Chapter Six

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Major Warning #4: the most misunderstood warning in the all the Bible

In the last chapter, we saw a group of Hebrews (Group 3B) characterized by the Seven Characteristics found in Heb. 5:12-14:

1.      They should be teachers but they are not.

2.      They still need someone to teach them.

3.      They still need the Old Testament ABC’s (the First Principles of the Oracles of God).

4.      They still need milk.

5.      They still can’t yet handle the strong meat of the Word.

6.      They are still unskillful in the Word.

7.      They are still babes.

Then, in Heb. 6:1-3, the Author described the six, Old Testament ABC’s they clung to:

1. Repentance from dead works
2. Faith towards God
3. Doctrine of baptisms
4. Laying on of hands
5. The resurrection of the dead
6. Eternal judgment

Additionally, we saw the Author’s skillful use of pronouns. In 5:12-13, he used ye and you. All these pronouns in this passage are second person plural. Then, in 6:1, the Author changes from second person plural to first person plural. Obviously, when he spoke in the second person plural in 5:12-13, he excluded himself from Group 3B. But when he changed to the first person plural in 6:1a, he obviously included himself in Group Two. (If you need a refresher on the identity of the Groups, see the Introduction again.)

Remember: when he changed to first person plural, he exhorted his readers to join in with both him and those in Group Two in an action already in progress. Remember also, the following four things:

1.      Both the Author and those in Group Two had already abandoned and forsaken the Old Testament ABC’s.

2.       Both the Author and those in Group Two had already accepted Jesus as God’s final sacrifice for their sins.

3.      Then, he exhorted those in Group 3B to join in with him and those in Group Two in accepting Jesus as God’s final sacrifice for their sins.

4.      Finally, he exhorts them to stop working, join with him, and let God “ bear and carry them on to maturity also.”

Now, in this chapter, we look two bombshell things. Both of them are absolutely “bolts from the blue.” You will be shocked but your faith will increase tremendously.

 First, we see our Author switch pronouns again. In so doing, he switches to another group entirely. Second, we look at the most misunderstood warning in Hebrews. This warning has caused as much confusion to the body of Christ as any other thing. We shall give you the proper interpretation to it in this chapter. This will eliminate this traditional confusion.

 Now we must look at his change of pronouns that introduces another group entirely. This new group is Group 3A. This group is irrevocably lost forever. There is no more hope for them. In your English Bible, notice closely the pronouns in the passage below. Our Author addresses them by those, they, them and themselves. All these pronouns are in the third person plural. Again, our Author excludes both himself and those in Group Two from those represented by those, they, them and themselves. In the Scriptures printed below, watch closely the bold pronouns and the parentheses. These will show you to whom these pronouns refer.

Heb 6:4-6

4            For it is impossible for those (Group 3A) who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5            And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6            If they (Group 3A) shall fall away, to renew them (Group 3A) again unto repentance; seeing they (Group 3A) crucify to themselves (Group 3A) the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV) (Bold words and parentheses mine)

Now, see the word” for” in verse 4 above. In Greek, this preposition “for” gives the reason for a previous assertion or series of statements. Here, the previous series of statements are contained in Heb. 5:12-6:3. These statements showed us that Group 3B were babes who still were dependant upon the Old Testament ABC sacrifices. Then, the Author exhorted them to get out of that group and join in with him because God was continuously ”carrying him and all the others in Group 2 on to maturity and completion.” This series of previous statements form the reasons for what the Author said next.

 He said that within the Hebrew nation, there existed Group 3A, who had deliberately, finally and irrevocably rejected Jesus as God’s final sacrifice for their sins. This group had no hope forever. They had crossed a line beyond which they could never come back. Our Author exhorts his readers to leave the “undecided ones” and get in his Group Two before it was eternally too late. If they put off long enough accepting Jesus, they could end up in Group 3A. This was the last place our Author wanted them to be.

 Having made the remarks about the pronouns above, we can now deal with Major Warning #4 in Heb. 4:4-6. There are three things we must do to this warning to make it understandable for you. Without these three things, you will always have difficulty with it.

1)      The first thing we must do to eliminate the confusion surrounding this passage is to rearrange it for you. In other words, we must put it in the proper word order and paraphrase it for you. In so doing, we show you the Five Characteristics of the group.

