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"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 (holy spirit), and have tasted
the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come (coming age), if they shall
fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the
Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame" (Heb. 6: 4-6).
We must first of all seek to understand the nature of these blessings so that we may the
better understand the nature of the falling away from them.
(1) They were once enlightened (photizo). In chapter 10: this word occurs again and
the context is so helpful that we must draw attention to it. To save space we will not
quote fully:
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . . . for if we sin wilfully after
receiving the full knowledge of the truth . . . . . no more sacrifice . . . . . fearful
expectation of judgment . . . . . consume the adversaries . . . . . trampled on the Son of
God . . . . . but remember the former days in which having been enlightened ye endured a
great contest of sufferings . . . . . cast not away your confidence, which has great
recompense of reward . . . . . if any man draw back . . . . . we are not of them who draw
back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the acquiring of the soul" (Heb. 10: 25-39
not AV JP).
This is a valuable commentary, setting Heb. 6: in its true light and preventing us
from making erroneous applications of its solemn teaching. Some who do not realize the
setting of Heb. 6: have sought to minimize the force of the word "enlighten", so that it
only means an external, but not a real and inward illumination. If this is proved, then of
course we are dealing merely with professors and the problem is ended. But Heb. 10: 32,
wherein is the only other occurrence of the word photizo, does not allow of such an
interpretation. These enlightened ones were believers, not empty professors.
(2) They had tasted of the heavenly gift. They were made partakers of holy spirit.
These two statements explain one another. They moreover look back to the laying on of
hands which usually was instrumental in the bestowal of this gift. It will be remembered
that when "Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands holy spirit was
given he offered them money", and that Peter said, "Thy money perish with thee, because
thou hast thought that THE GIFT OF GOD may be purchased with money".
(3) They had tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the coming age. The
promise of restoration from Babylon is thus called in Jer. 29: 10.
"After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My
good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
The miraculous gifts of the Acts were foretastes of the age to come. It will be seen
that a great place is occupied in this list by the Holy Spirit and His gifts. This we find is
likewise true of Hebrews. There, as we find in Heb. 10:, the punishment that followed
the violation of the law of Moses is small when compared with that which shall follow
the despising of the Holy Spirit's witness of Christ: