This is true of Christian “partakers of holy spirit” who fall away by sinning-at least-willfully against the holy spirit, and thus harden themselves against ever repenting. Jesus Christ mentioned such sin to the Jews who maliciously misinterpreted the operation of God’s holy spirit through him. (Matthew. 12:31, 32; compare Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-31) Hence nothing could be gained and the opportunity would be wasted by resurrecting such ones to life in the system of things that is to come under God’s kingdom.
Due to a lack of faith, Christians may begin to drifting away. It requires no effort; but to commence “drawing away” involves the taking of definite action. Though we may still be ceremoniously petitioning God in an endeavor to retain His favor, we may yet begin to become rebellious against Him by taking backward steps. This was the attitude and course taken by the fleshly Israelites as a nation right down to Malachi’s time. (Malachi. 3:7) Considering what the apostle Paul wrote, he is not speaking about a weak faith that has resulted from insufficient knowledge or incorrect understanding. Rather, he quotes the warning, “Do not harden your hearts.” That is what the fleshly Israelites did in the wilderness, although they had there seen Jehovah’s “works for forty years,” having enjoyed his constant miraculous provisions and protection. (Hebrews. 3:7-11) Therefore, all true Christians today need continually to help and encourage one another so as to avoid taking backward steps due to becoming “hardened by the deceptive power of sin.” We should exhort one another to keep our faith alive by works of faith. Remember, Abraham acted obediently in faith under severe test and thus “came to be called ‘Jehovah’s friend.’”-Hebrews 3:13, 14; James 2:21-26.
We should take these warnings to heart. Loss of faith may begin with our allowing ourselves to take things for granted, showing a spirit of indifference, almost imperceptibly drifting away. One false step or attitude easily leads to another until we have gone too far, and we find we have fallen away to the point of no recovery. Before that happens Jehovah will no doubt subject us to some discipline, which Paul talks about in this same letter and which counsel we should wisely accept. (Hebrews 12:5-11) Of course, only Jehovah God and Christ Jesus can determine if a person has reached the point where it is impossible for him to be revived again to repentance.