Hebrews 6

[heavensangelwv]

Hebrews 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,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

1. Who is being addressed? Who was once enlightened?
2. What are the "powers of the world to come?"
3. Does "fall away" mean walk away from Christ?

I would really appreciate any opinions or inputs you would like to share regarding these verses. I am not sure if Christians in general are being addressed here, or if perhaps this was written to the disciples.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

This is considered by some as the unpardonable sin, and is also revealed in verses such as "Remember Lot's wife",and, " No one having put his hand to the plow, and (then) looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Also,

2 Peter 2:21-22

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

These all refer to those who had accepted Christ, were baptised and received the holy spirit, but willingly returned to the evil condition they were in before. God will not redeem them (by applying the sacrifice of Christ) a second time.

 

[Notrash]

Hebrews 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,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

1. Who is being addressed? Who was once enlightened?
2. What are the "powers of the world to come?"
3. Does "fall away" mean walk away from Christ?

I would really appreciate any opinions or inputs you would like to share regarding these verses. I am not sure if Christians in general are being addressed here, or if perhaps this was written to the disciples.

Read that chapter 5 times from different versions within the context of previous and following chapters. Then focus on the verses.
I'm under the thinking that this was specifically written to Jewish people who were becoming disciples of the way.
"enlightened' could mean been given education and understanding about Christ being the Messiah, and in that case... fall away would be to refuse to believe in or continue in him. The next verse says about there being no sacrifice for sins remaining. That would refer to the animal sacrifice system which they should have been instructed was only a type of the reality of Christ.

The gentile parallel would be similar but with a few different surrounding circumstances.

NR

 

[JMC309]

These all refer to those who had accepted Christ, were baptised and received the holy spirit, but willingly returned to the evil condition they were in before. God will not redeem them (by applying the sacrifice of Christ) a second time.

Peter deniewd Christ three times, the man in 1 Corinthians commited incest, another in 1 Timothy blasphemed persistently, Simon the Sorcerer said disgraceful things against the Holy Spirit. All did so willingly, all were offered pardon. Sin is not referred to here but total apostasy. If someone repents, that repentance is a gift of God. If someone has faith, that faith is a gift of God, as stated many times in Scripture. If God gives them these then they are saved. Period. We can only tell if someone has really fallen away irredeemably by seeing if they do not return (e.g. Judas). We are not to go off to win back those who have apostatised- it is impossible for us to renew them to repentance while they expose the Son of God to shame, but all things are possible with God.

 

[heavensangelwv]

These all refer to those who had accepted Christ, were baptised and received the holy spirit, but willingly returned to the evil condition they were in before. God will not redeem them (by applying the sacrifice of Christ) a second time.

I'm not so sure that I agree with what you are saying here. The only "unpardonable sin" is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

 

[heavensangelwv]

We are not to go off to win back those who have apostatised

I agree with most of what you were saying, but this is incorrect. Jesus told us that if one "sheep" were to go astray we are to go after him.

Matthew 18
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

 

[JMC309]

I agree with most of what you were saying, but this is incorrect. Jesus told us that if one "sheep" were to go astray we are to go after him.

Who is the Shepherd and who are the sheep?

 

[heavensangelwv]

Who is the Shepherd and who are the sheep?

Christ is the Shepherd and we are the sheep in the overall sense. But, wouldn't you also consider a pastor to be a shepherd?