What I just don't understand about the Bible is how can the writer of Hebrews in one sentence say that salvation is once for all in Hebrews 10:10 and in Hebrews 9:28. Yet in Hebrews 6:4-6 they apparently state that you can lose your salvation by falling away. Hebrews 6:4-6 has been brought up by multiple people who say that you can lose your salvation. It's my opinion that this interpretation of Hebrews 6:4-6 isn't in fact scriptural since those who have a saving faith will never fall away because God's Holy Spirit works in that person to keep that person in the faith. So why the apparent contradiction in the Bible? And not just between multiple books but between the same Author? I just don't understand this can someone educate me please?
I don't think Heb 6:4-6 is talking about "losing" salvation. The person he's talking about is an apostate who was never saved to begin with. But here's a comment by:
Kenneth Wuest
(A Translator of the NASB)
on Heb 6:4
Heb 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have
shared in the Holy Spirit, (NIV)
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, (AV)
"Partakers of the Holy Ghost"
We must be careful to note that the Greek word translated
"partakers" does not mean "possessors," in the sense that these Hebrews possessed the Holy Spirit as an indwelling Person who had come to take up His permanent abode in their hearts. The word is a compound of the Greek verb "to have or hold", and a preposition meaning "with" thus "to hold with." It is used in
Luke 5:7 where it is translated "partners," signifying one who co-operates with another in a common task or undertaking. It is used in
Hebrews 1:9 where the angels are "fellows" of our Lord, partners or associates with Him in the work of salvation. It is used in
Hebrews 3:1 where the recipients of this letter are called participators in the heavenly calling. That is, they participated together in the heavenly calling. These Hebrews had left the earthly calling of the nation Israel, and had identified themselves with the Church which has a heavenly calling. It is used in
Hebrews 3:14, where it speaks of those who participate together in the Lord Jesus.
The word (
metochos) was so used in secular Greek. Moulton and Milligan give examples of its usage in the following phrases: "We, Dionysius son of Socrates and the
associate collectors;" Pikos son of Pamonthes and his
colleagues," "the
Joint-owner of a holding," "I am unable to
take part in the cultivation," "Some do so because they are
partners in their misdeeds." Thus the word signifies one who participates with another in a common activity or possession. It is so used here. These Hebrews became participators in the Holy Spirit insofar as an unsaved person can do so, namely, in the sense that they willingly co-operated with Him in receiving His pre-salvation ministry, that of leading them on step by step toward the act of faith. He had led them into the act of repentance. The next step would be that of faith. Here they were in danger of turning their backs upon the Spirit and returning to the sacrifices. Peter in his first epistle (
1:2) in the words, "through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience," speaks of this work of the Holy Spirit on the unsaved, setting them apart from unbelief to faith.
This word in its context does not at all imply that these Hebrews had been born of the Spirit, sealed with the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, anointed with the Spirit, baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ, or filled with the Spirit. This work of the Holy Spirit in leading them on towards faith was a once-for-all work, so thoroughly done that it needed never to be repeated. However, there was nothing permanent of itself in this work, for the work was only a means to an end. This is shown by the aorist participle used, referring to the mere fact, not a perfect, speaking of a finished act having present results. The fact that the writer did not use the perfect tense here, which is a specialized tense, but rather the aorist, which is the maid of all work, points to the
incompleteness of the work of the Spirit in the case of these Hebrews. So far as the work had been done, it was perfect, thorough. But it would not be complete until the Hebrews accepted the proffered faith from the Spirit. The incompleteness of the work would be due, therefore, not to the Spirit, but to their willingness to go on as a partner or cooperator with the Spirit.
.. wow, it's great to see you again bro! (I have been looking for you!)
