Hebrews 6:4-12, 10:26-39
In the early church, there was a sect called the Novatians who armed themselves with Hebrews 6:4-12 and 10:26-39 in order to deny pardon to any Christian who had committed any sin. They wanted to take away the hope of pardon from all who had fallen after baptism. The teaching became so prevalent and so convincing that rather than accept this doctrine in the face of the preponderance of Scripture which teaches the assurance of pardon to any who place their faith in Jesus Christ, many in that day rejected the book of Hebrews. They were unable to refute the doctrine, so they denied the authority of this Epistle.
Even today, many who call themselves Evangelical do not believe in the perseverance of the saints, and they equip themselves with the double-barreled shotgun of Hebrews 6 and 10. We are told that if a Christian commits adultery, he has lost his salvation. If he commits murder, he has lost his salvation. If he steals or becomes drunk, he has lost his salvation. If the Christian sins, he is lost again, and must repent!
John Calvin, writing of the days and doctrine of Novatus, speaking of the sufficiency of the Hebrews text, said,
"They who were not able to refute his calumny chose rather to deny the authority of this epistle than to subscribe to so great an absurdity. But the true meaning of the passage, unaided by any help from any other part, is quite sufficient of itself to expose the effrontery of Novatus."
Just as Calvin stated, it is sufficient for us to look at the text of Hebrews 6:4-12 and 10:26-39. We will also look at Jesus' teaching concerning the apostate. Part of the covenant of God, which he makes with His Church, is the promise of blessing upon those who obey Him and the promise of cursing upon those who reject Him (Ex. 20:4-6). The covenant relationship between God and His Church is what is in view as we read Hebrews 6:4-12.
First, we are shown the apostate (vss. 4-6).
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partaker of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Some take the word "impossible" to mean rare or difficult, which is wholly different from its meaning. As Calvin states, "The knot of the question is in the word, "fall away". It is the same word used in Romans 11:11-12 of the sin and downfall of Israel in their refusal to acknowledge God's claims and His Christ. Because of this "falling away", the offer of salvation was made to the Gentiles. This is not a simple one-sin offense, nor a repeated sin. Neither is it speaking of a continuing lifestyle of sin, but a total rejection of the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Again, let Calvin speak,
"But the Apostle speaks not here of theft, or perjury, or murder, or drunkenness, or adultery; but he refers to a total defection or falling away from the Gospel, when a sinner offends not God in some one thing, but entirely renounces his grace."
A.M. Stibbs, of Oak Hill Theological College, London, has written concerning Hebrews 6:6 that "falling away" means committing apostasy,
"A complete rejection and disowning of the faith of Christ. As far as they are concerned (i.e., on their own account, or 'to themselves', AV, RV) such people put Christ out of their lives, or reject His claim to be the Son of God, by an action similar to that of those who got rid of Him by crucifying Him. Thus they publicly hold Christ up to contempt."
So we see that one who violates the second table of the Law, or transgresses the first table of the Law out of ignorance Is not being addressed here. The apostate is one who intentionally rejects all that is of God, he forsakes the word of God, extinguishes its light, rejects the heavenly gift, and sins against the Holy Spirit. He knows the word of God, the gospel, the Church, the blessings of the covenant, and yet rejects them all. He is apostate. And because he is apostate from the covenant of God, God will curse him.
Now let's move to Hebrews 10:26-31,
For if we sin willfully after we have received the Knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God under-foot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall Into the hands of the living God.
Here again the writer of Hebrews is referring to "apostates." Those who have been received into the Church, who have entered into covenant with God's people, ought not to forsake the Church. If they do, they shall be utterly lost. There remains no sacrifice for them, because they have sinned willfully after having received the knowledge of truth. This Calvin affirms, but then quickly, lest any should misunderstand, he interjects,
"But as to sinners who fall in any other way, Christ offers Himself daily to them, so that they are to seek no other sacrifice for expiating their sins. He [the writer of Hebrews] denies, then, that any sacrifice remains for them who renounce the death of Christ, which is not done by any offense except by a total renunciation of the faith."
