If A Believer Falls Away, It Is Impossible To Be Renewed By Repentance

[Mr. M]

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

[Vine Abider]

1 hour ago, Mr. M said:

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Of course this is one of the most difficult passages to interpret correctly and there are a number of views. This is a Outline by David Guzik which details several of these explanations. The entire outline is quite large and I'm reading through and considering it now, but here's an excerpt:

iv. This difficult passage is best understood in the context of Hebrews 6:1-2. The writer to the Hebrews means that if they retreat back to Judaism, all the religious “repentance” in the world will do them no good. Retreating from distinctive Christianity into the “safe” ideas and customs of their former religious experience is to forsake Jesus, and to essentially crucify Him again. This is especially true for these ancient Christians from a Jewish background, since the religious customs they took up again likely included animal sacrifice for atonement, denying the total work of Jesus for them on the cross.

e. If they fall away: There is a necessary distinction between falling and falling away. Falling away is more than falling into sin; it is actually departing from Jesus Himself. For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity (Proverbs 24:16). The difference is between a Peter and a Judas. If you depart from Jesus (fall away) there is no hope

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/hebrews-6/

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

5 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

This difficult passage is best understood in the context of Hebrews 6:1-2. The writer to the Hebrews means that if they retreat back to Judaism, all the religious “repentance” in the world will do them no good

 

Right away I see nothing to support this contention, there is no such

thing as "religious repentance". Repentance occurs at conversion.

Let's add a couple of more verses:

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it,

and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, 

receives blessing from God; 

8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed,

whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes,

things that accompany 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. 

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence 

to the full assurance of hope until the end, 

12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who

through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Setting David Guzik's views aside, and in the view of the author of Hebrews,

we see that the context is fruitfulness in our walk of faith. Nothing

in regards to returning to Judaism is mentioned. This is not the letter

to the Galatians, and we cannot incorporate that into the discussion 

to "explain away something found difficult". We can also see Christ's 

words clearly reflected.

John 15:

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,

bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered;

and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

If I may propose a question at this point...

Can a clear distinction be made between repentance and confession?

[Vine Abider]

I now interpret being burned in the same context as 1st Corinthians 3:15. That is, works will be burned if they are not done through abiding in Christ, but the person will still be saved.

[Know Jah]

According to scripture there is only one sin that is unforgivable. Mark 3:9 and Matthew 12:31,32

[Mr. M]

24 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

I now interpret being burned in the same context as 1st Corinthians 3:15. That is, works will be burned if they are not done through abiding in Christ, but the person will still be saved.

How does this relate to the topic?

2 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Looking further into the author's process....

Hebrews 12:

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, 

without which no one will see the Lord: 

15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;

lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble,

and by this many become defiled; 

16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, 

who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 

17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing,

he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance,

though he sought it diligently with tears.

If there is no place for repentance after conversion, as in:

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,

repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

How then can we reconcile this with:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us 

our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Repeating the question already proposed:

41 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Can a clear distinction be made between repentance and confession?

 

[Mr. M]

4 hours ago, Know Jah said:

According to scripture there is only one sin that is unforgivable. Mark 3:9 and Matthew 12:31,32

How then is that forgiveness obtained,

if repentance toward God is rejected? Hint:

Matthew 6:

14 For if you forgive men their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Edited September 15, 2023 by Mr. M

[TheBlade]

He was not talking about a believer as you think of. Think about your life up to this point in Christ so you have only tasted? Not sure its worth going into. Do you know about that verse? Some believe "were once enlightened" as a reference to water baptism or "have tasted of the heavenly gift" some take this as to be a reference to the eucharist and others believe is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Its clear we don't or have not really looked into this verse. Some also say the absence of the definite article "Holy Ghost" indicates that this is a broad reference to some activity or gift of the Spirit. So of the Spirit or gifts of the Spirit  which are in question can not be determined solely from the presence or absence of the article. We understand article.. anyway I could keep going.. I mostly never do this for a reason. Many vipers.. 

So again to make it simple what must be kept clearly in view is that this irretrievable falling away (parapesontas) is the specific sin of apostasy a complete rejection of ones confessing of Christ. 

 

[JimmyB]

"Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame."

I don't think it is difficult to understand.  If a person has been enlightened, tasted the "heavenly gift" and has partaken of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and they want more, there is nothing more that God can give them.  That's the whole package!  

[Marathoner]

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

If I may propose a question at this point...

Can a clear distinction be made between repentance and confession?

Yes. Repentance is for salvation in Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our sake so that we might receive the inheritance through adoption as sons of God. This happens only once; in the beginning as it did for me, for you, and for all of us who belong to Him.

Confession, on the other hand, is what we do following our salvation in the Son of God. From the very beginning, the testimony of scripture makes it abundantly clear that our Lord is merciful and swift to forgive --- we remember the words of Jonah in this regard --- however, as you have also shared in the topic, He is merciful toward the merciful and unforgiving toward the unforgiving.

Thus, the measure by which we judge is returned to us in kind by the Lord. Confession is so much more than admitting wrongdoing to our Lord. For me, confession has always been  the fruit of His discipline, an understanding which comes having been the recipient of His correction. 

We share some things in common, brother. I'm on my phone so I'm not able to paste passages of scripture, but I'm confident that references in this post will be obvious to most who read.