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"How shall we escape, if we neglect . . . . . which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them
witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and distributions of
holy spirit, according to His own will? For unto the angels hath He not subjected the
world to come, whereof we speak" (Heb. 2: 3-5 not AV JP).
One quotation from Heb. 10: we now include, as bearing out the strong emphasis
placed upon the Holy Spirit here--"and done despite unto the Spirit of grace"
(Heb. 10: 29).
This falling away which occupies so large a place in Hebrews is variously referred to
as "letting slip", "neglecting", "hardening hearts as in the provocation", "lest any fall
under the same example of unbelief", "forsaking the assembling of selves together",
"sinning wilfully after full knowledge", "drawing back unto perdition".
The falling away was after enlightenment and partaking of the Holy Spirit, and herein
lies the extreme danger. This aspect of teaching in Hebrews is but the application to the
Hebrews of the teaching of the Lord given in Matt. 12: 31, 32:
"All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but blasphemy against the
Spirit shall NOT BE FORGIVEN unto men. And whoever may speak a word against the
Son of man it shall be forgiven: but whoever may speak against the Holy Spirit, it will in
no wise be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming one" (not AV JP).
Here is the sore punishment awaiting those who, after having all the confirmation of
the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, and after having embraced the witness and
having become partakers of the Spirit's gifts, fall away. They echo the fatal words of
Numb. 14:, appointing themselves a captain to return to Egypt. The more one
penetrates into the structure and atmosphere of Hebrews, the more marked the gracious
distinctions of the dispensation of the Mystery become. Let us try the things that differ
and approve those things that are more excellent, at the same time learning from these
other records the essential need for growth in grace.
"Things that Accompany salvation" (Heb. 6: 7 - 9)
The character of the falling away of Heb. 6: 4-6 may be understood by a
consideration of the illustration which immediately follows in verses 7 and 8. The figure
is that of a field. The Greek word translated "earth", ge, stands for "land, as distinct from
water; or earth as distinct from heaven; or region or territory, used of one special land,
or country, as distinct from other countries, in which peoples dwell, each on its own soil"
(The Companion Bible, Appendix 129/4).
"For land which hath drunk in the rain which often comes upon it, and which bringeth
forth vegetation useful to those for whom also it is cultivated, receives blessing from
God; but that yielding thorns and thistles is disapproved and near to a curse; the end of
which is for burning" (Heb. 6: 7, 8 not AV JP).
Two words are of special importance as indicating the line of teaching that we are to
observe here, the word "disapproved", which in the A.V. is rendered "rejected", and the