Hebrews 6:4

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Hebrews 6:1-12
• Sunday School Lesson
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Warning of Falling Away

Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-8

I. The Tapestry of the Warning

A. This passage cannot be read in isolation from the other warning passages in Hebrews

1. Five total warning/exhortation passages appear across the book
2. The longest previous warning covers most of chapters 3–4, drawing on Psalm 95 and the Exodus — warning against the disobedience of the wilderness generation B. The Exodus background is key to interpreting this passage
3. The author writes primarily to Jewish Christians steeped in the Old Testament
4. Conservative Reformed scholars broadly recognize an Exodus backdrop to Hebrews 6:4-8
5. Scripture must interpret scripture; harder passages must be read in light of clearer ones

II. The Shape of the Warning

A. Grammatical features of verses 4–6 deserve close attention

1. "Impossible" is the very first word in the Greek — front-loaded for emphasis
2. Verses 4–6 form a single long sentence with many relative clauses
3. The personal voice shifts from first/second person ("we," "you") in surrounding verses to third person ("those") in verses 4–6 — the author is describing a different category of person B. The first question: What kind of person is described as falling away?
4. One interpretation (e.g., John Wesley) holds that a genuinely regenerate believer is in view — one who has been truly saved and yet can fall away permanently
5. The Reformed/conservative interpretation holds that this reading isolates the passage from the rest of Scripture and fails to account for broader biblical theology
6. The better reading sees the person in view as analogous to the wilderness generation — those who enjoyed the outward benefits of God's presence and covenant community but were never inwardly regenerated C. The four verbs and five descriptions modifying "those who have fallen away" carry Exodus overtones
7. Once been enlightened — all Israel walked by the pillar of fire; they came to a knowledge of God's presence and glory
8. Tasted the heavenly gift — recalls the manna Israel received every morning in the wilderness (Exodus 16)
9. Shared in the Holy Spirit — the Spirit rested on Moses and the 70 elders (Numbers 11:24-29); Israel shared in this
10. Tasted the goodness of the word of God — Israel heard God's word through Moses repeatedly at Sinai and in the wilderness
11. Tasted the powers of the age to come — the great signs and miracles, including the plagues of Egypt, already referenced in Hebrews 2 D. Applied to the author's audience: the person in view is one who
12. Participates in the visible church — hears preaching, receives the sacraments, enjoys fellowship
13. May demonstrate outward fruit and even temporary conviction of sin
14. Has never had a regenerated heart or come to saving, resting faith in Christ
15. Geerhardus Vos notes: no mention is made in Hebrews 6:4-8 of regeneration, faith, justification, or sanctification — remarkable if true apostasy of the saints were being taught

III. The Sober Reality of Those Who Have Fallen Away

A. The word "impossible" opens the passage in Greek — a stark, sober declaration B. "Have fallen away" in verse 6 is an aorist (past complete) verb — a finished action C. The reason restoration is impossible: they are crucifying again the Son of God (present, ongoing action)

1. A past hardening has led to a present settled state of the heart
2. To repudiate Christ is to make common cause with those who crucified him — like Judas, having been outwardly close, rejecting him utterly
3. Rick Phillips: such a person takes up hammer and nails and beats them into Christ's hands and feet D. The subject of the restoring work matters — who cannot restore them?
4. Context suggests it is we — human ministers and fellow believers — who cannot restore them (Matthew 19:26: "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible")
5. Vos: those who have outwardly preached to and labored over such a person can no longer break through their hardness — but God is not thereby bound
6. Application: as long as there is breath in the lungs, there is still hope that God can save — the gospel going forth always carries power E. The warning is directed at believers — not to describe their own state but to sober and stir them toward perseverance and full assurance (Hebrews 6:9-12)