The warnings in Hebrews 6 ...

[Not me]

( Forgive the length, hopefully it will be worth the read )

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The warnings in Hebrews 6;

Before they can be understood, who they are  written to needs to be seen. For until this is seen, Hebrews will be a knot that cannot be untied and will perplex many a child of God....

To answer this question; who the warnings are written to, it needs to be known who the book of  Hebrews itself was addressing.... This is put forth in the second verse, with the word  “us”...

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NASB)
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to “us” in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world..

In the second verse we find the word “us”.... Hebrews was written to “us”, or mankind as a whole.... It is the only book directed at humanity as a group, just the same way as when the fathers and prophets spoke to a group of people as a whole.....

A modern day analogy would be; 

Like if someone would warn against smoking, and one might say that warnings not for me, for they never smoked..But that does not make the warning itself invalid... The warning itself stays all well and good, it just is addressed to the life that might fall under it....

Having said all this, let’s see if Hebrews is written to humanity as a whole and take one step at a time..

In the second verse of Hebrews we find the word “us”...So who is “us” ?   

“Us”, we read in the first verse is whoever the fathers and prophets spoke to..... So who did the fathers and prophets speak to?  If the fathers and prophets spoke to both the Jews and Gentiles, Hebrews would be written to humanity as a whole. We find in the OT that yes they did, they spoke both to the Jews and Gentiles with both warnings and blessings....Therefore Hebrews is written to humanity as a whole....

For all of Hebrews is for the encouragement from the lesser to the more..

This is important to see, for this is put forth in the analogy the writer uses in putting forth the warnings..

Seeing this therefore God is speaking to mankind as a whole through out Hebrews... Both the unsaved and saved together... Which is brought forth by using the words “For ground” as representation of mankind as a whole in; 

Hebrews 6:7 (NASB)
“For ground” that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;

These words “For ground” connect all the warnings that proceeded, to humanity or mankind as a whole to the analogy that follows the words  “for ground”....

For all have been enlightened, all have tasted the Heavenly gift and all have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit and all have tasted the good word and the power of the age to come....

How can such a thing be true?

Because Christ the Heavenly gift has been given to mankind and all that Christ has, has been given to whosoever will...He (mankind) has tasted the good word of God for God Himself says He has written this inwardly in all men’s hearts. The knowledge of God, for scripture says God has made it plain to them.... For God also says He has placed eternity in the heart of man, so all man are aware of the power of the age to come.. 

Romans 2:15 (NASB)
in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

For the Heavenly gift has been given to all mankind, all have tasted of it and all can have as much or little of the Gift (Christ) as that heart chooses to have....For He is always standing at the door of every heart. The Spirit is always directing the heart to the knowledge that God Himself placed in them of Himself.....

Furthermore, because the Holy Spirit has been sent into the hearts of all mankind to convict the heart of sin, righteousness and judgment...

Than it goes on to say; “if they shall fall away (meaning they did not respond to the truths revealed in them by the Holy Spirit sent to convict) it is impossible to renew them unto repentance”.... Meaning that there are no second chances, salvation must be received in the time of this life for Christ will never be crucified again...

Than the proof that all that was written above was written to mankind as a whole is true with the words; 

 “for (the) ground”

For with these words the writer is calling all of humanity the ground, but even more than that, he is calling each individual life the ground from which something needs to grow...The same light, the same rain, the same Grace has been poured out on all..Now it’s up to that individual life to plant that seed of the new life in them..For once that seed is planted in them it may or may not grow to a mature plant depending on what the heart itself chooses, but the seed itself has been planted so they are Christ’s. 

Which means all of the proceeding warnings were addressed to believers about unsaved mankind as a whole, and the situation they find themselves in if they don’t turn to Christ in the time of this life...

To continue; and push this point with the explanation of it..

Hebrews 6:7 (NASB)

“For ground (mankind) that drinks the rain (Grace) which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation (new birth) useful (fruit) to those for whose sake it is also tilled, (that mankind might see Christ in a life) receives a blessing from God;

Than the but, once again proving all these warnings were written about unsaved mankind..

“But those that only bear thorns and thistles (reject the offer of life) who are worthless and  are close to being cursed (than comes the best proof that the warnings were written to unsaved mankind....Were it says “close to being cursed” because as long as they still possess the life of this world, there is still time to repent, and if not, than the end is stated) and their end is to be burned”... 

Than it says; 

“We are persuaded better things concerning you” (those being address, being in the first group, for they have accepted the words of life).. Than continues on with encouragement to continue in the faith, from the lesser to the more... In other words, to press on in to maturity, so you might get a full reward or not just a partial reward, or even worst still, just have your spirit saved...

So the Hebrew warnings are not to be feared if you are in possession of the Life of Christ, (the new birth) ......But they are a reminder of what you have been saved from...

