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A Dangerous State
Hebrews 6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, ..." (KJV)
This is the state of those who deliberately turn away from the truth. By such apostasy they reject the only means of renewal. There can be no making of the word "impossible" into a lesser word such as "difficult". The warning shows apostasy to be a real possibility - and no attempt should be made to weaken the full force or it. Beware of adding to or taking away from God's Word (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18- 19 ).
Deliberate RejectionMark the deliberate action of those who apostatise:
In their turning away in full rejection of Him, they make Jesus dead to themselves. They break off all contact and relationship to Jesus. Their act is one of total separation from Him, in spite of previous personal enlightenment and experience of Him. Their rejection finds expression in putting Jesus to open shame, in acts of bitterness and malice towards His Person and work. A backslider can still have a tender heart towards Jesus - the apostate heart becomes hard and vindictive towards Jesus, becoming His enemy, as friend of the world and enemy of God.
Rejecting Jesus they destroy the possibility of repentance and spiritual life, shutting themselves off from the divine means of renewal.
Described EndThe final doom of apostasy is illustrated in a short but to the point parable (Hebrews 6:7-8 ). Those who curse and reject Christ will be barren and rejected - "whose end is to be burned" (Hebrews 6:8 ). Genuine experience of salvation in Christ will be evident by the fruit of the Spirit, and perseverance towards maturity which is the true preventative against falling away.
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTIONDo you think, in the interest of a varied form of interpretation, that the force of a clear warning should be weakened?