Hebrews 6:1–8

Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

Don’t Walk Away

Hebrews 6:1–8

Can a person who made a decision for Christ at some point in the past live with the assurance that he is saved forever, regardless of how he lives now? This week’s lesson will study a passage that addresses the question. And at first glance the passage in Hebrews 6 seems to warn that a believer can lose his salvation.

Grow in Faith (1–3)

These verses describe what a believer must leave behind to mature as a Christian. The writer is not saying leave behind the gospel and go on to maturity. No one ever does that. They are to move beyond the initial understanding of Christianity, which had some similarities to Judaism, and go on to maturity.

Three paired examples of doctrine are given. First repentance and faith are mentioned. The hearers were called to progress beyond teaching the need to repent of works that lead to death. Instead of involving themselves in dead works, they must respond in faith to God’s provision in Christ.

Second external rituals are described. Instruction about washings referred to teaching about the importance of baptism or other types of washings familiar to Jews. Hebrew people often used ritual washings as part of their spiritual routine. Perhaps they had lingered too long in reflecting on the importance of ritual washings in living the Christian life. The laying of hands in the New Testament often related to the conferring of special gifts. The writer may have called the readers away from being absorbed in ritual matters with little spiritual impact for their lives.

Third the readers are called to progress beyond such doctrinal matters as the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. Both the future resurrection and judgment are important Christian doctrines, but they should not be emphasized to the exclusion of further biblical understanding.

These six issues are important but they are elementary truths. Judaism had some of these same doctrines and probably the readers did not differ greatly in their beliefs from non-Christian Jews. They may have tried to live with a minimal Christian commitment to avoid alienating their friends. They needed to leap into the deep water of obedience and understanding.

Lest You Walk Away (4–8)

These verses have many different interpretations. Some people believe that a true Christian can become lost. Others believe these verses consist of a loss of rewards rather than a loss of salvation. Others believe the readers of Hebrews were near Christians and not true Christians. This writer believes the author of Hebrews addressed his words to people who profess to be Christians and urged them to show their genuine profession by their refusal to apostatize (fall away). Some professing believers were toying with the idea of returning to Judaism.

The readers claimed to be enlightened, having some revelation of Jesus Christ. They professed to have tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit, claiming to have faith in Christ and to have experiences with the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come. They have heard the truth explained and seen the Holy Spirit move powerfully. The readers of Hebrews were looking, sounding and seeming to be believers, but they were urged to show the reality of their faith by persevering in their commitment to Jesus.

The severe warning of verse 6 applies to those who commit apostasy from Christ after having experienced an understanding of the gospel and some influences from Christ. This passage does not teach that a true believer can lose his salvation. It does teach something important about the nature of saving faith: it endures to the end. The faith that fizzles before the finish had a fatal flaw from the first. The Bible teaches that once you have been truly saved you cannot lose it. The Bible teaches that genuine faith endures forever.