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NASB | Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
Subject: Hebrews 6:4 |
Bible Note: Greetings Radioman! You said in your posts: "Those who want to make this verse mean that believers can lose salvation will have to admit that it would then also say that one could never get it back again." As an Arminian, I have no problem with that. But, I would add a clarification. It is impossible to "lose" one's salvation. To me, "losing" something implies an accident. I'm walking down the road and lose my wallet. I am walking along in my Christian life and suddenly realize that I have lost my salvation. The action described in Heb. 6:4-6 is not an accident. It is an intentional act of will. Neither is it a description of a Christian who simply isn't living up to the full level of maturity which is possible in Christ. Heb. 6:4-6 describes someone who knowingly rejects Christ. He has experienced salvation. He has been filled with the Spirit. He has known the Word. Yet, he has utterly turned away from Christ. Such a person cannot be saved, simply because salvation is found only in Christ. A person this far gone has no hope. He is the person described in Heb. 10:29 - "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" Fortunately, I believe this kind of person to be exceedingly rare. It is difficult to imagine many who have known the love of the Lord, totally rejecting Him. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |