We start this chapter with a 'therefore', which means we are now passing beyond the study of the things that we have put as idols, or 'roadblocks', in front of our faith: lesser spiritualism, mortal men, the traditions of men. The Author explains his intention to move past the things they were already taught: repentance from sin, the resurrection, and the coming judgment, and to move on to more mature study.
With a caveat: Heb 6:3 And this we will do if God permits.
But then he hits a subject that I, at least, found confusing:
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
What, wait! Is he saying that you can LOSE your salvation? I thought it was 'once saved always saved'? And it is true that many who don't believe "OSAS" will point to this section. And those who defend it will turn to Jesus's words:
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Joh 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one."
And at this point, of course, the atheists will scream "Contradiction!" And perhaps the Catholics will reply, "See? This is why you need to have a Purgatory!" And both they and my original statement would be wrong. Because if you ask, "Does this mean you can lose your salvation?", you should here Paul giving his famous response, "By no means!"
So, what is going on?
I went to commentators, who left me slightly more confused. At least one suggested this should be read, basically, "As if such a thing COULD happen". That the whole passage is a hypothetical. I'm not sure I buy that. But my paper Bible has reference notes, and it points me to the better explanation- just a few chapters later in this very book. Not wanting to give out the WHOLE of chapter 10, let us look at just one part:
Heb 10:38 Now, "the Just shall live by faith. But if he draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him."
Heb 10:39 But we are not of those withdrawing to destruction, but of those who believe to the preserving of the soul.
Again, the author folds back on the prophets, from Habakkuk and Zephaniah. But the key word here to get is "withdrawing." Remember, we are talking about Jews who, in many cases, saw miracles from the hands of Jesus, ate bread and fish that were multiplied, had formerly dead relatives visit them after the Crucifixion and Resurrection (Matthew 27:52). This was what they had witnessed; and yet, they couldn't handle the step of faith needed to believe 'to the preserving of their souls', but withdrew from the whole thing. They went back to Moses, back to the Law, back to the Talmud- or back to previous unbelief.
There was a choice- believe what they saw, and heard, or not. And they chose, 'not'.
This, like I have said, is the choice we have. And where the author goes now, it's where the 'casual fan' drops out. To go on, keep learning, become mature, you need- if I may- "hard believism". Jesus taught His followers this very way:
Joh 6:53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Joh 6:56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
Joh 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
Joh 6:59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
Joh 6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
Joh 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Joh 6:67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
Joh 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
Joh 6:69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
But now, the author addresses 'those who were left when the room cleared':
Heb 6:9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation.
Would the author "feel sure" if he were referring to people who could LOSE their salvation? So that whole debate is merely people with an agenda cherry-picking the verses they want to hear, to 'prove' their point. That's why I try to bring you a deeper study.
And now, the author at last wraps the prelims up with a set of final points.
- God will honor your faith and your works for Him (v10)
-The author is teaching these things so you'll have a 'go and do' faith, not a 'sit back and relax' one (vv11, 12)
- these promises are anchored on 2 unshakable truths: that God has sworn an oath to do it, and being God He cannot lie (vv13-18)
-this anchor proves that Jesus has "gone behind the veil" as our High Priest- a priest of the order of Melchizedek (vv19, 20).
Next time, at long last- Melchizedek, and what he means to the story.
