Heb 6:4-6 Consider the context of Heb 6:1-3: why is it important that as Christians we “press on to maturity” (Heb 6: 1)? In what way had the recipients of this letter failed to press on to maturity? See 5:12. What danger had befallen them as a result? See Heb 5:11, 2:1, 3:12-13, 4:1,11, 10:36-39. What five expressions does the author use in Heb 6:4-5 to indicate he is talking about Christians whom we would consider to be saved? Would such expressions have described the recipients of this letter at one time? See Heb 10:32-35. What does it mean to be enlightened? See 2 Cor 4:6. What is the heavenly gift? See Jn 4:10, Rom 6:23, Eph 2:8. How is the gift of salvation that we receive through Christ Jesus inseparably related to being made partakers of the Holy Spirit? See Acts 8:20, 10:45, Rom 8:14. What does it mean to have “tasted the good word of God”? See Luk 8:13. What is necessary to press on to maturity after tasting the good word of God, and why is just “tasting” not enough? See 1 Pet 2:2-3, Mark 6:20. Does the description of Herod in Mark 6:20 also describe many today who in like manner enjoy hearing the word of God and who would even call themselves Christians? What is meant by the “powers” of the age to come? See Acts 8:17-19, Rom 12:6, 1 Cor 12:4,7-11, 1 Tim 4:14, 1 Pet 4:10. What is significant about the fact that such powers are only a taste of “the age to come”? Cf. Heb 1:14, 2:5, 10:1, 13:14. Do we understand that whatever spiritual gifts or “powers” we experience in this life are only a shadow or taste of what is to come?
Heb 6:6-8: What does it mean to “fall away”? Cf. Heb 3:12, Lk 8:13, 1 Tim 4:1 and note: the Greek word used here, though similar in meaning, is not the same used in these verses and occurs only here in the NT; it means literally to “fall by the way” or “fall alongside”; in the LXX it is used with the idea of covenant unfaithfulness or treachery: see Ez 14:13, 18:24 and cf. Num 5:12,27; hence the idea is one of spiritual adultery or apostasy. Is the great danger of falling away that one may not be saved? Cf. Heb 10:26-31, 12:15-16, 2 Pet 2:20-22, 1 Sam 15:22-29; note also: “impossible” in Heb 6: 6 (NASB) is in an emphatic position in the Greek and actually occurs at the beginning of Heb 6: 4. What does the author mean by “impossible”? Cf. Heb 6: 18, 10:4, 11:6. Why does the author say in Heb 6: 6 it is impossible for those who were once saved and then fall away to be renewed again to repentance? See also Heb 10:26. Do we understand that with the greater salvation we have in Christ Jesus there is also a greater responsibility and accountability? Why is that? See Heb 6:7-8. What “rain” do we as Christians soak up? Cf. Deut 11:11-17. What does the author say in Heb 6: 7 is the result to such as bear good fruit? What does he say in Heb 6: 8 is the result to such as bear bad fruit? What parable do we find in the Old Testament that confirms through the example of Israel that God will indeed curse an unfruitful land? See Is 5:1-7; cf. Deut 28;15, 23-24, 38-40. For what purpose does one put a hedge and wall around a vineyard? What happens when those are removed? See Is 5:5. Do we understand that in this same way the blessings of God’s covenant love and protection (cf. Deut 28:1-14) are removed when we fail to bear fruit, thus allowing the curses for covenant disobedience to consume us? What parables of Jesus also confirm that God will curse the unfruitful with destruction? See Lk 13:6-9, Jn 15:1-2,6; cf. Mat 3:12, 13:37-42, 49-50. What is the ultimate blessing from God upon those who bear good fruit, and the ultimate curse upon those who bear bad fruit? See Rev 21:6-8, 20:14-15. Is burning a good thing? What effect should such truth have upon us? See 2 Pet 3:10-12.