Fear has the power to paralyze. If you have ever been alone on a dark night and heard an unusual sound, you know how paralyzing fear can be. One pastor remarked: “Fear is the devil’s scarecrow to keep us out of God’s corn.”
Israel knew that kind of fear as they came to the edge of the Promised Land. They sent spies into the land who returned with a fearful report. Rather than move forward into a land of milk and honey, fear paralyzed the Israelites at Kadesh-Barnea.
Nothing should be more fearful than the possible loss of one’s salvation. Yet many believers live in constant fear that, one day, they might lose their salvation through some act or lifestyle of disobedience. The writer of Hebrews believed that Jesus’ death removed any such fear for believers: “He shared likewise in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). In other words, Jesus’ death on the cross should lead to assurance in His completed work, not to continued fear.
But whenever the issue of assurance is raised, someone always retorts, “Yes, but what about Hebrews 6?” Many see in Hebrews 6:4-6 a passage providing air-tight proof that one can lose his salvation. I once believed that. In fact, my whole theology of the loss of salvation revolved, in particular, around that one passage. However, while preaching through the Book of Hebrews, I came to realize that the context did not support my interpretation. Hebrews 6 is not about the loss of salvation; it is about the security of true believers.
The Context of Hebrews 6
First, let’s consider the context of the Book of Hebrews. The first thing we notice is that it is written to Jewish believers considering returning to their Jewish rituals to find their security. Their situation is similar to that of the Galatians who wanted to add their Jewish rituals to the work of Jesus on the cross. Paul reminded the Galatians that those who take such an approach are “fallen from grace.”
Here the writer of Hebrews reminds the Jews of the foolishness of returning to something inferior (the old law and Jewish rituals). In Chapter 3, he reminds them that Jesus the Son is greater than Moses the Servant. In Hebrews 7-9, he shows them the particular ways in which this new covenant is “a better covenant” than the old covenant. “Why seek assurance of salvation through something that is inferior to what you have in Jesus?” is the idea that the writer sets forth.
Second, we notice that the warnings are about “not entering into God’s rest.” Here the writer uses the experience of the Israelites at Kadesh-Barnea to illustrate the results of “drawing back.” Their punishment was that they wandered in the wilderness instead of entering into the Promised Land. Many have interpreted this to mean that believers who do not press on lose their salvation: the Israelites did not enter the Promised Land — these believers will not enter Heaven.
But such an interpretation hangs on the fact that the typology is correct. Is the Promised Land synonymous with Heaven? We know it is in Negro spirituals, but is it here in Hebrews? The typology is this: all who did not enter the Promised Land are types of all who do not enter heaven. While most today might not see any problem with that reasoning, any Jew would consider your conclusion ridiculous. After all, one very important person who left Egypt with these Israelites also failed to make it to the Promised Land: Moses. If these are examples of unbelievers who did not gain heaven (the Promised Land), then what about Moses? Is he also lost, shut out from heaven?
Surely you see the problem. Surely there must be another typology present in the writer’s mind. There is. Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Red Sea is seen as the picture of passing from death into life. Indeed, in 1 Corinthians 10:2, Paul reminds the Corinthians that “all [who] passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses.” If you asked an Israelite, “When was Israel saved?” they would respond, “When we passed through the Sea.” Not, when they entered the Promised Land.
What, then, does the Promised Land portray? Jesus promised believers that they would not only have life, but “have it more abundantly.” In other words, the Christian life is designed to be a life overflowing with “milk and honey.” Many through fear, disobedience, and unbelief fail to enter into that life. Instead of enjoying the blessings of their relationship with the Lord in this life, they wander aimlessly just as Israel did in the wilderness.
The third observation from the context of Hebrews supports this interpretation. Be careful to notice what these believers are in danger of losing. Is it their salvation? In Hebrews 6:9, the writer says they could lose “things that accompany salvation.” In other places (Hebrews 6:12 and 10:34-36, for example), he tells them that they will lose “rewards” and “promises,” not salvation.
