A Christian can fall away

1. A Christian can fall away • Can one who falls away return? • Yes! • There are numerous examples in the Old and New Testaments of this happening • When interpreting any Bible subject what must be done to get to the truth?

2. How do we reconcile Hebrews chapters 6 and 10? • 6:4-6, 10:26-27 • These Scriptures seem to say one who falls away cannot return • Remember…the strongest evidences we have are those who fell away and were restored • To understand these passages in Hebrews look upon them with first century eyes

3. The audience for the Book of Hebrews • Written primarily to Jewish Christians • Many references to the Law and to the O/T • Many verses on the high priesthood and animal sacrifices • Date written • Before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. • 8:4, 9:6-7 • Probably around 65 A.D.

4. The Purpose for the Book of Hebrews • Written to warn the Jewish Christians against apostasy because of their attachment to the law and it’s ability to entice them • They wanted to go back to the Law…2:1-4, 3:3-6 • Romans and Galatians written to combat this same problem • Theme of Hebrews • The superiority of Christ compared to the Mosaic Law • 1:1-3, 2:16-17, 3:1-3, 4:14, 5:9-10 , 6:19-20, 7:26-27, 8:6, 9:11-12, 10:11-12, 11:1, 39-40, 12:1-2, 13:12-13 • The writer concerned their level of maturity was limited and their need for growth was great • 5:12

5. Word Study • 5:12…principles • To put or go in a row, one of a series, an element. An element or rudiment of any intellectual or religious system • 6:1…elementary (principles) • A beginning, origin • 6:1…maturity • One who accomplishes perfection. It can be defined as goal, maturity, perfection. • The word is used twice in N/T • Col. 3:14

6. Word Study • 6:1…laying again • Laying…to cast down, to throw to the ground • Again…renewal or repetition • These word express continuous action • i.e. the foundation for their faith has been laid • 6:2…washings (baptisms) • Purification effected by means of water • Used 3 times • Each refers to O/T washings…Mk. 7:4; Heb. 9:10

7. Word Study • 6:4…enlightened • To bring to light, to see or understand • 6:6…fallen away • To fall down, to fall beside, to fall away • Active voice represents the subject as the doer • The subject fell away and they continue to fall • 6:6…renew • New in nature, restored • As long as they remain in open rebellion to God it is impossible for them to be restored • The only time this word appears

8. Hebrews 5:11-6:8 • Who was Hebrews written to? • Its purpose? • 5:12-14…the writer urges them on to spiritual maturity. They ought to be teachers yet they need to be taught the elementary truths of God all over again • Elementary principles • Basic teachings of the church • Solid food is to be digested by the mature • 6:1…Therefore • Connecting word between the previous verses and the ones following

9. A command • 6:1…leave the O/T teachings about the Christ (Messiah) and go on to maturity, which is the N/T • Elementary teaching refers to the beginning (original) teachings about Christ which they learned from the O/T • Press on to maturity • Press on to perfection • Perfection not achieved under the Law, Heb. 7:19

10. 6 things they must leave • 1. Repentance from dead works • The Law…Heb. 9:14, Rom. 3:27-28, Gal. 2:15-16, 3:10-13 • 2. Faith toward God • Heb. 11 speaks of O/T men and women of faith • Heb. 11:39-40…what was promised…see Heb. 10:36-39, Gal. 2:20 • 3. Instruction about washings • O/T washings…Mark 7:4, Heb. 9:9b-10 • 4. Laying on of hands • Lev. 1:4 • Blessings were also given by the laying on of hands • 5. Resurrection of the dead • John 5:28-29, Matt. 22:23, Acts 23:8 • 6. Eternal judgment • Psalm 9:7-8 • Leave O/T teachings about the Christ (Messiah) and go on to the N/T teachings about Christ. Put them away and go on to perfection found only in the N/T.

11. God will permit the Hebrew Christians to go on to maturity • Vs. 3…future tense • God will permit…II Peter 3:9 • God wants all men to come to repentance

12. Impossible to restore those who have fallen away • When one is separated from Christ who causes the separation? • 5 reasons for the impossibility • 1. enlightened…they have known • 2. tasted of the heavenly gift…they have eaten, experienced Christ • 3. partakers with the Holy Spirit…God has indwelt them • 4. tasted the good Word of God…they know how delicious it is • 5. tasted the powers of the age to come…the truth has been revealed about what is to come • These 5 reasons speak of those who were Christians

13. Fallen away • To slip aside, to fall beside a person or thing, to deviate from the right path • Only place in N/T this word is found • Used in Sept. Ezek. 14:13, 15:8 • Renew…an infinitive of result • Refers to continuous or repeated action • The result of their continued apostasy makes is impossible to be renewed • As long as repentance is absent renewal is impossible • To return to the Law means to crucify Jesus again

14. Hyperbole • An exaggeration • Vs. 4…change of pronoun to those and them • These persons are different from the original readers • The Hebrews Christians find themselves in this exact situation • They have tasted the heavenly gift • They accepted the terms of the N/T • If they return to the O/T doctrines they make the N/T invalid • This is a hypothetical case warning the Hebrew Christians to not make this a reality

15. Conclusion • The writer warns Hebrew Christians that immaturity leads to apostasy • The immature Hebrew Christians were like babes seeking to hang on to the Law while trying to embrace Christianity • It is impossible for one who remains in their apostasy to be saved • The impossibility lies in their lack of repentance…not in God’s willingness to forgive • This is a hypothetical case to warn Hebrew Christians about making such a thing a reality