Heb. 6:1-12, The Danger of “Falling Away”

We believe the “foundation” (6:1) that these believers should not lay again speaks of their roots in OT religion.  The specifics are listed in 6:1-2.  We have also said that the “elementary principles of Christ” (6:1) are the five realities in 6:4-5 that have been experienced by the Hebrew believers.  These are the “first principles” and the “milk” they lived on in the early days of discipleship (5:12). 

The question is, “what does it mean to ‘fall away’” (6:6)?  Some say v4-5 describe “saved” people who have fallen away from their salvation.  Others say it speaks of people who have come close to salvation but have then fallen away and will never again come to repentance.  We believe there is a better answer.

·       There can be no question that 6:4-5 describes the experiences of saved people. 

o   To be “enlightened” is the benefit of receiving the gospel.  The Spirit has “turned on the light” for believers.

o   To “taste the heavenly gift” means to fully experience the New Covenant gift of the Holy Spirit.  Christ tasted death for everyone (2:9).  He did not come close to death; He actually died.  The same can be said for “tasting the good word of God.”  They had actually believed the gospel message.

o   The same can be said of the word “partakers.”  It means to “share in” something, not merely “come close”.  These “holy brethren” are “partakers of the heavenly calling” (3:1).  They are “partakers” in Christ (3:14).  They are “partaking” of persecution (“chastening”), not just “coming close” to it.

·       Furthermore, in 6:7-8, the issue is one of “fruit-bearing.”  The goal of believers in Christ is to bear fruit for His glory (John 15:16).  This is not an issue of “almost Christians.”  Nor is it the issue of someone in danger of losing their salvation.  It is an issue for Christians and how they live their lives day by day.  They are in danger of falling away from a fruit-bearing life.

·       In addition, note the application of all this in 6:9-12.  He expects better things from them, “things that accompany salvation.”  He speaks of their previous works that bore fruit (v10) and wants them to do more in the future (v11).  In this way, they would not be “sluggish” (remember, same term as “dull of hearing” in 5:11), but would be like the OT saints before them who were faithful to the end (these saints will be the subject of Heb. 11).

If they go back to Jerusalem there will be no repentance, no way out.  They will suffer the judgment God is pouring out on the disobedient nation.  Further, it will not reduce the persecution.  It will only reduce their ability to bear fruit.  Their testimony of Christ will be tarnished by returning to the “dead works” of Judaism.

For Christians who may have missed this thought, Jesus holds our role as fruit-bearing “branches” in the Father’s vineyard to be important.  Study this in John 15:1-16 and 1 Cor. 3:11-15.  Failure in this does not forfeit one’s salvation.  It results in chastening (Jn.15:2), but they shall be “saved, so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15).