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NASB | Hebrews 6:6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:6 and then have fallen away--it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace. |
Subject: Fallen 'Partakers of the Holy Spirit?' |
Bible Note: Part 2 "And they had gone further still. They had attained the summit of piety. They had received "the powers of the world to come." Not miraculous gifts, which are denied us in these days, but all those powers with which the Holy Ghost endows a Christian. These, we say, whatever may be the meaning of the text, must have been, beyond a doubt, none other than true and real Christians." (Spurgeon) "WHAT IS MEANT BY FALLING AWAY? there is a vast distinction between falling away and falling. Falling is not falling away. Let me explain the difference; If he fall, God will lift him up again; but if he fall away, God himself cannot save him. For it is impossible, if the righteous fall away, "to renew them again unto repentance." (Spurgeon) I agree with Spurgeon that there is a vast difference between falling and falling away. Even believers occassionaly fall into sin. Falling away is complete rennunciation of ones previous held faith. (zach†) "Moreover, to fall away is not to commit sin. under a temporary surprise and temptation. A Christian may go astray once, and speedily return again; and though it is a sad, and woeful, and evil thing to be surprised into a sin, yet there is a great difference between this and the sin which would be occasioned by a total falling away from grace." (Spurgeon) Personally I think to fall into sin is sin, but can be confessed and forgiven. To fall away is sin which will not be forgiven. It is what Spurgeon above called "total falling away from grace." (zach) I do believe that there are some Christians who, for a period of time, have wandered into sin, and yet have not positively fallen away. (Spurgeon) I agree with this above statement of Spurgeon's, however I would add that, I believe those who have "wandered into sin" are "grieving the Holy Spirit" with their sin (Eph 4:29) And are in danger of drifting away from the faith if they continue in persistant willful sin.(Heb. 10:26) (zach) "Again, falling away is not even a giving up of profession." (Spurgeon) I disagree with Spurgeon in the above quote. In Heb. 4:14 we are told "let us hold fast our profession." To not hold onto profession is to not hold onto faith. Of course there is a difference between mere professor's and possessor's but thats a topic for another time. (zach) "Simon. He had fallen, but he had not fallen away; " (Spurgeon) I agree with the above quote. (zach) "But some one says, "What is falling away?" Well, there never has been a case of it yet, and therefore I cannot describe it from observation; but I will tell you what I suppose it is. To fall away, would be for the Holy Spirit entirely to go out of a man—for his grace entirely to cease; not to lie dormant, but to cease to be—for God, who has begun a good work, to leave off doing it entirely—to take his hand completely and entirely away, and say, "There, man! I have half saved thee; now I will damn thee." That is what falling away is. It is not to sin temporarily. A child may sin against his father, and still be alive; but falling away is like cutting the child's head off clean. Not falling merely, for then our Father could pick us up, but being dashed down a precipice, where we are lost for ever. Falling away would involved God's grace changing its living nature. God's immutability becoming variable, God's faithfulness becoming changeable, and God, himself being undeified; for all these things falling away would necessitate." (Spurgeon) Spurgeon says there has never been a case of "falling away" yet. Well again I must disagree. He also says: "There, man! I have half saved thee; now I will damn thee." To that I add, God never half saves anyone. Rather it is man who only goes half way with God to actually obtaining final salvation, he stopped short. Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. God is not to blame neither is He at fall for the one who departs or falls away. Spurgeon also says: "Falling away would involved God's grace changing its living nature. God's immutability becoming variable, God's faithfulness becoming changeable." And we know from Scripture that God does not change. Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. It is man's attitude in neglecting so great salvation that has changed. Heb. 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (zach) |