Text: Heb. 6:1-10
Intro: The writer is speaking to just such a people who were enlighten and tasted the heavenly gift and were made partakers
of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, what a glorious position.
No one could enjoy greater spiritual blessings. It cannot be that this glorious position can apply to all the saved outside of the
Lord’s New Testament churches.  Though there are certainly similarities in the terms used of every child of God it is evident
that these terms and the verses following describe the fellowship of the Lord and his New Testament churches.
I.  What Does it Mean to be Enlightened?
    A. To be “enlightened” is to have one’s spiritual blindness removed. Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being
        enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the
        saints.
    B. Only those who are actually saved are able to “see” in the spiritual sense.
II. “Those who have tasted the heavenly gift.”
    A. There is only one gift that truly fits the expression used here, the gift of God’s Son.  (1 Peter 2:3) If so be ye have
        tasted that the Lord is gracious.
        1. The word “taste” comes from a word that is also translated “eat” John 6:51, 57.
        2. To taste or eat of Jesus is to partake of Him or experience Him.
III. “And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.”
    A. By “partakers of the Holy Ghost” the writer of the book of Hebrews meant those who go along with the Holy Spirit.
    B. This refers to the Holy Spirit that was promised by Jesus to take His place after he went away, (John 14:16-18, 26).
IV. “And have tasted the good word of God.”
    A. The people had tasted of more than God’s great redemption through grace.
    B. Jesus is truly the Word, (John 1:1-2,14).
        1. Many verses declare that Jesus is the Word but this is the written word that is tasted.
    C. There are many verses of Scripture that declare the value of the written word.
        1. We are clean through His word, (John 15:3).
        2. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth, which is the word, (1 Tim. 3:15).
        3. We are to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.” (Col. 3:16)
        4. We are to labor in the word, hold it fast and rightly divide it. (1 Tim. 5:17) Let the elders that rule well be counted
            worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the
            word and doctrine.  (James 1:22)
        5. We are to preach and be doers of the word, (II Tim. 4:2; James 1:22).
    D. They had eaten of the precious word that causes spiritual growth.
        1. They had tasted the good word of god and so has the church today.
V. They had been Partakers of “the powers of the World to Come.” v. 5
    A. None of them had been to heaven.
    B. Neither had they walked through the kingdom of the Millennium.
    C. But they had experienced the very power that will be manifested in the age to come.
    D. This is in accordance to the promise of Jesus when He said, “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy spirit is come
        upon you.” Acts 1:8
        1. This is also that power of the world to come.
    E. They had tasted of Jesus and of His Spirit, and of His Word, and of the same power that will be manifested throughout
        the age to come.
VI.  Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
    A. This verse does not say “it is impossible to fall away” but  “it is impossible to renew them again to repentance,” not to
        salvation. (can’t fall from salvation)
        1. If they fall away from the position mentioned in the verses 4 and 5 there is no place of repentance.
    B. Repentance is something God has asked believers to do.
        1. Church at Ephesus (Rev.2:5)  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;
            or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
        2. Church at Pergamos (Rev. 2:16) (doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitanes) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
            and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
        3. Church at Thyatira (Rev.2:21-23). (this church allowed that woman Jezebel to   teach and seduce some of them to
            commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols)
        4. Church at Sardis (Rev.3:3)  (had name that she lived but was dead) Remember therefore how thou hast received
            and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt
            not know what hour I will come upon thee.
        5. Church at Laodica (Rev. 3:16). (had need of nothing) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
            I will spue thee out of my mouth.
    C. The statement “impossible to renew them unto repentance” must not be confused with the fact that church members
        can sin, be disciplined out of the church as in I Cor. 5 and upon repentance be restored to the membership.
    D. It’s one thing to do wrong as king David and be forgiven
        1. And another to do wrong concerning false gods as Solomom who allowed his many wives to turn his heart from God.
        2. Solomon’s sin caused a division in the nation of Israel that has never been repaired to this day.
VII. The saved cannot lose or fall away from salvation and eternal life, but you can lose your reward as illustrated in verses 7-8). For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: ~ But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
    A. If the believer’ life brings forth fruit, it receives blessings from God.
        1. If it brings forth thorns and briers, it is rejected.
VIII. Verse 9 the key to this passage.  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
    A. He hasn’t been discussing salvation but the things that accompany salvation.
    B. He is speaking of the fruit of the Christian’s life and the reward that comes to him as the result.
    C. There is danger, Paul said, of our entire works being burned up so that we will have nothing for which we could be
        rewarded (I Cor. 3:11-15).
Conclusion: Verse 10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister
    A. Work and labor of love won’t save you, but if you are saved, this is why you are rewarded. (Mal. 3:16-17)  Then
        they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of
        remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. ~ And they shall
        be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his
        own son that serveth him.
    B. Good works have nothing to do with your salvation but they certainly do have an important part in the reward of your
        faithful life.