The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 180

Vers. 4-10.-The danger of apostasy arising from immature apprehension of Christian truth. Continuation of the parenthetical clause on the evil of inability to apprehend the deeper truths about Christ. Whatever this passage means, it contains nothing to discourage the true believer. 1. Because of the plain declarations that the believer cannot perish. This is not a confidence based on isolated texts, though, if any truth may rest on such, it is surely this; but it rests on the most fundamental facts of Scripture, viz. the purpose of the Father that all who believe should be saved; the mediation of the Son for securing the continued faith of his people; the work of the Spirit to the same end; the fact that it is eternal life which is be.stowed on faith. 2. Because there are certain considerations here which are uften overlooked ; e.g. these words were written on purpose to encourage the Hebrews, and therefore to find dis- couragement in them must be to read them wrong ; moreover, whatever evil it point3 to is with regard to those who "fall away," and not those who fall; and further, what- ever impossibility to renew the apostate this speaks of, it is not impossibility on God's part-it is of man's impossibility that he is speaking. It is useless to reiterate these fundamental truths to those who close their ears to them; it is impossible to renew them unto repentance ; but God is "not willing that any should perish." "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin;" "Whosoever will, let him come;" "The things which are impossible to man are possible to God." 3. Because what is stated of the persons referred to here is true of non-believers, and the passage therefore may, without difficulty, be a-pplied only to these ; e.g. "were once enlightened ; " others beside Christians are enlightened, as Balaam, "the man whose eyes were opened." "And have tasted of the heavenly gift," which, as John Owen says, is not eating nor digesting. "And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost;" that may refer, as in Acts xix. 2, 6, to the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost which were given to other than regenerate men, as Juda.q. "And have tasted of the good Word of God, and the powers of the age to come;" it is no misuse of language to apply this to those who, by the preaching of the gospel, are led to deep feeling and serious thought. So, however natural it may be to apply all this to the Christian, it does not necessarily apply to him ; and when we find the tenor of Scripture is against such application, we accept the ai.tter alternative fearlessly. Subject-The danger of apostasy arising from immature appre- hension of Christian truth. I. THE SOLEMN WARNING OF THE DANGER AND GUILT OF APOSTASY. 1. These men were in danger of" falling away," or there would be no meaning in the apoatle's words. He would not have written the Epistle if he had not feared. He does not say the Christian could fall away, but he implies that these men coul<l. He is not sure of their  li4 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [ CH. VI. 1-20.