Calvin also asks the question, "How can it be that he who has once made such a progress should afterwards fall away?" Scripture clearly teaches us that the Elect are beyond the danger of finally falling away. And to this question let Calvin speak once again,
"... God Indeed favors none but the elect alone with the Spirit of regeneration, and that by this they are distinguished from the reprobate; for they are renewed after His image and receive the earnest of the Spirit in hope of the future inheritance, and by the same Spirit the Gospel Is sealed In their hearts. But I cannot admit that all this is any reason why he should not grant the reprobate also some taste of His grace, why He should not irradiate their minds with some sparks of His light, why He should not give them some perception of His goodness, and in some sort engrave His word on their hearts. Otherwise where would be the temporary faith mentioned In Mark 4:17?"
In both of the Hebrews texts, chapters 6 and 10, the writer reminds us of the centrality of the covenant. Let's examine God's revelation of the covenant in these two texts. We find the covenant spoken of in Hebrews 6:7-8 and 10:37-39,
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him, but we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
In these verses, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that God, when we are in covenant with Him, promises to bless those who continue to receive His word and to curse those who reject it. There is one covenant with dual sanctions of blessings and cursings. Adam was promised rest and peace if he obeyed the Word of God and the curse of death if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Abraham that He would bless Him and his descendants as long as they kept His covenant, but the covenant breaker would be cut off from his people (Gen. 17:14). An example of the blessing and cursing aspect of the covenant can be seen in the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6) where God promises to curse the covenant breaker to the third and fourth generations and to bless the covenant keeper to thousands. And we have the historical example of Israel. All through Israel's history, we are shown In Scripture that as they were obedient to the law of God they were blessed. When they disobeyed God, they were cursed. Then when Israel came face to face with Messiah, they rejected God's only begotten Son. And God divorced Israel.
In our text in Hebrews, the earth which receives the rain and brings forth good fruit represents those who gladly receive God's word and obey His ethics. To them, God promises the good fruit of dominion. The earth which receives the rain and yet bears thorns and briers represents those who hear the word of God, yet refuse His instruction, turning away from the only one who can affect their salvation. If anyone draws back, God says, "My soul has no pleasure In him." But to those who "believe to the saying of the soul", to those who are "living by faith", He promises eternal salvation.
I think that it is important to note at this point that the writer of Hebrews was not writing to the apostate. The letter is not addressed to those who have fallen back. Even this section is not written with the purpose of pronouncing judgment upon the apostate, but was penned to encourage the true believer, to assure us all who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ of His everlasting blessing. This is evident when we read Hebrews 6:9-12 and 10:32-36:
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with great struggles: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise....
It remains for us now only to read the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as He instructs us in this doctrine of the apostate. Jesus defines the apostate in Mark 4:16-17,
"These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble."
In the parable of the soils, the seed in this parable represents the Word of God, or the message about the Kingdom of God, while the field represents the heart of the individual hearer. The "heart" in scripture often represents the intellect of an individual. A message then was being preached to individuals and was being understood. But to the preaching of the Word of God there were varying responses. Some seed showed no signs of life at all, this seed fell on the hardened pathway and did not take root. Some seed showed great promise of bearing fruit, but was eventually fruitless. Then there was that seed which produced fruit yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times that which was sown. And as J. Dwight Pentecost has stated, "In each case the seed was the same, the sower was the same, and the place where the seed was planted was the same. What determined the outcome of the sowing was the preparation of the soil."
The apostate hears the Word of God with joy receiving it with gladness. He endures for awhile, bull, afterward, when trials, tribulation, or persecution arises, he forsakes the covenant and God's covenant people. In Luke 9:26, our Lord condemns the apostate,
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels."
The question before you is, "What are you doing with the covenant knowledge you have?" Are you continuing with all effort and perseverance to obey God's Law, trusting in His promise of covenantal blessing? If you are, then you have His assurance of eternal salvation. If you are not, then note, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."