The Third Warning: Impossible Repentance (5:11-6:12)

The Context and Superiority of Christ.  At the end of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5, the author dicusses Christ as a priest in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 4:14-16; 5:10).  He is building toward a discussion of Christ as the final high priest who removes the Old Testament Law (Heb. 7:12), brings in the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15), and takes away sins once and for all (Heb. 10:10).  The author wants to continue into this discussion, but he is forced to first address the Hebrew's dullness (Heb. 5:11).

The Sin and Possible Problem.  The readers were in danger of becoming "dull" and not progressing toward maturity.  These Jewish Christians wanted to return to Old Testament Judiasm where they would not be persecuted by the Romans or denied by their families.  By apostisizing to Judiasm, they would not be leaving the "dead works" of the Law (Heb. 6:1; 9:14).

The Warning and Consequences.  This warning is more severe than the last.  The consequence for continual dullness and turning back to Judiasm is a state were a believer might never be return to fellowship with God.  That the person is justified is certain.  The author says he has "been enlightened," "tasted the heavenly gift," is a "partaker of the Holy Spirit," and has "tasted the good word of God" (vv. 4-5).  Some theologians attempt to use these statements as evidence that these people are not genuine unbelievers.  Because the author does not say "has" the heavenly gift or "has" the Holy Spirit, it is claimed that these individuals are people who have come very close to believing, but have never "truly believed."  Yet in the book of Hebrews, Christ is said to have "tasted" death (Heb. 2:9) and He certainly died.  Therefore, to argue that a person who has "tasted the heavenly gift" has only come very close to receiving it, is to argue that Christ only came very close to dying, but never actually did!  In truth, the author lists so many of these blessings as a comparision to what a great thing this person has "fallen away" from and denied.

At some point, if a person continues to ignore Christ and does not press on toward maturity, the Lord may harden him such that he can never turn back to the Lord in this life.  Because the Hebrews were in danger of turning back to Judiasm, they would be publicly mocking Christ in their actions.  Once they had apostized, they might never regain fellowship with God in this life.

The Exhortation and Encouragement.  Therefore, the author encourages his readers to leave the basics of Christianity and to "press on toward maturity" (Heb. 6:1).  With the hightened severity of this warning also comes more powerful encouragement.  He compares believers to a field that is judged for the fruit it produces (Heb. 6:7-8).  If it does not produce fruit, it is "worthless" and the dead works are burnt up.  This passage is almost identical to Paul's "foundation of Christ" illustration in I Cor. 3:11-15 where the useless works are burned, but the foundation of Christ remains and the person remains justified.  The author continues his encouragement being "confident of greater things" (Heb. 6:9) for them and reminds them of the hope they have in God's unchangeable promises (Heb. 6:13-20).

Old Testament Examples.  There is no exact Old Testament example of this, but it remains analagous to the events in Numbers 13-14.

New Testament Cross References.  As mentioned this warning closely parallels Paul's warnings to the Corinthians that, although they had the foundation of Christ, they would "suffer loss" because of the actions in their life on earth (I Cor. 3:11-15).  And although the author says repentance will become "impossible" at some point in a believer's life, "with God, all things are possible" (Luke 18:27).