impossible to renew unto repentance (Heb.6:3-6)

[ClementofA]

But do consider this ..

6:9 But we are persuaded of better things concerning you, beloved.....

Concerning them, but not stated concerning all "those" (v.4) who qualify under the description in 6:4-8.

If one has experienced these 4 items it is impossible for that person to renew the repentance again just because that person has fallen once.

Perhaps it's impossible to renew them (a) because God does not permit it (v.3, " if God permits") or (b) only "while" they "crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame" (v.6).

It's impossible for them to crucify the Son of God again and put Him to open shame, even if that person wishes to do so.

In most versions it says they do "crucify the Son of God again and put Him to open shame":

6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (NASB)

http://biblehub.com/hebrews/6-6.htm

And that is given as the - reason - why they cannot be renewed to repentance.

If a person falls, it doesn't mean that they have forsaken the course that they were on.

In the context of verses 4-8 it sounds quite a lot more serious than a merely unintentional or spontaneous sin.

https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/greek/3895.html
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/6-6.htm

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Concerning them, but not stated concerning all "those" (v.4) who qualify under the description in 6:4-8.



Perhaps it's impossible to renew them (a) because God does not permit it (v.3, " if God permits") or (b) only "while" they "crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame" (v.6).



In most versions it says they do "crucify the Son of God again and put Him to open shame":

6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (NASB)

http://biblehub.com/hebrews/6-6.htm

And that is given as the - reason - why they cannot be renewed to repentance.



In the context of verses 4-8 it sounds quite a lot more serious than a merely unintentional or spontaneous sin.

https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/greek/3895.html
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/6-6.htm

There's a lot there to look at and so many ways it's been interpreted. Can I get back to you on this in awhile when I have more time to look up the references? The thing I keep thinking of is Peter backsliding into the old religion in eating with James' crowd when Paul gave that warning. Peter learnt everything the hard way and a good thing for us because it seems what he's most adamant about are those lessons. And he says it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and turned away from the holy commandment passed on to them. That intrigues me.

 

[ClementofA]

There's a lot there to look at and so many ways it's been interpreted. Can I get back to you on this in awhile when I have more time to look up the references? The thing I keep thinking of is Peter backsliding into the old religion in eating with James' crowd when Paul gave that warning. Peter learnt everything the hard way and a good thing for us because it seems what he's most adamant about are those lessons. And he says it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and turned away from the holy commandment passed on to them. That intrigues me.

Sure, it's perhaps one of the most controversial passages in the Scriptures. I've never been able to figure it out. Many acknowledge the difficulties in it, such as the article someone linked to earlier in the thread:

https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-17-when-repentance-becomes-impossible-hebrews-64-8

 

[mark kennedy]

“impossible…to renew unto repentance” which some ETers take to mean they can never be saved

1. but does Heb.6:4-6 mean it is impossible for men, or for God, to renew such a one to repentance?

2. does it imply it is impossible forever, or could it be for a limited time, e.g. for this age & the next?

Re 1. above i think of the scripture which asks, is anything too difficult for the Lord? Jesus said, With man this is impossible, but with God all is possible. So i’d suggest that a possible interpretation of the Hebrews passage in harmony with UR is that it is impossible for the man himself or other men to renew him to repentance, but not impossible for God.

Even some bible commentators who do not support UR admit the Hebrews passage is not saying it is impossible for God to save them & that it is possible for Him to do so. Just that He has chosen not to, for various reasons.

In Acts 4:8 we read of a lame man who was unable to walk. It was impossible for him to walk. The same Greek word is used for “impossible” as in Hebrews 6. While it was impossible for the man to walk or cure himself of his inability to walk, it was possible with God’s help. In verses 9-10 he was healed. In the age to come when all are resurrected by the Lord will they not also be able to walk?

If God hardens a heart so he cannot let the people of Israel go, then it is impossible for him to repent (change his mind) and let them go. But if God later allows him to let them go, then it was not impossible for him to do that forever, but only while God hardened his heart.

While God hardened his heart he was not allowed or permitted to let the people go. The Hebrews 6:4-6 passage also speaks of people doing something only “if God permit” (v.3). So might those for whom it is impossible to be renewed unto repentance be that way because God does not “permit” it? Could He at some point in the future permit them again? I don’t see anything in Heb.6:4-6 that says otherwise.

