4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Everyone once in a while, someone will come across a book in my library and give me a look, like 'I can't believe you have this book.' Their point seems to be that I shouldn't have this book because clearly I shouldn't agree with what's in it.
But, every book I own has something I disagree with. As a discipline of faith, however, I have chosen to embrace the entire message of the Bible...and it's the only book in my library I can say that about.
But this passage in Hebrews is one of the passages I don't really like. First of all, it's hard to get my mind around it. Secondly, it seems so final to say in verse 6 "It is impossible..." (NIV). But, there it is.
Verses 4-6 lay out the author's severe warning to the congregation. He's been concerned throughout that they are falling away from faith, giving up, turning away. He has encouraged them and warned them. Here he seems to go pretty hardcore with his warning.
Verses 7-8 give an illustration of why he says that it is impossible for those who have 'fallen away' (v. 6) to be 'brought back to repentance.' I'll try to suggest what he means by 'fall away' later in a the comments. For now, I just want us to hear the warning as an encouragement. It's not worth it to fall away!
Thoughts...questions...
Scary stuff. What came to mind is the idea of fidelity in marriage. Once you have made that commitment and then been unfaithful ("fallen away") there is really no going back. You can reconcile with your spouse, and your marriage could well survive. But things are forever changed; you can never regain the status of "faithful spouse."
ReplyDeleteEven so this is not as strong as we are reading here. We are given no possibility for repentance. Contrasting to my example: after my indiscretion I can permanently remain faithful to my spouse and live a happy marriage. Maybe the key is relating "falling away" with "repentance." What if repentance is not the right word for what we need to recover after falling away?
I'm stretching here I know, but like you Matt, I don't like these verses. What is implied here is a level of perfection to which we are typically expected to aspire, yet is is understood we will not attain such perfection until the end game.
The reference here is to Jewish apostates who have reverted to the previous system of offerings and sacrifices, thereby circumventing the gift of the Cross. I believe that the author is not stating that they cannot return to salvation; It seems more likely that, while it IS impossible for you or me to turn them around (just as it is impossible for you or me to bring anyone to salvation in the first place), it is still very much within GOD's realm to turn them around (again) if HE wishes. All of the Captain's cards are Kings. Still.
ReplyDeleteAndy, I think what you wrote is quite reasonable, but I can't make sense of it when extending to the general case. If all of the statements (commands, rules, call them what you like) can always be overridden by God, then they aren't much for guidelines, are they? I won't deny that God could do it if He choose. But I think that is not something we should gamble on.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am missing something a little more subtle here.
It's not an easy passage. There's a range of scholarly opinion, some reflecting what's been shared here. Part of what seems to be going on in this passage is the meaning of 'fall away.' If you've been around church much, the phrase gets used sort of like 'back-sliding' and means someone who has had a hard time and is struggling in their faith enough to put it on the shelf...at least for a time. Their faith has become stale or sluggish.
ReplyDeleteWhat this author seems to mean here, however, are those who have truly tasted God's gracious gifts and after a time, becuase of sin, testing and the struggles of life have decided to reject what God offers. They thereby 'crucify' the Son of God (v. 6) continually (NIV has it right - the verb is present indicative and means ongoing). Andy is right that God could presumably restore tham, but His means of restoring would just be more of the same: more of God's grace and salvation, and more of their rejection.
Here's case of what I understand as the tragedy of human freedom: God let's our decision stand. In the same way the wilderness generation (Numbers 13-14) refused to go into the land God promised, spread a bad report, and wished to die, God eventually said "OK." It's the same thing Paul talks about in Romans 1 when he says that God sometimes gives people over to their sinful demands and so sin itself becomes God's judgment.
The degree of their rejection of the Son is described as 'subjecting him to public disgrace.' They make a repeated, perhaps even boastful spectacle of the Son, full of pride that they have finally moved on past all that goofy Christian stuff. Which strikes me as ironic if these are the same ones who have not moved on past the 'milk' (elementary teachings of faith - see 5:11-14).
So, since all God offers to them would be more of the same that He already has offered, the whole situation lacks what's needed to be restored, much like a field that has been generously, wisely and carefully tended that insists on growing thorns and weeds.
Falling away after tasting sounds like the other unforgiveable sin : blaspheming the Holy Spirit .
ReplyDeleteEvidently there are things God just won't tolerate .
And , yes it does sound like the generation in the desert ; God may just finally say " OK , you asked for it , now have it your way !