ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR GOD'S REJECTION? – PART 3

ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR GOD'S REJECTION? – PART 3

Hebrews 6:4–6 (KJV)

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Hebrews 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.”

THE FIVE POINTS TO EXAMINE IN HEBREWS 6:4–6

Hebrews 6:4–6 identifies five spiritual experiences that we need to examine individually:

1.    Once Enlightened — Hebrews 6:4.

2.    Have Tasted of the Heavenly Gift — Hebrews 6:4.

3.    Were Made Partakers of the Holy Ghost — Hebrews 6:4.

4.    Have Tasted the Good Word of God — Hebrews 6:5.

5.    Have Tasted the Powers of the World to Come — Hebrews 6:5.

These are the five expressions I intend to explain one after another in this series.

The writer is describing people who had experienced profound spiritual realities. The difficult question is what exactly their relationship to salvation was, and that is where the interpretation of Hebrews 6:4–6 becomes important.

Let me explain in details the points that Hebrews 6:4  listed

1. “Once enlightened” (Been enlightened)

Hebrews speaks of people who were once enlightened, informed, furnished with clear views, be spiritually illuminated or given light by God, instructed, to have received clear understanding and revelation of the truth of the gospel, to have been drawn and convicted by the Holy Spirit so that the person sees and understands the truth about Jesus Christ, salvation, and the things of God.

Once enlightened does not simply mean someone heard a sermon or repeated a prayer, attended a church, born again, speaking tongues be among the five fold ministries (Ephesians 4:11). It refers to a real spiritual experience where God opened the person’s eyes to the truth.

The passage is describing people who had received substantial spiritual light and exposure to the realities of Christ.

Compare this with:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw Him...”
— John 6:44

Coming to Christ is God's work of drawing people to Himself.

One who is “Once enlightened” is truly drawn by the Holy Spirit (John 6:44).

One who is enlightened is not one pressured by parents, a boyfriend, girlfriend, or church culture into repeating a prayer or signing a decision card. Real conviction from the Spirit is required.

This is why we should not confuse genuine conversion with merely:

·       repeating a sinner's prayer,

·       joining a church,

·       responding to an altar call,

·       signing a church register,

·       or making an emotional decision under pressure.

A person can participate in religious activities without truly understanding the Gospel.

So “once enlightened” does not literally mean “once saved”. The word itself means that the person has received light or understanding.

So we need to examine “Once enlightened” rather than automatically equating “enlightened” with “Born Again.”

In summary, "Once enlightened” means a person has already received genuine spiritual light and understanding from God about the gospel — their eyes have been opened to the truth of Christ.

Amos Iguma

Salvation Ground Ministry Int'l