The Hebrews passage paints a contrast between those who can go on to maturity “if God permits” and those who are not being permitted, as it is presently impossible for them. Why? Because God does not presently “permit” it to such as those described in the context?

Re 2. above Heb 6 has similarities to the unpardonable sin of the 4 gospels, which is not forgiven in this age or the age to come. Both passage speak of the Spirit of the Lord & the age to come. Could this gospels’ account be what the Hebrews writer had in mind? If so, then it leaves open the possibility of their repentance & pardon in the age after the one to come, since the Scripture speaks of more than one future age.

For additional perspectives on Hebrews 6:4-6, there is the following:

http://richardwaynegarganta.com/Bible Threatenings Explained.htm#9

6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, [d]since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Heb.6:6, NASB)

[d] while

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+6&version=NASB


"That Ominous “Impossible”

"What is the plight of one who has known and experienced the lovely blessings detailed in Heb. 6:4-5, and then he defects? What is his spiritual status should he “fall away”? And “fall away” from what? From the grace that had been bestowed upon them (see Heb. 12:15; cf. Gal. 5:4).

"The answer to the question is this. “It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance.” The phrase is frightening. It sounds so bleak. It is bleak! It is an “impossible” endeavor.

"The word “impossible” derives from the Greek adunatos, literally “without power.” Note the word’s use elsewhere in this letter (Heb. 6:18; 10:4; 11:6). Any attempt to weaken the term is an exercise in futility.

"But, as our original question suggested, the passage does seem to conflict with so many other biblical texts that lavishly describe the unfathomable love and mercy of our wonderful and benevolent Maker.

"How is one to reconcile this seeming difficulty?

"The key to the solution is to be found in the following phrase. The American Standard Version renders it as follows:

" “seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” "

"The ASV footnote has it: “the while they crucify....” The English Standard Version reads like this: “since they are crucifying once again....”

"The translators are attempting to give the English reader a hint as to the force of the original text. Here are some important grammatical facts.

"They keep on crucifying Jesus

"Both of the expressions “crucify” and “put him to open shame” are present tense participles. In Greek, the present tense has more to do with the type of action, rather than time (the latter being secondary). The present tense represents an action that is in progress, and generally, one that is sustained (see Wallace, 518).

"The “crucifying” and “putting to open shame,” therefore, represent on-going actions on the part of apostates.

"As long as ...

"It is also important to note that present participles normally express action that is contemporary with that of the main verb of the sentence (Wallace, 625), which, in this case is “renew.”

"In other words, “while they continue to crucify,” “as long as they are crucifying,” etc., the Son of God, they cannot be brought to repentance.

"Why is this the case? Because Christ is the motive for repentance! How could one possibly repent of falling away from the Christian faith, if he believes that the crucifixion of Jesus was a just sentence upon a false Messiah?

"As F. F. Bruce expressed it: “Those who repudiate the salvation procured by Christ will find none anywhere else” (149).

"Conclusion

"And so, it is not the case that Jewish Christians who abandon the faith cannot ever be saved. The tragic reality is this. They cannot be saved if they drift into a state of unbelief and remain that way!

"But, as Blackwelder observes, the temporal participles imply that “if persons guilty of such sin will cease it, and repent, they can be reclaimed” (104).

"While the passage contains a fearful warning for apostates, it does not suggest a state of utter despair."

REFERENCES
Blackwelder, Boyce W. 1958. Light From The Greek New Testament. Anderson, IN: Warner Press.
Bruce, F. F. 1990. The Epistle to the Hebrews — Revised Edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Hagner, Donald. 1990. New International Biblical Commentary — Hebrews. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
Hodges, Zane. 1983. “Hebrews,” The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, Eds. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Vine, W. E. 1952. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Wallace, Daniel B. 1996. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.


https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/682-are-apostates-from-the-faith-beyond-repentance

Everyone has a time of descision, in order the recieve Christ by faith a couple of things have to happen. You have to be called by God the Father, you have to be under conviction for sin, you have to recieve God's natural revelation (Rom. 1:18-21). You have to hear the gospel and God must miraculously enlighten you.to.have the insight into the person and work of Christ. All of this can happen and the person still not be saved. If you come all that way and reject Christ you've made your decision and you only get that once. I don't know if it's possible for someone to lose salvation but if they do it's a one time event and become a child of perdition.

