Heb. 6:1-6, Foundational and Elementary Principles (3)

Pardon me for camping on the same passage for so long, but I find the topics to be so edifying and enriching in Christ.  So let us continue thinking about these items in Heb. 6:4-5.  Do they describe a Christian or an “almost” Christian?

·       Have become partakers of the Holy Spirit.  The key here is the word “partakers.”  Five of the six uses of this term in the NT are in Hebrews so let’s note each use.

o   In Lk. 5:7 (Peter called for their other “partners” to come help with the huge catch of fish) and Heb. 1:9 (Jesus was anointed more than His “companions” referring to the angels) it refers to those who are joined together in some way.  They share something together.

o   In Hebrews, believers are said to be “partakers” of the heavenly calling (3:1), Christ (3:14), the Holy Spirit (6:4) and chastening (12:8).  The idea is that all these things are common to all believers. 

o   Thus, we conclude that “partakers of the Holy Spirit” are believers.  The Holy Spirit’s ministry to unbelievers is to reprove them (John 16:8-11).  They are not partakers of the Spirit but rather they partake of His ministry.  Believers, who receive the Spirit in the new birth, are truly “partakers.”

·       Tasted the good word of God.  We have talked about the idea of “tasting.”  In this case a believer “tastes” the gospel.  “Word” is not “logos” but “rema” (specific words of the gospel).  It also refers to words spoken by those who brought the gospel to them.  In John 12:48 Jesus said that those who reject His words (rema) that He gave to them will be judged by the total message or word (logos) that He had spoken.  In Rom. 10:17 “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rema) of God.”  The Hebrews had tasted / received this word.

·       Tasted the powers of the age to come.  This is an interesting phrase, spoken to people for whom it was really true.  The “powers of the age to come” are the miraculous signs performed not only by Jesus but by His Apostles.  Heb. 2:4 spoke of this.  Remember: the word “miracle” is the Greek term for “powers” (dunamis) in 6:4. Those miracles were signs of Jesus’ authenticity because they were glimpses of what it would be like in His coming Kingdom, the “age to come.”  The Hebrews had benefited from those powers, again, as 2:4 indicates.

I believe it is clear that the Spirit is describing people who have truly come to Christ.  They are Christians.  This still leaves us with the question, are they Christians who have lost their salvation?  Or is there some other way to understand how Heb. 6:6 refers to these people?  You should know, if you followed our recent study on “eternal security” that our position is the latter position.  Losing one’s salvation would be a denial of the powerful work of Christ on the cross!