What exactly does "fall away" mean in Heb 6:6?
Hebrews 6:6
ESV - 6 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.
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Asked March 18 2017
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Debra Wilson
Supporter
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Daren Bonne
In my opinion, speaking as someone that lived a life of sin without knowledge of christ and then heard the gospal and excepted jesus into my heart and so was saved:
I now find myself confused as what to do after 30 years of having fallen away.
After reading differant interpretations of falling away, I am very confused, I now feel that what? There is no hope, no way back? Or that i was never saved? Which is it?
Daren Bonne
Bernhart Neufeld
This is an interesting question. It would help to know what went on the first. When Jesus calls us to come to him, he called us to die for him. you’re telling me you died, if so, how can you die once again. The definition of dying is that first John chapter 3 verse nine tills us that if we are born of God we cannot sin, it means that inside of us,it really hurts if you do sin; because we are born again, the only part is born again is inside of us God put his seed inside of us, from deep down in the heart it hurt if you sin, and If that still hurts if you’re sinning. There’s still hope, If you are saying that is your state then there’s hope! But if the seed was inside of you and that really hurt when you did sin,but no it’s not hurting, then i would say if you died once we cannot died again. But the most people have not died to sin maybe that is your state.
Jennifer Rothnie
Daren, how did you fall away? Did you outright stop believing in Christ and deliberately reject faith, or are you speaking of neglecting the faith/struggling with sin, etc (which is not falling away from/defecting, but more like drifting away?)
I have heard an explanation of Heb 6, after I wrote my own answer, that proposed the context/word use showed that it was currently impossible to preach in any way that would help renew the former Christians to repentance based on their current state of basically agreeing with the Jews who crucified Christ. It was a pretty solid argument, which I could find it again, but basically the thrust of it was that the passage wasn't saying it would be impossible into perpetuity for them ever to convert again. Rather, it was saying that it was currently impossible to renew them to repentance and so preaching beyond the basics wouldn't help.
So I would err on the side of grace - if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved. If you do not have faith in Jesus, you stand condemned.
Bernhart - we can die twice, as John 15, Rom 11, and other passages show. We can escape the world and condemnation but return to it. or be grafted into the vine but then cut off, or be planted then uprooted, etc.
Jean Cockburn
Daren, I believe you have not "fallen away" but have strayed like so many of us do. Like the parable of the lost sheep the Good Shepherd will not forsake you but will go after you. Turn back. Pour out your heart to God in prayer. Confess and ask forgiveness. He is waiting to receive you with open arms. You are loved and accepted. It was accomplished on the cross.
Daren Bonne
Many years ago I prayed the sinner's pray and asked Jesus to come into my life and oh, Lord, he did and my life changed. I was literally in prison and he set me free!
I was lost and he found me. I was on fire for Jesus no doubt, filled with the holy spirit and afraid not.
A lot has happened since then, all those 30 plus years ago. i succeeded through him in many things but failed in many things, too. I took control of my life doing so well, occasionally looking back from time to time. The busier I got, getting wrapped up with what I wanted to do, the more I realized the distance that had become between me and Jesus.
Then of course with me in control, my life took a few bad turns. All along I knew I was wrong. I wanted to get back to where I was, realizing that anything else achieved in this world is nothing compared to walking with the Lord.
Now it feels like there is almost no way back. Of course I pray all the time, everyday I wake talking to the lord, but feel lost abandoned and know it to be all of my own actions, or lack of them.
The interesting thing is..... yes I was saved and did die to sin, but living in a world of sin. I am once again lost and don't know what to do. There must be many in this situation, I know of some......
Bernhart Neufeld
This is interesting, if you are hurting inside and feeling the call back, and want to go back. I can tell you, Satan does not do that, Satan never calls you to go back to God. It’s only God, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)"But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:32 (KJV) yeah personal I believe that Jesus had start something inside of you, he still wait for you I think he is chastened you that you should not be condemned with the world.
I know a friend, he first surrendered his life except Jesus Christ. Later he staggered away and he fell deep deep and sin, but he also knew that he was wrong. One day on the darkest day he start praying to God he told me he had seriously sought God for four hours he cried out and found peace once again "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 (KJV) This verse refers to a believer.
Debra Wilson
Daren,
I´m sorry to hear about your struggle brother. I’m the one who initiated this question a year ago. Let me say the majority of the responses have been amazing and bíblically sound. I become a Christian at the age of 7, was active in my church as a child and youth, married at 19 and was in church for 20 years. Then, my life fell apart after an unwanted divorce. For about 5 years, I wrestled with God and wondered why He did not answer my prayers a and did not heal my marriage. After 3 years, I married a great guy and Later he was saved and baptized. His insatiable thirst for the Word of God and quest for knowledge woke me up. I saw his joy and remembered how I once had that same joy of my salvation. When a Pastor´s wife asked why I wasn’t singing in the choir, I said, Oh, if you knew me really you wouldn’t ask. Listen up Daren. I want you to hear her words of grace to me. She said in her sweet southern voice, ¨why honey if God could only use perfect people all the pews would be empty. And to believe that you are not worthy to serve Him is a lie straight from the devil.¨ I was shocked by her response. That night I got on my knees and prayed for forgiveness for my stubborn rebellion against God and asked Him to restore my Joy. That was more than 20 years ago, and today my husband and I are missisonaries in Ecuador. You, my brother, have to repent today and give God your tomorows. STOP believing the devils lie that you are not worthy and cannot be forgiven.
Jennifer Rothnie
Daren,
Most of us Christians go through periods of trying to do it ourselves, wresting control from God. We struggle with sin, we drift, we get wrapped up in the world, etc. Sometimes this can be for merely a few days or weeks, but sometimes it can be for years. Even for 30 years!
This isn't falling away from the faith and rejecting Christ. It's more like the prodigal son - he wanted to spend his inheritance himself so he left his father to do things his own way. Yet he never denied he had a father, and even when he ignored his father he did not forget him. The prodigal son felt there was 'no way back' as well - at least not as a son. He figured that maybe, at best, his dad would take him back as a paid servant. Yet the father welcomed him with open arms!
"It is easy to fall into Satan's lie that we are 'failures', or don't 'deserve' to have God forgive us, if we stumble more than once in the same sin. Yet none of us deserve God's grace and mercy; it is freely given. Furthermore, as God works all things out for good for those who love Him, we forgive others as we see how God has forgiven us (Luke 7:47, Matt 6:12). We then grow in empathy and love."
https://ebible.com/questions/13320-is-there-a-limit-to-god-s-forgiveness
https://ebible.com/questions/9410-what-are-some-things-that-may-cause-us-to-drift-away-from-faith