 

[SPF]

It has been suggested by some people that this verse is teaching that if a Christian today "falls away" from their faith that not only will the Holy Spirit abandon them, but that if they recognize their sin and repent and ask forgiveness that Christ will turn his back on them and refuse to forgive them of their sin. How in the world can a Christian believe this? There is no sin too big for Christ. There is no amount of sin that Christ's death on the cross cannot cover. There is no end to the forgiving and loving nature of our God. No matter how many times we sin, no matter how many times we mess up, no matter how many times we give into our flesh and sin, Christ is always there willing and able to forgive, redeem, and restore us. Nobody while alive is beyond the forgiving and redeeming grasp of Christ. Nobody.

When reading the Bible, we always have to remember that each book is written to a specific people for a specific reason to say a specific thing. Just look at the gospels. They all tell the story of Jesus, yet each is to a different audience. Mathew was written to a Jewish audience. You'll find it to be the gospel most filled with OT references and a kingdom focus. Mark was written with gentiles in mind, focusing on the miracles and works of Jesus. The book of John is setup almost like a court case, with the claim of the Divinity of Christ in the first chapter, and then the rest of the book demonstrating that Jesus is God.

The same is also true of the epistles. Each book is written for a specific people to make a specific point. Unless we understand why a book is written, our ability to rightly understand what the author is attempting to convey will be severely limited. So let's take a real quick look at Hebrews and then the meaning of this supposedly difficult verse becomes abundantly clear.

Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience. More specifically, it was written to a Christian Jewish audience. And even more specifically, it was written to Christian Jews who were being persecuted for their faith. Many of these Jews had lost their land, their jobs, or even their families. Their persecution was great. Land was very important to Jews, it was their inheritance from God. So the loss of land was a real blow to these Jews. In the midst of their persecution a false theology began to work its way in. The thought came up that because these Jews would have been saved under the old law before Christ, that maybe they could abandon their faith in Christ and go back to the old law. The thought was that since they were saved under the old law and that they were not persecuted that they could go back to the old sacrificial system and the old ways and still be saved. The author of Hebrews writes against this theology/heresy. He explains to these persecuted Christian Jews that the old law does not save any longer. Now that Christ has come, Salvation is found through him. This is why Hebrews was written. These are the people that it was written to.

Now, with just that simple understanding, look at again at 6:4-6 and you'll see that this verse says absolutely nothing to us about losing our Salvation and absolutely absolutely absolutely nothing about the idea that if we slip up and "fall away" from our faith that Christ will refuse to forgive us. Let's look closer:

Verses 4,5: It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age

Here the author makes clear that the people he is speaking to are in fact Christians. Only a true Christian has tasted the heavenly gift and has shared in the Holy Spirit. So we know that the author is speaking directly to these persecuted Christians.


Verse 6:if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Here, it is important to realize that when the author says "fall away" he is meaning go back to the old way. These Jews have already accepted Christ. The forgiveness for their sins is found through Christ's work on the cross. If they fall away and turn back to the old law they cannot be brought back to repentance. There is no forgiveness of sins under the old law now that Christ has been crucified. Christ paid the ultimate price, and suggesting that they don't need Christ, and thinking that they can reject what Christ did and go back to the old way would be like crucifying him all over again. This is why Christ came to give us forgiveness. Forgiveness now comes through Christ, not the old law.

I find it absolutely ludicrous that Christians can think that Christ would strip somebody of their Salvation because they "fell away" for a period of time and then when they recognized their sin and repented that Christ would then turn His back and reject their plea for forgiveness. This is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible is always willing to forgive, redeem, and restore. If this were not the case, then all of us would be going to hell.

 

[FatalHeart]

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

These Hebrew verses are just some of the verses emphasizing the obedience portion of what actual faith looks like. A person that produces thorns will in the end be burned; it's very clear language. Resist the Holy Spirit and you'll die -that doesn't take away the fact that you have to believe in Jesus to have the Spirit in the first place, but it shows you that even if you're doing miracles in His name, you still don't get a free pass to do as you please. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter." Repentance is used synonymous with salvation in this case, like in John where he sets up clearly that you can't say you know Him without actually obeying His commands, or James who states simply that saying you believe in God is not enough to actually be saved by Him.

