Recently we have been seeing some posts in which Christians are claiming that genuine Christians can go to Hell even if they are genuine Christians. That is certainly not what the Bible reveals, but it is because Hebrews 6:4-6 is misunderstood and misapplied that we have this spiritual confusion. And spiritual confusion ultimately comes from Satan.
What we need to understand is that the apostle Paul was presenting A HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO, not something which could (or would) actually happen. So here is what we read:
4 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,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 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.
Had Paul said “When they shall fall away” it would mean that this is NOT a hypothetical case, but something which could actually happen. But the “IF” makes it clear that if someone could actually “fall away” from his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption, then there would be no possibility of bringing him back to repentance and faith.
Why is it a hypothetical? Simply because those who are truly saved have been born again and become children of God. They have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will be “new creatures” in Christ. Their sins have been washed away and all things have become new. Those who are truly converted have no desire to return to their old filthy ways, but seek to live for God and Christ. And those who have truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ know that only He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
If a person had been born blind and later on received his sight miraculously, would he desire to return to his former blindness? If that notion is absurd, then so is the notion that genuine Christians can be or will be unborn and return to their former state. Genuine Christians are called “sheep”, which means that they are under the care of the Divine Shepherd. And it is God and Christ who have given the believer assurance that they cannot be plucked out of His hand.
So what happens when genuine Christians sin (which can and does occur)? They are given reproofs and rebukes and instruction in righteousness by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12,13). But if they persist in sin they are chastised (Hebrews 12:1-14). And if they still persist in sins they die prematurely. There is “a sin unto death” and there are sufficient warnings in Scripture for Christians to walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh.
This is also why the apostle John tells Christians – genuine Christians – that if they say they have no sin they deceive themselves and make God a liar. Therefore they must confess their sins, and true confession includes repentance. The Hyper Grace false teachers tell Christians to ignore their present sins, but that is not what Scripture says. Here is what we find in 1 Corinthians 11:26-32:
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation [condemnation] to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [DIE PREMATURELY]
31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
What we need to understand is that the apostle Paul was presenting A HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO, not something which could (or would) actually happen. So here is what we read:
4 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,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 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.
Had Paul said “When they shall fall away” it would mean that this is NOT a hypothetical case, but something which could actually happen. But the “IF” makes it clear that if someone could actually “fall away” from his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption, then there would be no possibility of bringing him back to repentance and faith.
Why is it a hypothetical? Simply because those who are truly saved have been born again and become children of God. They have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will be “new creatures” in Christ. Their sins have been washed away and all things have become new. Those who are truly converted have no desire to return to their old filthy ways, but seek to live for God and Christ. And those who have truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ know that only He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
If a person had been born blind and later on received his sight miraculously, would he desire to return to his former blindness? If that notion is absurd, then so is the notion that genuine Christians can be or will be unborn and return to their former state. Genuine Christians are called “sheep”, which means that they are under the care of the Divine Shepherd. And it is God and Christ who have given the believer assurance that they cannot be plucked out of His hand.
So what happens when genuine Christians sin (which can and does occur)? They are given reproofs and rebukes and instruction in righteousness by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12,13). But if they persist in sin they are chastised (Hebrews 12:1-14). And if they still persist in sins they die prematurely. There is “a sin unto death” and there are sufficient warnings in Scripture for Christians to walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh.
This is also why the apostle John tells Christians – genuine Christians – that if they say they have no sin they deceive themselves and make God a liar. Therefore they must confess their sins, and true confession includes repentance. The Hyper Grace false teachers tell Christians to ignore their present sins, but that is not what Scripture says. Here is what we find in 1 Corinthians 11:26-32:
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation [condemnation] to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [DIE PREMATURELY]
31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Last edited: