Hebrews 6:4

Every Jew who had embraced Christianity had found an entrance into a most privileged circle. He became a partaker of many striking benefits, whether or not he was really converted underneath. Under the stress of persecution and trouble, some might wish to shake off allegiance to Christ and return to their Judaism. In these verses the Spirit of God warns such people of the consequences.

But you say, were they not "once enlightened," what does that mean? Surely that must mean converted. Not at all. In John 1:9, it is said of the Lord Jesus, "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." Is every man therefore converted? Not so; but everyone born into the world is brought into the place where the light is shining... Being enlightened is the light coming to a man — the good news of the gospel. It does not mean he receives it, or that it converts him.

Many have tasted the new, heavenly things set out in the glorious gospel of God, and yet have never passed from death to life. They have never been broken down before God about their sins. They have never received Christ into their hearts. Tasting the heavenly gift and passing, by new birth, into the heavenly kingdom are two completely different things.

They may have been moved and touched after a shallow sort. How many a one has come into a gospel preaching, heard of Christ, been deeply impressed for the moment, thought it a wonderful thing, meant to be a Christian; and gone away unsaved, for there has been no work in his conscience.

In Luke 5:7 a different word is translated "partners." It describes only sharing the privilege of fishing in the lake, since the fishermen were in separate boats. But in verse 10 of the same chapter our word describes partners in a closer relationship... Hebrews 6:4 uses the word of verse 7, translated there "partakers of the Holy Spirit." It describes people who shared the outward privileges of Christianity and yet were not in the intimate circle described as "in Christ."

Many true believers, troubled by fears, have applied Hebrews 6:4-6 to themselves. Perhaps no other part of the Word shows how much one may have and yet not have life. They tasted, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit — but not of life... I doubt this Scripture ever troubled a mere professor. The dread of having fallen away is more a mark of having life.

Right after describing these people, the apostle turns to the ones he is writing to: "Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things — things that belong to salvation." That is the clearest assurance that he had no thought of anyone who had known salvation suffering the doom of an apostate.

The nation had crucified the Lord. But they were guilty of that when they had only the doctrine of the beginning of Christ. Now they have received all that Christianity has brought. If they reject that, then they have crucified Him personally — the very thing they were guilty of as a nation. And there remains no other gospel for them.

It is not a child of God falling into sin and getting at a distance from God. Such a one will most surely be brought back and restored... It is not an anxious soul earnestly seeking the way of life and peace. It is not the case of a poor soul who is ignorant and out of the way. To none of these does the "impossible" of Hebrews 6:4 apply. There is one case that comes terribly near it: someone who has gone on sinning against light, refusing to act on the plain Word of God, knowingly and deliberately resisting the truth because of what acting on it would cost.