Indefinite Renewal Impossible
Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift…


The impossibility here asserted consists not in a single repentance, but in the indefinite renewal of the first vivid life of the Spirit in the case of Christians who are meanwhile continually crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh: the spiritual impressions that were wrought once for all at their conversion must of necessity be weakened by repetition. The passage, as it stands in the text, is in thorough harmony with the previous context, which maintains the need for progressive teaching as the child grows into the man in Christ and protests against the continual reiteration of truths which have lost their freshness; and with the subsequent context, which condemns spiritual barrenness under the figure of sterile soil which, season after season, in spite of fertilising rain and human tillage, produces only thorns and thistles.

(F. Rendall, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: 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,

WEB: For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,




Freezing After a Thaw
Top of Page
Top of Page