"We are convinced of better things for you; things that accompany salvation."

There's a certain level of investment in God that you can get without actually going all the way: "It grew up and at once received the good news with great joy, but, because it had no root, when persecution came, it withered away." People who want to make the claim, "Once saved always saved," have to be more biblical in that though we all must agree that the elect exist, the Bible commands, "Make every effort to confirm your calling and election."

Here is why: "If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right-- if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil--that person will surely live; they will not die."

So it is God's wish that a man never gives up on himself, true, and it is understandable that people have assurance of their salvation in Jesus Christ. But it is also God's wish that a man not trust in himself, that just because he followed some route plan of saying a specific prayer and having water put on him, that he should believe he is no longer responsible to change his actions.

"Those that do not sow with me scatter."

You are too busy trying to give people intellectual places of comfort through your traditions that you have disregarded the only safety of the Holy Spirit in actually following him, and it is the same type of warning for those that want to go to the other extremes: Galatians 5. It's a tight rope and I wish faith based works and works based faith would figure it out that they're two sides of the same coin, and that those who are religious and those who are spiritual would both recognize that they don't belong to Jesus. "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ."

 

[SPF]

I can't read that if you don't put paragraph breaks in your posts.

 

[FatalHeart]

Although I appreciate your input and will try to change, I'd suggest going out of your comfort zone as I am certain, "He didn't put paragraph lines," isn't going to be enough when talking to God about things you were supposed to hear.

 

[FatalHeart]

There, it is edited for you. XD I'll get better; I promise. XD

 

[SPF]

I'm going to assume your post wasn't directed at me because nothing in it seems to be relevant to what I said. My conclusion was that when Christians sin (as we all do), that there is no sin so great or terrible that Christ will refuse to forgive us when we genuinely repent and ask for forgiveness.

 

[FatalHeart]

Oh. I was just speaking to the room. I was acknowledging you as part of it. No, it wasn't specifically for you. It's important to live like that is true because a lie of the devil is that there is no hope for you, but, I would also say, it is important we don't live life like everything is safe, because it isn't. Some Christians take that same concept and let everyone think they're going to heaven just because they pray to Jesus every now and then, but a lifestyle of un-repentance is death, or you wouldn't have verses like 1 Corinthians 5:11.

 

[ubicaritas]

Hebrews is not universally attested to as being apostolic, so it is not a basis for doctrine among Lutherans. It is mostly a book of mystical symbolism and Law. It must be understood in light of the Gospel.

I live in a bold confidence in God's grace, and so should every Christian.

 

[FatalHeart]

Hebrews is not universally attested to as being apostolic, so it is not a basis for doctrine among Lutherans. It is mostly a book of mystical symbolism and Law. It must be understood in light of the Gospel.

I live in a bold confidence in God's grace, and so should every Christian.

Although I agree with your premise that the whole Bible is a singular message, there's a simple way of determining doctrine -it's called prayer. When I asked God to show a certain pastor he was wrong, God sent him a life lesson and he acknowledged his fault. Why would it be any different in any other case of disagreement? I don't believe in denominations. The older I get and the more God does stuff for me and is clear to those I speak to, the more I see these walls of division are not Christian problems to have.

 

[ubicaritas]

Although I agree with your premise that the whole Bible is a singular message, there's a simple way of determining doctrine -it's called prayer. When I asked God to show a certain pastor he was wrong, God sent him a life lesson and he acknowledged his fault. Why would it be any different in any other case of disagreement? I don't believe in denominations. The older I get and the more God does stuff for me and is clear to those I speak to, the more I see these walls of division are not Christian problems to have.

I am not putting down other churches necessarily but I just happen to be Lutheran and I find that the only approach agreeable to my conscience and Christian experience. I'm not a partisan hack, just saying there are grounds to not accept Hebrews as the final word on salvation.

 

[FatalHeart]

I am not putting down other churches necessarily but I just happen to be Lutheran and I find that the only approach agreeable to my conscience and Christian experience. I'm not a partisan hack, just saying there are grounds to not accept Hebrews as the final word on salvation.

