Hebrews 6:4-6 gives what amounts to a word of warning: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame."
The NASB slightly rearranges the wording in verses 4-6 for clarity: "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame."
This grave warning is for those who have five great advantages, yet have not trusted Christ for their salvation. In fact, there is no mention of salvation here. No mention of justification, the new birth, regeneration, let alone sanctification.
So who is he talking about? Those who "were once enlightened" (v. 4a) are not spoken of as born again, made holy, or made righteous. None of the normal words for salvation are used and this phrase is never used in the New Testament to refer to salvation. To be "enlightened" refers to the intellectual perception of spiritual or biblical truth. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, this word is often translated "to give light by knowledge or teaching." It means to be aware of something, to be instructed or informed. It carries no connotation of response. It does not indicate acceptance or rejection, belief or disbelief.
When Jesus began His ministry in Galilee He quoted Isaiah 9:1-2 which says in part, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." All who heard and saw Jesus saw this "great light," but not all of them believed and were saved. Seeing God's light and accepting it are not the same thing. All who hear the gospel are to some extent "enlightened," but not all are saved. That's who is in view here. People who have heard the truth about Jesus but still do not believe.
They "have tasted the heavenly gift" (v. 4b). The Holy Spirit is mentioned next, so this probably refers to Christ and the salvation He brings. But note what is said: not that they have feasted on this "heavenly gift," but only that they "have tasted" or sampled it. It was not received. It was not accepted or lived, only looked at or considered.
They "have become partakers of the Holy Spirit" (v. 4c). To understand the meaning of this statement you must first understand the meaning of "partakers." In the Greek, this word has to do with association, not possession. It has to do with sharing in common associations and events (MacArthur's New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, Illinois, 1983], 144).
In this context, it has to do with anyone who has been where the Holy Spirit has been at work. It is possible to be around the work of the Holy Spirit and even share in what He does, yet not be saved. These people have seen the signs, wonders and miracles of the Spirit, yet they still do not believe. Believers, on the other hand, are not only "partakers" of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is within them.
They "have tasted the good word of God" (v. 5a). Again they have "tasted" something—God's word. The usual Greek word for "God's word" is logos. But that is not the word used here. Instead the word rhēma is used. It refers to the parts, not the whole. They heard the words of God preached. They had "tasted" them, sampled them, but they had not eaten. They had been taught about God, perhaps even attended church regularly, but they had not accepted the truth of the gospel of Christ. Paul says, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves" (2 Cor. 13:5). If you have only "tasted," it is time to eat.
They "have tasted…the powers of the age to come" (v. 5b). These Hebrews had seen firsthand the miracle "powers of the age to come," yet they did not believe. They still had not responded to the gospel of Christ and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They only "tasted." They did not respond.
As a result, their guilt only increased. To them this stern warning is given: to come that close to Christ and His gift of salvation and then to "have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame" (v. 6). When you continue to walk away time after time, despite being so close to salvation, you eventually become "dull of hearing" (Heb. 5:11), your heart is hardened, and you make "no" your final answer. It is then that you have passed the point of no return. It is then that you are like the "earth which drinks in the rain" (Heb. 6:7) but produces only "thorns and briers" (v. 8a), "rejected and near to be being cursed, whose end is to be burned" (v. 8b). There is no going in and out of salvation. You either accept it and are saved, or you reject it and are cursed. There is no other choice. Amen.
As a result, their guilt only increased. To them this stern warning is given: to come that close to Christ and His gift of salvation and then to "have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame" (v. 6). When you continue to walk away time after time, despite being so close to salvation, you eventually become "dull of hearing" (Heb. 5:11), your heart is hardened, and you make "no" your final answer. It is then that you have passed the point of no return. It is then that you are like the "earth which drinks in the rain" (Heb. 6:7) but produces only "thorns and briers" (v. 8a), "rejected and near to be being cursed, whose end is to be burned" (v. 8b). There is no going in and out of salvation. You either accept it and are saved, or you reject it and are cursed. There is no other choice. Amen.
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