2)      Next, we must demonstrate that these Five Characteristics all pertain to the same group of people.

3)      Finally, we must demonstrate that the Five Characteristics of the Hebrews in this group (including the falling away) have already happened. They are all in the past tense. The Greek Aorist Participle accomplishes this for us. (Hang on! This is very simple and will become plain for you shortly.)

The First Thing We Must Do to Eliminate The Confusion

We must rearrange the order of the words in the sentence. Then, it will look like the following:

Heb 6:4-6

For those

1.      having been once and for all enlightened,

2.      and having tasted of the heavenly gift,

3.      and having become partakers of the Holy Ghost,

4.      and having tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

5.      and having fallen away,

it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV)

You can readily see that we moved “it is impossible” away from the front of the sentence. Why is this rearrangement necessary? It is necessary for the English reader, because a Greek had a strange way (to us) of emphasizing certain things in his sentence. For instance, in English, if we wanted to emphasize certain words or concepts, we would underline it, place it in quotation marks, put it in parentheses or brackets or we would put it in italics. (Remember, the New Testament was written in Greek and translated into English for us.)

But not a Greek. Instead of the ways shown above to emphasize things in an English sentence, he would simply move to the very front of his sentence that which he wished to emphasize.

In our rearrangement above, you can readily see that the Author changed the location of the expression, “it is impossible.” Our Author, being an excellent Greek grammarian, did what all excellent Greek grammarians would do for emphasis. He moved what he meant to emphasize to the very front of his sentence.

In this case, he wanted to emphasize the bombshell truth that repentance is absolutely impossible for these Hebrews who have done the one thing that can cause them to fall away. Therefore, he moved “it is impossible” to the very front of his sentence. Keep in mind here that our Author is not emphasizing the possibility of falling away but the impossibility of coming back when they have done the one thing that could cause a Hebrew to fall away!

The Second Thing We Must Do to Eliminate The Confusion

We must prove that these Five Characteristics all pertain to the same group of people. In other words, one characteristic does not pertain to one group while another characteristic pertains to a different group while another characteristic pertains to yet another group. Only one group of Hebrews (Group 3A) is in view here. To say it differently, all Five Characteristics pertain to this entire, one group (Group 3A).

In plain English that you can easily understand, we can prove this for you by the hard and fast rules of Greek grammar. You see, the Greek language was the most precise language the world has ever known. Very little was left to conjecture.

This is no exception. All these characteristics pertain to one group of Hebrews and one group of Hebrews only--Group 3A! For a complete explanation that proves the above, see Sharp’s rule, cited by Brooks and Winbery. (BW P70) Actually, you can consult any Greek grammar. In our Scriptures here, all Five Characteristics apply to this one group of Hebrews, Group 3A.

The Third Thing We Must Do to Eliminate The Confusion

Finally, we must show you that all the Five Characteristics are not something that may happen to Group 3A in the future. All Five Characteristics have already happened (in the past) to them. In other words, all of these Five Characteristics, in the Greek text, are all aorist participles. This makes each Characteristic a finished, completed thing. For these reasons, each of the Five Characteristics should be translated with the prefix  “having,” as you see them below. This is the literal translation of each aorist participle for each of the Five Characteristics. Moreover, to make this even plainer for you, we add “in the past” to each of the Five Characteristics below.

1.      having been enlightened--in the past

2.      and having tasted--in the past

3.      and having become partners with the Holy Ghost--in the past

4.      and having tasted--in the past

5.      and having fallen away--in the past

When we get to the section on “having fallen away,” we will go into much greater detail. We will see that “if they shall fall away” does not exist in the Greek text. “If” leaves the impression that they have not fallen away yet, but they might fall away sometime in the future. This, however, is absolutely not what the Greek text says. It boldly declares that this group of Hebrews (Group 3A) had already fallen away. They had already done that which damns them forever.

Another thing to note, in the Greek text, neither “It” nor “is” actually occurs in this sentence. Both of them had to be supplied for a smooth, understandable translation. Nevertheless, “is” functions as our main verb. Therefore, here is how the paraphrase of our passage actually looks.

