Hebrews 6: Rethinking Salvation and Repentance

Let's talk about a passage that's caused a lot of anxiety for many Christians over the years: Hebrews 6:4-6. You know, the one that talks about it being "impossible to restore again to repentance" those who've fallen away? Yeah, that one. Let's unpack this together and see if we can find a more liberating way to understand it.

The Anxiety of "Losing Salvation"

Growing up, this passage was a source of major anxiety for me. It raised all sorts of questions: Can you lose your salvation? Is there such a thing as "once saved, always saved"? But here's the thing – I think we've been asking the wrong questions all along.

First, let's reframe how we think about salvation. It's not an object or a gift that you can misplace or have taken away. Salvation isn't something you "get" and then either keep forever or potentially lose. Instead, salvation is an act of Jesus – once and for all.

Paul's theology makes this abundantly clear. Through Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, salvation is applied to everyone, everywhere always. Everyone is already justified. (We can dig into Romans another day for more on this!) The point is, salvation isn't about our ability to hold onto something; it's about what God has already done on behalf of all humanity.

So if Hebrews 6 isn't about losing salvation, what is it about? Let's look closer:

"It is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened... if they fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt." (Hebrews 6:4,6 ESV)

The key word here is "repentance" – not salvation or justification. The author is talking about changing one's mind. The passage is asking: Is it possible to get someone to repent if they've fallen away and are (present tense) "re-crucifying" the Son of God through their actions?

The Logic of Impossibility

Here's what I think the author is getting at: It's impossible for someone to genuinely repent while they're still in the middle of the harmful action. You can't honestly say you're sorry and changing your ways if you're actively continuing the behavior. That's what's impossible.

So why is the author of Hebrews bothering to say this? I believe it's a message to her community. If someone has walked away from their faith and is in the middle of actions that harm the community or offend God, it's ultimately not the responsibility of the pastor or congregation to force them to change their minds. It's not possible in the first place – and not your job.

This doesn't mean that person is eternally condemned or can never change their mind later. That's not the question at hand! People do change! They might come to the end of whatever path they're on and realize it wasn't for them. The point is, you can't take someone seriously if they claim to repent while actively continuing harmful behavior.

The Unshakeable Nature of God's Love

Here's the beautiful part: The justification that Jesus accomplished is for everyone, always. It can't be undone. God doesn't do "take-backsies." We can walk as far away from God as we want, and that salvation – that act of divine love and reconciliation – remains true for all of humanity.

Hebrews 6 is not a threat, but an invitation to trust in the unshakeable nature of God's love and the completeness of Christ's work. It's a reminder that true change comes from the heart, not from external pressure. And it's an assurance that no matter how far we might wander, God's love and salvation are always there, waiting for us to realize their presence.