Finally, let’s consider the context of Hebrews 6 itself. In the preceding passage (Hebrews 5:12-6:3), the issue is a failure to grow as a believer. If Hebrews 6:4-6 is about losing salvation, then we would need to warn people who fail to grow and become teachers that they will lose their salvation! (That may be great for Sunday School recruitment, but it is terrible theology!) In the section that follows (Hebrews 6:7-20), the focus is on assurance. In verse 10, the writer notes that God will not forget to reward us for the things we have done in ministry. In verse 11, he desires that every reader come to a “full assurance” of salvation (which would not be possible in the theologies that teach that you can lose your salvation). In verses 13-20, the writer concludes this section by pointing to the basis for assurance – not our deeds, but God’s promise and Jesus’ finished work.
Issues in Hebrews 6
Three initial questions arise as we consider Hebrews 6. First, are those who “fall away” believers or non-believers? Many evangelicals have attempted to ignore this warning by claiming it was written about non-believers. Someone has said that it referred to “professors of eternal life, not possessors of eternal life.” Puritan John Owen and Baptist preacher John Gill interpreted it to refer to those who were “externally” believers, not internally believers.
However, neither the context nor the passage will allow such an interpretation. Note the use of “we” in verse 3. The writer seems to include himself in these categories. When we read the list of descriptions given in verses 4-5, we would naturally conclude that the writer is referring to believers. Indeed, Charles Spurgeon notes about these verses: “If the Holy Spirit intended to describe Christians, I do not see that he could have used more explicit terms than these are here.”
The second question relates to the issue of losing salvation. To begin with, the passage does not mention salvation. It states that it is “impossible to renew them to repentance.” While repentance is clearly required for salvation, it would be wrong to equate every use of the word as being salvation. Indeed, the New Testament makes it clear that even believers need to repent continually. Beyond that, the language of verse 6 could be translated in one of two ways: “It is impossible to renew them to repentance since they crucify…” or “while they crucify….” Hence, the writer could be indicating not a permanent condition (since), but rather a condition that will not change as long as the believer remains in this state (while).
If interpreted as the loss of salvation, these verses present a number of theological problems. In verse 4, the writer of Hebrews mentions the “gift,” but, if it is not truly free, then is it truly a gift? Secondly, there is the question of the role of God in salvation. Again, the writer of Hebrews alludes to his understanding that the issue of security lies with God. In verse 3, he notes that we can press on “if God permits.” In other words, we have a part to play in our growth, but ultimately it all rests in God’s hands. In Philippians 2:12-13, we see the same tension: “Work out [not work for] your own salvation, for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, for His good pleasure.”
To interpret this passage as losing salvation, one must also question what God has said regarding His “keeping power.” In verses like Philippians 1:6 and 1 Peter 1:5, God indicates His power and willingness to keep those who are His. The writer of Hebrews also taught that the security of our salvation rested not on us, but on the prayers of Jesus for us (see Hebrews 7:25). If one who is saved becomes lost, then Jesus is shown to be ineffective in His praying for us.
The final question to be raised relates to the issue of apostasy or falling away. What is it that the passage indicates they fall away from? Salvation is not mentioned in the passage. The context suggests that the writer is warning about the failure of believers to press on in Christian growth and service. They have fallen away, not from salvation, but from pressing on to be what they have been called to be.
Evidences of Falling Away
Before we leave this passage, we must ask what is the warning given so that we may heed it ourselves today.
Three evidences of one who is falling away are given in the last verses of Chapter 5. Not Hearing the Word is one evidence (vs. 11). The writer says they have become dull of hearing. Like those who no longer hear the passing train after years of living by the tracks, these readers had become dull to the word of God. They sit in congregations week after week and hear the Word, but it no longer impacts their lives as it once did, because they have become dull of hearing.
