By David Turner

Does Hebrews 6:1-8 teach that a believer can loose his salvation?

 

 

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

 

Background

The author is concerned that the Jewish believers to whom he is addressing this letter are not maturing.  They have received the initial doctrines of the faith but seem to be unable to move beyond them (5:11-13). It is for this reason that they do not truly understand the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Aaronic priesthood and thus the superiority of the Christian dispensation of grace to the Jewish system of law. The difficulties of the Christian life have caused these Jewish converts to look back at the system they left behind (chapter 4) and many are being tempted to return, thus leaving the work of Christ behind. It is for this reason that the author rebukes them in Hebrews 5:11-6:8. The superiority of what they have received over what they formerly had is so great that the good they think they left behind is nothing compared to what they will have if they continue to push ahead.

 

The Elemental Teachings

In Hebrews 6:1-3 the author is not saying that these doctrines are insignificant but only that it is time to stop dwelling on them and move on toward a better understanding of serving Christ in righteousness and living a godly, consistent life before Him. Each of these doctrines are elementary teachings of the Christian system and are fundamental for understanding Christianity. The author feels that these doctrines should have been mastered and that his readers should be advancing onward in their Christian development.

 

Interpretations

This brings us to verses 4-8. Although there are many interpretations for this difficult passage, we will only deal with a few of the more popular explanations. Each one understands “falling away” as referring to salvation.

 

Salvation lost. The author is referring to individuals who were once saved but have lost their salvation. This interpretation is the most popular among those that teach the “insecurity of the believer”, or “that it is possible for one that has been saved to loose his salvation.” Such an interpretation is inconsistent with Romans 8:1, 33-39; John 10:27-29; Ephesians 1:3-14 and other passages which insist on the “eternal security” of the believer. It also fails to recognize the context of the passage, as will be seen later.

 

Hypothetical Salvation lost. Another view is that the author is developing a hypothetical case, “If they shall fall away.” Those that contend for this view (Charles Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible) say that “if” one could loose his salvation he could not repent, but the truth is he can’t really loose it so he won’t need to. This view forces the text to comply with the theological doctrine of eternal security. Although eternal security is taught in scripture elsewhere (as suggested earlier) it would be wrong to force a passage that seems to conflict with a doctrine into an interpretation of agreement with the doctrine. The passage should be allowed to stand on its own merit.

 

Not Real Believers. Matthew Henry, F. W. Grant, J. N. Darby, C. I. Schofield and others understand the passage to be speaking of mere professors of the faith, rather than true believers. Although the Bible does at times speak of such individuals (2 Peter 2:22), it doesn’t appear to be the case in Hebrews 6. The context implies true believers. In 5:11 the author accuses them of being dull of hearing, not dead in trespasses and sins. Their problem is not unbelief but lack of understanding and perseverance.

 

Impossible for Man. Some have stressed the word impossible in 6:4. The thought here is that it is impossible for man to renew his salvation, but it is not impossible for God (Matthew 19.24). This view also seems to force the context.

 

“Falling Away” from the benefits of God’s Grace

The best explanation is to understand the text in the context of service and rewards rather than salvation. The author is warning the believers that if they move back into the Jewish system of law they will disqualify themselves from fruitful service and from future millennial rewards. This interpretation is consistent with the context of chapter 4 where the grumbling wilderness Jews disqualified themselves from the blessings of the promised land by looking back on what they had and not toward what God promised before them. It is also in harmony with the immediate context of maturing in the Christian faith (5:11-6:2). If one should “fall away” (move back into the Jewish system) he stops the process of Christian growth, for the Jewish system places too many obstacles in the way of progress in the Christian system, because Law is opposed to Grace. Verses 9 and 10 further support this view. It is not the farmer that is in danger of being cursed and burned, but the fruit of the land that he works that will be lost. If he remains steadfast in the land (Christian system of grace) he will receive rain (nourishment for Christian development) and will be rewarded with fruit (rewards in the kingdom), but if he returns to the Jewish system of Law the thistles and thorns of that system will choke out the fruit (rewards). He will loose his opportunity to work and gain rewards, but he himself will not be lost (Compare these last two verses with First Corinthians 3:11-15).