect and esteem at the revelation of יהושע Messiah, whom having not seen, you love; in whom you exult with unspeakable and esteemed joy, yet not seeing, but believing, obtaining the goal of your belief: a deliverance of lives.”

We have not yet received it, we are on His path...

Hebrews 3:14, “For we have become partakers of Messiah if we hold fast the beginning of our trust firm to the end.”

Revelation 3:12, "He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in The House of My Father, and he will never go out of it. And I will write upon him the Name of My Father, and the Name of the New Yerusalem which comes down out of heaven from My Father, newly named."

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who does endure trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love Him."

THis is salvation:

Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Mat:29-31, "Immediately, but after the tribulation of those days will the sun be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then will all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His malakim with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of earth to the other."

Ezekiyl 48:35, "“All around: eighteen thousand cubits. And the name of the city from that day is: יהוה is there!” (In Hebrew: יהוה Shammah)

Revelation 21:3-4, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying: Behold, the tabernacle of YHWH is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and YHWH Himself will be with them, and be their Father. And YHWH will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor will there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Here are some passages on His Spirit being in us, how could one be a partaker of His Spirit more than this?

Ezekiel 11:19-21, “And I shall give them one heart, and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, so that they walk in My laws, and guard My right-rulings, and shall do them. And they shall be My people and I shall be their Strength. But to those whose hearts walk after the heart of their disgusting matters and their abominations, I shall recompense their deeds on their own heads,” declares the Master יהוה.”

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses to these matters, and so also is the Set-apart Spirit whom the Might One has given to those who obey Him.”

1 John 3:24, “And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.”

Psalms 51:10-11, “Create in me a clean heart, O Mighty One, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Set-apart Spirit from me.”

John/Yahanan 6:63, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words (Instructions) that I (Yahshua/Jesus) speak to you, they are Spirit, and they are life everlasting.”

Ezekiel 36:26-28, "A new heart, will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments, and do them. And you will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your Father."

It’s all very simple. If you except Jesus and then reject him for the law there is no going back.
The entire book is about rejecting legalism and excepting grace.

The author tells us:

"32But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one."-Hebrews 10:32-34

It means they were saved.

The Bible interprets itself.

how many impossible things are in these few verses?
1, 2, or 3?

Amen, and I never said otherwise, but I also say they still are

Nevertheless does hebrews 6 speak about believers

I agree with you, except for your statement that the ones being enlightened were not saved believers. Why were they partakers of the Holy Ghost?

Hello Deuteronomy,
sorry, I skipped what you wrote about the partaker

Following HisCommands is not legalisim..

1 John 5:2-3, "By this we know that we love the children of Yah, when we love Yah and guard His commands. For this is the love for Yah, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy."

Revelation 12:17, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the Commands of יהוה and possessing the Witness of יהושע Messiah."

Daniyl 7:25, "And he will speak great words against YHWH, and will wear out; mentally attack to cause to fall away, the saints of YHWH, and think to change times and Laws…"

Like the Galatians, they had not 'stumbled so as to fall' yet. At time of writing they had not yet been turned over to their error and not able to come back. But the author makes it clear that is what will eventually happen. There's still time for them to reject the false gospel of the Judaizers and stay on course with the gospel they originally heard and were saved by.

He is addressing believers who are not fully mature & people who are not believers. Probably a mixture of both.
If you are hung up in works righteousness you certainly are not a mature believer.

I 100 %ly agree with you

Jesus did teach legalism before the cross, it was the law before that time. After the cross,as Hebrews clearly states, the old covenant has been replaced with the new. Grace and love is the new law.