Be blessed all in possession of the New Birth, Not me 

[Debp]

Thanks Not Me for taking the time to write this.   Looking forward to more of your posts on the difficult verses.

[Don19]

I disagree. Heb 6:4-6 is talking about believers, considering they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. However, the warning of this passage does NOT treat of eternal salvation.

I posted this is another thread:  https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/251150-osas-once-safe-always-saved/?do=findComment&comment=3191834

I think this only makes sense if we consider that the book of Hebrews as a whole was written to Jewish Christians prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. That's what the warnings are about. There is other Scripture to support this view, and Heb 6:8 should clue us in to the proper interpretation. I don't think there's any other interpretation that both fits the context of the epistle and is supported by other Scripture. Those who would interpret it to mean a loss of salvation do so in defiance of the promises of the gospel.

Quote

As for this Hebrews passage, as well as the others like it in the book of Hebrews, keep in mind that this was written to Jewish Christians in the first century, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. In Hebrews 6:7 and 6:8, the writer (many think it was Paul) sets forth a metaphor that should clue us in to the interpretation of the preceding verses. In verse 8, “that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” I believe this is a clear reference to national Israel, which was about to be destroyed in 70 AD, as Jesus prophesied in the Olivet Discourse. Consider the parallels between that metaphor and the cursing of the fig tree, which is understood to be Israel after the flesh. “Briers and thorns” also appears in Isaiah chapter 5, wherein God says that His unfruitful vineyard (Israel after the flesh), will have its wall broken down and will be trodden down (Isa 5:5). Compare with Luke 21:24, that Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles.

Or look at Hebrews 10:25, which precedes another “warning” passage in the ensuing verses. What “day” is it that is approaching? It could not be the Second Coming, which Paul says would be like a thief in the night, so you cannot see it approaching. On the other hand, Jesus tells His disciples what to watch for prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in the Olivet Discourse. (Yes, I know a lot of people think this is future prophecy - I disagree - e.g., see Matthew 16:28; or Amos 5:18, the Day of the Lord also refers to 70 AD, not just the Second Coming).

So the sense of Hebrews 6:4-6 is quite specific: those Jewish Christians, who were persecuted by their countrymen who rejected the gospel, would put themselves under the curses that Israel after the flesh was set to experience (e.g., read Deuteronomy 28). Hebrews 6:4-6 is about the temporal (not eternal) punishments that would befall backsliders to temple religion. The writer of Hebrews contemplates how much sorer a punishment one would be worthy of who has counted the blood of the covenant, *wherewith he was sanctified*, an unholy thing--when even those who despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses (Heb 10:28-29). They would not have the way of escape that Jesus gave to His disciples (Matthew 24:16), by which some were able to escape the Romans by heeding the words of Jesus. It has nothing to do with eternal life; and in fact it assumes eternal life, since those under consideration were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and sanctified. But those who have received the Spirit are sealed (2 Cor 1:22). There are no conditions that must be met for final salvation; otherwise, salvation would be “of the law.” But Paul makes it clear that it is “of promise” just as it was to Abraham (Gal 3:18). Those “of the law” were cursed, just like the thorns and briers of Heb 6:8, as those who don’t keep the entire law are cursed (Gal 3:10), and merely offending at one point while otherwise keeping the law means breaking the whole thing (James 2:10).

It’s my personal opinion that the “sin unto death” which John contemplates in his first epistle is this same sin. We can be sure from the very clear promises of Scripture regarding the security of the elect that there is nothing any of the sheep can do to fall out of the loving arms of Shepherd. But there are many things that can bring unpleasant consequences in this life. Many of the Corinthians were sick, and some dead, for parking of the Lord’s Supper irreverently. Nevertheless, they had not lost their eternal salvation. 

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Don19

[Worship Warriors]

The writer of the book of Hebrew makes a lot of references to old testament scripture especially to the levitical laws the tabernacle and it's sacrifices. And comparing the old covenant to the new covenant , we now have a better covenant with a heavently tabernacle and better priesthood and a better sacrifices.

He is making all these references since he is writing to those Hebrew who have now come to faith in Jesus. They were well familiar with the tabernacle and all the levitical sacifices.  Those hebrews have become complecent in their faith. They were neglecting so great a salvation. 

To whom was Hebrews written?  the book itself gives us the answer. To the Hebrews Christians. Thats why its called hebrews.

In Acts, a great number of priest came to the faith and they were familiar with the tabernacle it's priesthood and sacrifices. The book is written to them but it is also relevant to today's Christians.

Are we any different from them for neglecting so great a salvation when what we have received is so much better than those who were under the old covenant?

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Worship Warriors

[Not me]

@Don19 & @Worship Warriors

As the Spirit of Christ bears witness or not with my thread...

Be blessed in Him...

A brother in the faith, Not me 

@Debp

Thanks Debp, as we grow in Him, Not me 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Not me