RKBO,
Please, you don't need to be "magnanamous", I like your debate abilities.
If this thread is to end I would like to ask a couple of things before we depart. BTW I have read the thread from the beginning. Also, I prescribe to the believe that "nothing, nothing, nothing" can keep me from the love of Christ except, ME!
You used Hebrews 6:4-6 apparently as your last shot:
This make me understand Heb. 6:4-6 as either talking about people that have whitnessed and seen the works of the Holy Spirit and have known the word of God and have rejected it. Or they were the Judaisers that were trying to keep the sacrifcial and ceremonial laws along with their Christian views. This is how I hamonize these scriptures.
Which could be O.K. except you left out what I believe to be key words of your reference especially verse 4. "Enlightened", I believe refers to a Christian because I've not seen very many enlightened unbelievers. "Tasted", I somehow don't believe very many unbelievers have tasted the heavenly gift. "Partakers", of the Holy Spirit I'm sure can never be a nonbeliever.
The paragraph starts with verse 1 with the heading
the need for maturity. "Leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Chirst, let us go on to perfection", begins the 1st verse. The discussion continues to doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. Then verse 3 "And this we will do if God permits."
Finally, verse 9-10 "But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompnay salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister."
How many people do you know in the Bible who have ministered to saints yet they were not Christians?
Granted these are those who stepped out of Judaism into Christianity and want to escape persecution from their countrymen by going backwards. That's the purpose of the warning in these verses, don't go back. If the scripture were only a warning for them why would it be inculded in the New Testament for us to read?
When I interpret scripture I try to use all of what's written in a passage and the passage before as well as the passage after.