There are dreadful consequences if one fails to press on toward
maturity. The phrase, “those … then who have fallen away” found in verse 6, had
elicited several views. Some say that this phrase is referring to believers who
have lost their salvation. Others insist that they were people who thought that
they were believers but were really not. There are also some who take it as a
hypothetical situation. They believe that it was a created situation to
illustrate a point, and not an actual happening among the Hebrews. However,
most students of the Bible accept that they were true believers. They took it
that the writer wanted to emphasize that those believers actually turned away
from God's truth to embrace error. The issue: Can one lose his salvation has
been and still is being debated.
Notice that the author changed from using the first person plural
pronouns to the third person plural. Instead of “we and us” he used “those,
them and they.” This, he probably did for two reasons: firstly, he wanted to be
tactful; and secondly, he did not want to identify the people, hoping that they
could still turn around.
Here, the writer used five experiences to show that those whom he
was addressing were genuine believers. They have: (1) once been enlightened;
(2) tasted of the heavenly gift; (3) been made partakers of the Holy Spirit;
(4) tasted the good word of God; and (5) tasted of the powers of the age to
come. This list shows five different aspects or manifestations that proved that
“those who have fallen away” were once saved. This warning was not addressing
nominal believers, but people who actually embraced salvation and then
backslid. This was a warning against the failure to continue in trusting God
and following Him by faith. Here, the author said that it would be impossible
for such people to repent. Is such a situation really possible? Many a times,
we have seen backsliders repented. What made the author said that people could
be rendered impossible to repent? Remember, the writer was referring to
apostates, people who had turned away from the faith and had become totally
averse to God and His works. He was referring to people who were really hard
core. These people had become persistently hostile to Christ. Having no regard
for what He has attained through Calvary . They
would show utter disregard for the Lord and His work of salvation. If they
persisted in their hardness, there would come a point where a hardened state of
heart would be cultivated. Hence, it would render them totally incapable of
responding to the voice of conscience. Even if opportunity was accorded to
them, they still would choose not to repent. This could also be seen as a
result of divine judgment upon their lives.
What does this statement “crucify to themselves the Son of God,
and put Him to open shame” found in verse 6 mean? This statement means to break
off all connections with Jesus and put Him out of their lives. It implies
identification with the enemies of Christ and to take sides with them, who
maliciously put Him on the Cross. Hence, it is tantamount to publicly
humiliating Christ; and in repudiating and rejecting Him, they have already
passed judgment against Him. If they broke off ties with Christ, who else could
they turn to?
In verses 7-8, the author
went on to illustrate the destiny of those who rejected Christ. The “ground”
represented the believers who received the rain, the Word of God and brought
forth fruits. This kind of ground would cause God to bring blessings; and
through their fruitfulness, they became channels of blessing to others.
However, should the believers like the ground that received the rain, yet
produced thorns and thistles; they would only invite curses from God instead of
blessings. Finally, they would end up in judgment. The word “worthless” simply
means disapproved and failed to gain God’s blessing.
One thing for sure, any ground becomes unproductive only when we
don’t tend it. Like a field when unattended will soon be full of harmful weeds,
so also will our spiritual life be when left unattended. That’s the reason
Peter also tells us to put “… aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy
and envy and all slander, …long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it
you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted
the kindness of the Lord.” (1 Peter 2:1-3)
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