1	Thorns & Thistles Hebrews 6:4-8
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3	Hebrews 6:4-7 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often fallen on it and that produces a crop useful …”
4	Hebrews 6:7-9 “to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.” (NIV)
5	Can Christians Really Apostatize? “It is impossible … if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance.”
6	Three Views Those “falling away” were never truly Christian.
7	Three Views Those “falling away” were never truly Christian. The writer of Hebrews is using a hypothetical “what-if” to make a point and is not suggesting that this is a real possibility.
8	Three Views Those “falling away” were never truly Christian. The writer of Hebrews is using a hypothetical “what-if” to make a point and is not suggesting that this is a real possibility. Those “falling away” were authentic Christians who turned their back willingly on the Son of God.
9	Five Descriptive Clauses Once been enlightened (photidzo) Language linked with Christian baptism in the early church. “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light … do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised … we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” (Heb 10:32-39)
10	Five Descriptive Clauses Once been enlightened Tasted the heavenly gift (geuomai) To partake fully, to experience completely. This does not imply a less-than-complete experience (i.e., nibble). “But we see Jesus … who suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Heb 2:9) “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” (Jn 4:10)
11	Five Descriptive Clauses Once been enlightened Tasted the heavenly gift Shared in the Holy Spirit (1x, metoxā) Partakers in the Holy Spirit. Literally, “having become sharers of the Holy Spirit.”
12	Five Descriptive Clauses Once been enlightened Tasted the heavenly gift Shared in the Holy Spirit Tasted the Word of God Tasted the powers of the coming age
13	How is “Impossible” to be Understood? “It is impossible … if they fall away to be brought back to repentance.”
14	Greek Participles Falling Away (aorist participle) Crucifying the Son of God (present active participle) Subjecting him to disgrace (present active participle)
15	Greek Participles Falling Away (aorist participle) Crucifying the Son of God (present active participle) Subjecting him to disgrace (present active participle) The most common way to translate these participles is as follows … Aorist uses the word “after” Present uses the word “while”
16	Two Views Temporal View—It is impossible to renew WHILE
17	Two Views Temporal View—It is impossible to renew WHILE Causal View—It is impossible to renew BECAUSE
18	Two Views Temporal View—It is impossible to renew WHILE Causal View—It is impossible to renew BECAUSE One certainly seems OBVIOUS. The other certainly seems OMINOUS.
19	Hebrews 3:7 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (NIV)
20	Hebrews 6:9 “Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.” (NIV)
21	Hebrews 6:7-8 “Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.” (NIV)
22	Thorns & Thistles Which is your life producing: a useful crop for God, or thorns & thistles?