For those individuals in Group 3A,

1.      having been once for all enlightened in the past,

2.      and having tasted of the heavenly gift in the past,

3.      and having become partakers of the Holy Ghost in the past,

4.      and having tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come in the past,

5.      and having fallen away in the past,

there is no power (it is impossible) to renew them (the above Group 3A) again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV) (Parenthesis Mine)

We shall now look at Three Things in the above Scriptures.

1. We look very closely at the Five Characteristics of this group of people. These Five Characteristics identify them for us as Group 3A.
2. Then, we identify the one thing this group did that resulted in their falling away.
3. Finally, we determine why it is not possible to ever renew them to repentance, since they crossed the line from which they can never return

Characteristic #1: Having been once and for all enlightened

First, consider the word once. This translates the Greek word hapax. This word means once as in one time. But it also means once as in once for all time. W. E. Vine says that this word describes that which is perpetually valid (never requires repetition). (UVW P445) Then, in addition to Heb. 6:4, Vine lists the following verses which prove the perpetual validity (once for all) aspect of this word. In all these verses, the Italics are mine.

Heb 9:28

28                So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (KJV)

Obviously, Christ was crucified only one time. His crucifixion was a once for all act that is perpetually valid.

Heb 10:2

2            For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (KJV)

Because of the perpetual validity of Christ’s crucifixion, the purging or cleansing effect of it is of perpetual validity. Therefore, the purging is once for all.

1 Pet 3:18

18            For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (KJV)

Christ’s suffering was tied up with his crucifixion. Just as His crucifixion was once and for all and perpetually valid, so was his suffering; they, too, are perpetually valid. Consequently, he will never have to suffer again.

Jude 1:3

3            Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (KJV)

The faith Jude spoke of here was perpetually valid. Therefore, it did not have to be delivered again to the saints. The Revised Version translates once above as once for all.

Jude 1:5

5                    I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. (KJV)

Again, the Revised Version translates once above with the expression, once for all. They knew, once for all, that God had saved his people out of Egypt. In other words, their knowledge of this great event was perpetually valid 

As you can plainly see from the Scriptures above, hapax describes those situations that are perpetually valid. In each instance like this (including Heb. 6:4), once for all time is the only way to describe it. These Hebrews had been enlightened to such an extent and in such ways that it was perpetually valid for them. Therefore, to repeat the things that enlightened them was unnecessary.

Next, we need to look at the word translated by our English word enlightened, which translates the Greek word photos (light). The verb form, enlightened, is used in this verse. In other words, these Hebrews had the lights turned on for them in such a way that it was perpetually valid. This light was the knowledge of who they were: it was the knowledge of what belonged to them; and it was the knowledge of the rights God granted them in the covenant with Abraham.

Beginning way back in Gen. 12:3, they knew that through their father Abraham, they would be blessed (Promise #8 in the Abrahamic covenant). They knew that blessed included healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation for their souls. They knew these things in depth. Therefore, to repeat these things was unnecessary for them. For them, this enlightenment--this knowledge--was perpetually valid.

They knew they were God’s special people. They knew that no one else on this planet had a similar relationship with God. In the heart of God, there was no one like them on the face of this earth and they knew it. This knowledge was perpetually valid.

Deut 14:2

2            For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. (KJV)

Deut 26:18-19

18        And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

19                And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken. (KJV)

Now they had another, even deeper level of light. The Seed to whom the Abrahamic promises were made had appeared. The mighty Son of God had dotted the human landscape. He had made known his identity and openly laid out his spectacular claims.

They knew who he claimed to be. They knew what he claimed to do. They knew he was presented as their Messiah. They knew he was presented as the Supreme Seed of Abraham. They knew he was presented as the final sacrifice for sin under Moses’ law. They knew miracles, signs and wonders attested the claims about him. They knew trustworthy eyewitnesses testified to His words and verified his works. They knew all about Him. They had this light. They had been enlightened once and for all time. Their enlightment was perpetually valid 

Characteristic #2: Having tasted of the heavenly gift

Tasted translates the Greek word geuo. This word has basically three meanings in Scripture.

