It Is Impossible

Hebrews 6:4-5 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come 

‘For it is impossible …’ Two outstanding facts: Christians can backslide, tearing down the foundation of repentance that is already laid. Should they ever again be admitted into Christ, they will have to build again the foundation of repentance and do their first works again (6:1-2; 2:1-4; Rev. 2:5). Christians can fully apostatize from Christ, completely rejecting Him and His atoning work, so that it is impossible to renew them again to repentance (6:4-9; 10:26-29; 2Pet. 2:20-22).

‘Those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.’ The fivefold former state of apostates: [1] Were once enlightened, but not now enlightened (6:4). Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says this refers to “those who have been made Christians.” Paul uses the same term for saved individuals elsewhere (Eph. 1:18; Heb. 10:32; cp. Ps. 19:7-8; Luke 11:34-36). Only saints are called “children of light” (Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:12; 1Thess. 5:5), and only saved people are spoken of as being in the light (Matt. 5:14-15; Luke 16:8; John 3:20-21; 8:12; 12:36; Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:14; Col. 1:12; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:9-10). Only people who have not been saved as spoken of as being darkened from gospel light (2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:18; 5:8; Col. 1:13; 1Thess. 5:5; 1Pet. 2:9; 1Jn. 1:6; 2:8-11). [2] Have tasted of the heavenly gift (6:4). The Greek: geuomai means to have experience of. Translated as “to eat” (Acts 10:10; 20:11; 23:14) and “to taste” (6:4, 5; 2:9; Matt. 16:28; 27:34; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27; 14:24; John 2:9; 8:52; Col. 2:21; 1Pet. 2:3). How could one taste of death, taste the Lord, taste the heavenly gift, and other things of these passages without experiencing them? [3] Were made partakers of the Holy Spirit (6:4). The Greek: metochos means partner and fellow with (3:1). No sinner is a partaker of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-16). It is almost blasphemy to accuse the Holy Spirit of being a partner, sharer, and associate with the ungodly. Jesus said that sinners cannot receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). Jude confirmed the same truth (Jude 1:19). [4] Have tasted the good Word of God (6:5). To taste the Word of God is to be saved, as proved in Matthew 13:20-23; Luke 8:13-15; John 15:3; Acts 2:41; 4:4; 8:14; 11:1; 17:11; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 5:26; James 1:18-25 and 1Peter 1:18-23. No man receives the Word and remains unsaved. [5] Have tasted the powers of the world to come (6:5). To taste these powers means to experience eternal life. Every time such a statement is found it refers to eternal life (Matt. 10:30; Luke 18:30; 20:35).