what does this scripture mean to you?

The case in Hebrews is addressing the habitual backslider who will not repent regardless of human effort. Jeremiah 15:6
James is addressing the backslider to whom God eventually grants repentance. Jeremiah 3:22

royal priest said:

The case in Hebrews is addressing the habitual backslider who will not repent regardless of human effort. Jeremiah 15:6
James is addressing the backslider to whom God eventually grants repentance. Jeremiah 3:22

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So if God grants the ability to repent, how can he damn anyone?

There is clearly a big difference between "falling away" and "wandering from the truth." The difference is seen in the verses themselves. Falling away is clearly irreversible, while wandering adrift is just getting led astray.

We all get led astray like sheep, which is the original nature of our sin and being deceived.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ~Isaiah 53:6

But,

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, ~Hebrews 2:3

So the first example you list is referring to deliberately walking away from the faith because it is hard:

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ~Luke 8:14

While the second is being led astray by the deceitfulness of sin. One can be recovered the other cannot.

DaveM said:

any help would be appreciated on what these scriptures are saying

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Why?
On another thread, you blamed those who stated the clear meaning of the Word of Yahweh (Scripture) as "lacking love".

The final judgment is clearly described in Scripture by Yahweh on multitudes who are not saved. Likewise Yahweh's Judgments throughout Scripture are clearly described, for all kinds of situations/ disobedience, and sin, and righteousness (who Yahweh declares righteous).

Steve Petersen said:

So if God grants the ability to repent, how can he damn anyone?

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He just does it. He's God.
Acts of the Apostles 5:31; 2 Timothy 2:25

Hebrews

Note the word tasted.
Not Born Again.

Close -- but, not horseshoes.

M-Bob

Hebrews speaks of the one who "fell away" and "impossible" ... in that WE cannot bring them back, we cannot reason with them, when they won't repent...when they have become reprobate and unrepentive....

it loses something in the translation to English, literally.

Steve Petersen said:

So if God grants the ability to repent, how can he damn anyone?

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They damn themselves.

Mountainmanbob said:

Hebrews

Note the word tasted.
Not Born Again.

Close -- but, not horseshoes.

M-Bob

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.
Heb 6:4
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,

Note the word Partakes.
Born Again.
No one Partakes of the Holy Ghost unless they are Believers.

Mskriskris said:

They damn themselves.

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Blame the victim. They didn't make the rules about damnation.

DaveM said:

Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

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Your first verses from Hebrews are not speaking about a Believer falling away because of SIN, but because of Apostasy.

"and then have fallen away,"

Shall Fall Away: Greek
G3895
παραπίπτω
parapiptō
par-ap-ip'-to
To fall aside, that is, (figuratively) to apostatize: - fall away.

For the first verse, I've been taught that it means someone who hears the gospel, and experiences/have some sense of its truth and power, yet does not repent and believe in Christ. Someone who fully understand the gospel and its implications, drawn to it in part, yet completely, indeterminately rejects Him. I've heard of testimonies of people rejecting God or not believing/accepting the gospel for a long time, but God drew them and saved them later. So, from my understanding, this is a total knowing of who Jesus is, experiencing Him, and completely denying Him and rejecting Him wholeheartedly. This is a committed forsaking of Christ.

Does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean we can lose our salvation?

Steve Petersen said:

Blame the victim. They didn't make the rules about damnation.

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If a victim had a choice to be saved or to be damned, and they choose to be damned, are they still a victim?

No. Victim would entail that they had no free will to choose. They do.

Mskriskris said:

If a victim had a choice to be saved or to be damned, and they choose to be damned, are they still a victim?

No. Victim would entail that they had no free will to choose. They do.

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Why would anyone choose to be damned?

Unless a man is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
If you are born again, your a purchased possession of God, because God chose you in Him from before the foundation of the earth, you were predestined to salvation and not His wrath.

The book was written to Hebrews, how many hebrews saw the miracles God did in their past and yet refused to believe, they were partakers of that Holy Spirit experience but it did them no good as it was not mixed with faith in God. No one trusts God unless God makes them born of God, so then a part of His family, people who fall away in unbelief are not a part of His family.

It is the righteous judgement of God to do whatever He wishes with the entirely fallen human race. God has mercy and loving compassion on whom He wills, the rest go to hell because in their fallen corrupt state they can not believe. Old Israel had many mighty miracles, Jesus did many great miracles, and yet many refused to believe in Him.

It is by grace that you are saved through faith and this is NOT OF YOURSELF being the gift of God.

Steve Petersen said:

Why would anyone choose to be damned?

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That's a great question lol.

Basically, if you do not choose to be saved, then you're choosing to be damned. That's it. Its either you get off the sinking ship or you stay on. Why would someone stay on a shipping ship is beyond me, probably they think they are better off? Or maybe they are not convinced that they are damning themselves? Maybe they don't believe that they would actually be saved? Idk. But this is it, eternal life or eternal death.

Steve Petersen said:

Why would anyone choose to be damned?

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Because they do not fear God. They reject the biblical concepts of damnation, sin, and holiness. The Bible aptly calls them fools.
Proverbs 9:10
Ecclesiastes 10:2

royal priest said:

Because they do not fear God. They reject the biblical concepts of damnation, sin, and holiness. The Bible aptly calls them fools.
Proverbs 9:10
Ecclesiastes 10:2

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Anyone who had a full and complete understanding of God would not reject him. What people reject is the twisted portrayal of God other humans create