It is wise. It is true. The whole Bible has to be taken into account when considering places in it. But I do think by taking it seriously, you can make connections with what the rest of the book says. I mean, if one part talks about salvation and another part does as well, is it not better to have both vantage points than to just regard one of them because it's easier for you to explain or understand or just more comfortable for you? And using church history to disregard one message over another, such as they do with the verses about women in leadership in some denominations, does that sound like following God or following culture? I mean, if you can just pray about something and have God show you, why are colleges seen as the final source of Biblical knowledge. Is that what the book actually teaches?

 

[ubicaritas]

It is wise. It is true. The whole Bible has to be taken into account when considering places in it. But I do think by taking it seriously, you can make connections with what the rest of the book says. I mean, if one part talks about salvation and another part does as well, is it not better to have both vantage points than to just regard one of them because it's easier for you to explain or understand or just more comfortable for you? And using church history to disregard one message over another, such as they do with the verses about women in leadership in some denominations, does that sound like following God or following culture? I mean, if you can just pray about something and have God show you, why are colleges seen as the final source of Biblical knowledge. Is that what the book actually teaches?

Colleges aren't the final word because we allow laity to participate in our synods at all levels. Nevertheless, we also respect the scholarly study of the Scriptures.

 

[Dave G.]

Hebrews is not universally attested to as being apostolic, so it is not a basis for doctrine among Lutherans. It is mostly a book of mystical symbolism and Law. It must be understood in light of the Gospel.

I live in a bold confidence in God's grace, and so should every Christian.

Indeed, actually Hebrews did just about make into the Canon, a lot of controversy over that took place, starting with who wrote it. I mean we think Paul might have written it but we don't really know. But it's there now and I believe the best description regarding importance is in the title as to who it was written to: The Hebrews. And why it was written: they were falling away. Well I'm not a Hebrew and I'm not falling away. So it isn't written to me or about me.

That said, I feel it's an important book but for edification or knowledge, not as doctrine . IE I'm not condemned to hell over a passage in Hebrews that counters pages elsewhere in the bible stating I can not be condemned to hell in Christ Jesus. It's a book that is on the edge really, had they voted it out then it would be among the "you can also read " books of non doctrine building material ( the apocrypha, who really goes there and hangs their spiritual well being on that ? ).

 

[sdowney717]

'Impossible to restore them to repentance'
One view, they will have no desire to repent, you can not force repentance, repentance must be granted from God the Father.
No one putting hand to plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Another view, you can not go back to the old religion, Hebrews was written to Jewish believers, who some may have desired to go back to the works of the old covenant, but there is no salvation there, the Old Covenant has passed away.
It is impossible, because there is no turning back from the great salvation in Christ. There is no salvation in any other name, turning away from the commandment to believe in Christ brings on you the expectation of wrath that is coming on the sons of disobedience.

Another, such a presentation is hypothetical, as the apostles who wrote the book said they had better expectations for those who heard these words, things having to do with salvation, so it just does not happen, only the elect are saved, all others fall away since they are never born of God and so will have no enduring faith in Christ.

Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world by their faith, so no one who is elect to be of the saved, will be lost.
1 John 5
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—[a]our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

[joshlete]

It has been suggested by some people that this verse is teaching that if a Christian today "falls away" from their faith that not only will the Holy Spirit abandon them, but that if they recognize their sin and repent and ask forgiveness that Christ will turn his back on them and refuse to forgive them of their sin. How in the world can a Christian believe this? There is no sin too big for Christ. There is no amount of sin that Christ's death on the cross cannot cover. There is no end to the forgiving and loving nature of our God. No matter how many times we sin, no matter how many times we mess up, no matter how many times we give into our flesh and sin, Christ is always there willing and able to forgive, redeem, and restore us. Nobody while alive is beyond the forgiving and redeeming grasp of Christ. Nobody.

When reading the Bible, we always have to remember that each book is written to a specific people for a specific reason to say a specific thing. Just look at the gospels. They all tell the story of Jesus, yet each is to a different audience. Mathew was written to a Jewish audience. You'll find it to be the gospel most filled with OT references and a kingdom focus. Mark was written with gentiles in mind, focusing on the miracles and works of Jesus. The book of John is setup almost like a court case, with the claim of the Divinity of Christ in the first chapter, and then the rest of the book demonstrating that Jesus is God.

The same is also true of the epistles. Each book is written for a specific people to make a specific point. Unless we understand why a book is written, our ability to rightly understand what the author is attempting to convey will be severely limited. So let's take a real quick look at Hebrews and then the meaning of this supposedly difficult verse becomes abundantly clear.

Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience. More specifically, it was written to a Christian Jewish audience. And even more specifically, it was written to Christian Jews who were being persecuted for their faith. Many of these Jews had lost their land, their jobs, or even their families. Their persecution was great. Land was very important to Jews, it was their inheritance from God. So the loss of land was a real blow to these Jews. In the midst of their persecution a false theology began to work its way in. The thought came up that because these Jews would have been saved under the old law before Christ, that maybe they could abandon their faith in Christ and go back to the old law. The thought was that since they were saved under the old law and that they were not persecuted that they could go back to the old sacrificial system and the old ways and still be saved. The author of Hebrews writes against this theology/heresy. He explains to these persecuted Christian Jews that the old law does not save any longer. Now that Christ has come, Salvation is found through him. This is why Hebrews was written. These are the people that it was written to.

Now, with just that simple understanding, look at again at 6:4-6 and you'll see that this verse says absolutely nothing to us about losing our Salvation and absolutely absolutely absolutely nothing about the idea that if we slip up and "fall away" from our faith that Christ will refuse to forgive us. Let's look closer:

Verses 4,5: It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age

Here the author makes clear that the people he is speaking to are in fact Christians. Only a true Christian has tasted the heavenly gift and has shared in the Holy Spirit. So we know that the author is speaking directly to these persecuted Christians.


Verse 6:if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Here, it is important to realize that when the author says "fall away" he is meaning go back to the old way. These Jews have already accepted Christ. The forgiveness for their sins is found through Christ's work on the cross. If they fall away and turn back to the old law they cannot be brought back to repentance. There is no forgiveness of sins under the old law now that Christ has been crucified. Christ paid the ultimate price, and suggesting that they don't need Christ, and thinking that they can reject what Christ did and go back to the old way would be like crucifying him all over again. This is why Christ came to give us forgiveness. Forgiveness now comes through Christ, not the old law.

I find it absolutely ludicrous that Christians can think that Christ would strip somebody of their Salvation because they "fell away" for a period of time and then when they recognized their sin and repented that Christ would then turn His back and reject their plea for forgiveness. This is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible is always willing to forgive, redeem, and restore. If this were not the case, then all of us would be going to hell.

Very well written. I would add on to the part talking about being "impossible be brought back unto repentance", that it's saying when a person is in the fallen away stage (they are living in the old testament), they cannot repent while under the old testament. That old testament theology makes it very difficult to come back.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The wording is very much like wording of the old covenant given Isreal. I used this translation because it shows that propitiation wasn’t available to those in the first place who’s heart condition wasn’t right..

Deuteronomy 29

18 lest there be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart is turning to-day from Jehovah our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations, lest there be in you a root fruitful of gall and wormwood:

19 `And it hath been, in his hearing the words of this oath, and he hath blessed himself in his heart, saying, I have peace, though in the stubbornness of my heart I go on, in order to end the fulness with the thirst.

20 Jehovah is not willing to be propitious to him, for then doth the anger of Jehovah smoke, also His zeal, against that man, and lain down on him hath all the oath which is written in this book, and Jehovah hath blotted out his name from under the heavens,

21 and Jehovah hath separated him for evil, out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the oaths of the covenant which is written in this book of the law.

22 `And the latter generation of your sons who rise after you, and the stranger who cometh in from a land afar off, have said when they have seen the strokes of that land, and its sicknesses which Jehovah hath sent into it, --

23 ([with] brimstone and salt is the whole land burnt, it is not sown, nor doth it shoot up, nor doth there go up on it any herb, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which Jehovah overturned in His anger, and in His fury,) --

24 yea, all the nations have said, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus to this land? what the heat of this great anger?

25 `And they have said, Because that they have forsaken the covenant of Jehovah, God of their fathers, which He made with them in His bringing them out of the land of Egypt,

26 and they go and serve other gods, and bow themselves to them -- gods which they have not known, and which He hath not apportioned to them;

27 and the anger of Jehovah burneth against that land, to bring in on it all the reviling that is written in this book,

28 and Jehovah doth pluck them from off their ground in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath, and doth cast them unto another land, as [at] this day.

29 `The things hidden [are] to Jehovah our God, and the things revealed [are] to us and to our sons -- to the age, to do all the words of this law.​