1. It means literally to taste without eating. This is the meaning in the Matt. 27: 34 below.

Matt 27:34

34                They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. (KJV) (Italics Mine)

2. It means not only to taste but also to actually eat. As you can plainly see, this is the meaning in Acts 20:11 below.

Acts 20:11

11                When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. (KJV) (Italics mine)

3. It means to personally experience something. This is its meaning in the two verses listed below. In Heb. 2:9 Jesus tasted death for every man.

Heb 2:9

9                    But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (KJV) (Italics mine)

In 1 Peter 2:3, those who lay aside evil dispositions and then, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of God’s word, experience how gracious the Lord really is.

1 Pet 2:3

30                If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (KJV) (Italics mine)

In Heb. 6:4 above, have tasted emphatically means to have experienced. In other words, these Hebrews have experienced some things our Author says came out of (originated in) “the heavenly gift.” (The Author used a grammatical device here, the ablative case, that lets us know that what the Hebrews experienced in this verse originated in something that our Author calls the heavenly gift.)

 What is this heavenly gift? Marvin Vincent pointed out there are so many different views concerning the identity of this heavenly gift that it is bewildering. He is absolutely right. (MV4 P445)

Nevertheless, there is one heavenly gift from which springs all the other blessings and gifts from God, including the unspeakable gift of his Son. In other words, all the spiritual blessings Paul mentioned in Eph. 1:3 have their source in this one gift from heaven. This gift is the Abrahamic covenant.

In this amazing covenant, God included anything and everything that his new people, the Hebrews, will ever need. (Remember: there were no Hebrews until God made this covenant with Abraham; this covenant called the Hebrews into being.)

This covenant included the blessings of healing for their bodies, prosperity for their pocket books, well being for their families and salvation for their souls. When God added Moses’ law to it, he graciously provided a sacrificial system so that they could maintain their Abrahamic blessings--even when they sinned.

They would never lose even a single one of their Abrahamic blessings! This is amazing. Every thing that man will ever need is contained in the covenant God made with Abraham. Is there anything that anyone could ever need that is not included in it?

Even the mercy of God is in it. Have you ever felt like you needed God’s mercy? Have you ever asked God for mercy? The Abrahamic covenant is God’s mercy covenantized.

Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, equated the Abrahamic covenant with God’s mercy. She gave this as the reason God helped Israel.

Luke 1:54-55

54            He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55            As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (KJV)

In addition to Mary, Zecharias also related what God did--the birth of Jesus and the birth of his own son, John the Baptist--to the promises and the oath God made to Abraham. Then he equated the whole business with God’s mercy.

Luke 1:72-73

72            To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73            The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, (KJV)

Put another way, Mary and Zecharias viewed the Abrahamic covenant as God’s mercy. We must agree with them. We must see it the way they saw it. God left a written covenant (backed by His oath) that promised healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation for their souls. If this isn’t God’s mercy, then what would qualify as God’s mercy? Can you possibly think of one thing anyone would ever need in addition to the four astonishing provisions above? They had these four blessings given to them: healing, prosperity, family well being in this life and a saved soul for the next. These Hebrews had experienced this heavenly gift. This was the mercy of God covenantized. This was the mercy of God written out. This was the most fantastic document ever produced anywhere. They had experienced these four blessings, beginning in Gen. 12:3.

Thank God, he also included us Gentile Christians (by grafting) in this very same Abrahamic blessing system. When we Gentiles accept Jesus as our personal Savior, God grafts us into the four mind-blowing provisions above on an absolute equal footing with the Hebrews themselves. We must conclude that the heavenly gift out of which they had these many centuries of marvelous experiences was the blessing covenant that God made with Father Abraham.

In the next chapter, we look at the characteristic of “partaking” of the Holy Ghost. The popular interpretation of “partaking” is as wrong as anything this author has seen in theological interpretations. The popular view is that these people in Hebrews are Gentile and Jewish Christians who are indwelt by the Holy Ghost. This seems, to those who hold this erroneous view, to be the only way everyone can “partake” of the Holy Ghost at the same time. In this chapter, however, we shall see three things: these people aren’t Christians at all; they were not indwelt by the Holy Ghost as Christians are indwelt today; and they did not “partake” of the Holy Ghost. You will grow here. You will build yourselves up on your most holy faith here. You are in for the time of your life in the next chapter. 

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