A second evidence is Not Growing (vv. 12-13). Here the writer says that they ought to be teachers. While they have been taught much, they have not grown to the point that they are able to teach others. Instead, they continually need to be taught the simple things again and again. The illustration used by the writer compares milk with their intake of God’s Word. To understand this word picture, we must be reminded of what milk is to babies. In simple terms, it is pre-digested food. The baby is unable to chew and digest for itself, so the mother eats the food and gives nourishment to the child through her milk.
There is nothing wrong with milk for nourishment when you are a baby. But as a baby gets older, he needs to learn to eat for himself. Believers in danger of falling away are those who still depend solely upon milk (pre-digested teaching of God’s Word) for their nourishment. They should be able to eat (enjoy God’s Word) for themselves, but they cannot. They continue to rely on others for all they receive.
Such is the sad state of most “Sunday Christians.” The only nourishment they receive from the Bible is a Sunday morning sermon or Bible class. The rest of the week, their Bibles sit untouched while their souls go unnourished. They ought to be teachers by now, but instead someone has to keep teaching them. Such are in danger of falling away.
The third evidence of falling away is Not Practicing. In Hebrews 5:14, the writer distinguishes between those who are “trained” and those who are not. Those who have trained themselves have done so by putting into practice what they have learned. Those in danger of falling away are those who hear but never practice what they have been taught. This concern was made even more clear in Hebrews 2:1: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest we drift away.”
The Effects of Falling Away
The writer also suggests three effects of this condition. First, those who are in danger of falling away have No Building. In Hebrews 6:1, he speaks of laying a foundation in believers’s lives. Paul uses a similar analogy in 1 Corinthians 3:9-13.
What a sad state is used to describe these believers. They have the foundation (Jesus) but live in a house with no walls or roof. No wonder the Christian life is frustrating for them. They have not built anything upon that foundation. When the storms of life beat upon them, they have no protection (compare Matthew 7:24-27).
Second, these have No Witness. Hebrews 6:6 describes the shame that such a one causes the Lord Jesus. Rather than being a light pointing to Jesus, these are continually putting Jesus to “an open shame.”
A story is told about Peter escaping a Roman prison during the persecutions under Nero. As Peter is fleeing out of Rome, he is surprised to see Jesus going into Rome. He stopped Jesus and asked: “My Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied,” I’m going to Rome to die in your place.” With that, Peter turned around, returned to Rome, and died a martyr’s death on a cross. However, when the time came to be crucified, Peter asked to be crucified upside down, saying, “I am not worthy to die as my Lord died.” When believers do not press on to live for the Lord, they fall away, and “crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.”
No Fruit is the third effect of falling away. In verses 7-8, the writer of Hebrews gives an illustration of what he has referred to in Hebrews 6:4-6. There he pictures two plots of ground. Both receive the same rain, but they produce different results. One produces fruits useful to the one who cultivates (the Lord); the other produces thorns and briars. One who has fallen away produces no fruit for the Lord and His kingdom.
The effects of falling away are serious. They result in believers having no building, no witness, and no fruit.
End Results
Verses 7 and 8 also speak of the end results of theses two types of lives. The one that goes on to maturity is “useful” to the Lord and thereby “receives blessing from God.” The second that falls back and bears only thorns and briars receives a burning.
The Scriptures speak of two types of burnings. One is for eternity; the other is for testing and purifying. In 1 Corinthians 3:14-15, the Apostle Paul describes the burning of testing. There he makes it clear that we will all experience this fire but that some whose works are nothing but wood, hay and straw, will find their deeds completely consumed on that final day. But what will be the eternal result of this burning? Will they lose their salvation? No, Paul clearly states that, though they will suffer loss, “they will be saved though as through fire.”
The writer of Hebrews seems to be speaking of that same type of burning in Hebrews 6. Notice carefully the words he uses. The ground is not cursed (which might indicate a loss of salvation) but “near to being cursed.” And “its end is for burning.” In other words, God will not take away their salvation, but will expose the sum of their lives to His fire. And even if all is burned up (1 Corinthians 3:15), they will not be lost.
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