Post 36 of Study: Hebrews 6

 Since a library has been written on Hebrews 6, I will not purport to add anything to the debate. I've been taught that "It is impossible" means that apostasy is impossible. I don't see that logic in the English text, but not being a Greek scholar, I am probably missing something. It might also mean that apostasy is possible but restoration afterward is impossible. 

It is a warning of the highest order to people who have been deeply involved in the Christian experience but stopped and walked the opposite way. To Baptists, the concept of apostasy is impossible: one who is truly a believer cannot leave the faith. I don't think it's that simple or cut and dried. 

Perhaps our insistence that apostasy is impossible comes from a motive place different from adherence to Scripture. If someone professes and then spends 20 years out of church and living by their own rules and then comes back, we treat them as "backslidden" rather than a new convert. What nonsense. Scripture doesn't give that option. 

But my position has nothing to do with the almighty grace of God. That grace keeps us from every toil and snare. We sin; Christians do awful stuff sometimes. He forgives. But in those cases we are repenting, not ignoring. 

God is not at fault here; human choice is, as is the teaching that if you make a profession and then ignore God for decades, it's okay. I'm reminded of the (foolish) song, "He was there all the time/waiting patiently in line." That version of God is rather codependent, not gracious. 

Anyone who apostasizes (and it's truly rare, just not impossible) is making a grave decision from which there is no return, because they would be crucifying Christ again if they could return and "put him to an open shame."

We lose the bigger point here: spiritual maturity. The readers had stopped maturing, for some reason, and knew basic doctrines but were not ready or willing to study more advanced doctrines or walk further with Christ. Of course, they lived in a more perilous time than we, so we can't sit in judgment. Today we hold back from spiritual maturity because of foolishness. 

In this bigger point, however, we come to the question: what is spiritual maturity. Tomorrow's topic. 

I recognize many will disagree with me. Actually my view is more consistent with Calvinism than the typical "eternal security" view. 

The take away--God is still and always gracious. If you are reading this, keep His grace constantly in your mind and heart.