Hebrews 6:1-6

Instruction to Press On to Maturity

The author of Hebrews addresses his audience's spiritual immaturity. They had become dull of hearing, needing milk instead of solid food. Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and of resurrection from the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.

These elementary teachings—repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment—are basic tenets of Christianity. Jesus preached repentance because the kingdom of God was at hand. The author does not say, "Let me feed you milk again." Instead, he exhorts, "Let us not lay this foundation again. Let us be moved toward maturity."

The audience as a whole is addressed, not individuals. They are like spiritual infants, regressing despite time as believers. Possibly early Jewish converts from Acts, their immaturity makes it hard to distinguish genuine believers from mere professors at risk of apostasy. In this mixed group, spiritual growth is urgent.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.

The Instance of Apostasy

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

This describes apostates—not true believers losing salvation, but professors who experience much yet reject Christ. "Once" applies to all: enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and powers of the age to come. These do not prove salvation; they are experiences in "body life."

Enlightenment may link to baptism, a public declaration of spiritual reality. Tasting the heavenly gift could mean Lord's Supper or God's general blessings. Partakers of the Holy Spirit suggests experiencing spiritual gifts or miracles, not indwelling or regeneration. No salvific language like "born again," "justified," or "regenerated" appears.

These apostates fully reject Christ under pressure—not just to stop being Christian, but to return to temple sacrifices, denying Christ's sufficiency. They crucify Him again to themselves, aligning with His original rejectors, holding Him up to open shame. Their actions make renewal to repentance impossible.

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Illustration of Apostasy

For land that drinks the rain that often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and ends up being burned.

This echoes Jesus' Parable of the Sower. Seed (God's word) falls on different soils. Good soil receives it in an honest heart, bears fruit. Rocky soil receives it with joy but falls away in trial, lacking root—no true salvation.

Here, ground drinks frequent rain (consistent exposure to preaching, body life) yet yields thorns and thistles—worthless, burned. Good ground produces useful vegetation, blessed by God. Fruit evidences genuine faith, seen in endurance, love, service amid trials.

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

A Higher View of Salvation

These experiences do not accompany true salvation, which the author affirms for his audience: "But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation." Assurance follows each warning passage. True salvation endures, perfected by Christ, the greater High Priest and sacrifice who saves to the uttermost.

Remove laziness; press on to maturity. Examining apostates arouses believers from sluggishness. Compare to press forward in sanctification, conformed to Christ's image for God's glory.