QUESTION: Is it possible for a Christian to fall away? I was reading this in Hebrews chapter six and wondered if this could happen to a believer.

ANSWER: The context of Hebrews 6:1-9 shows that the falling away mentioned in verse 6 could only be true of an unbeliever. You will notice that those who fall away "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." This is not a sin which a believer could fall into but a willful rejection of the Son of God and His finished work on Calvary. A careful study of this wonderful epistle will reveal many similar warnings. See Hebrews 3:6-19; 4:1 and 10:26-29. These warnings are primarily addressed to those Jews who professed to be Christians but had never personally accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour. They were in the company of believers and externally enjoyed and participated in the blessings of Christianity. But they had never been born again. Many of these Jews who had been enlightened and had tasted of the blessings of Christianity were turning back to the law and temple sacrifice. They were in effect saying, "Christ and His finished work are not enough for me. I am going back to the temple and the offering of sacrifices."

To turn back or fall away after enjoying and participating in the five spiritual privileges listed in verses 4 and 5 makes it impossible to renew these professors unto repentance. It is important to notice that none of the five spiritual privileges mentioned include the possession of eternal life or the fact of new birth. The first one shows that they were enlightened. This signifies that light had been given. Jesus "was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). All are responsible for the Light which has come into the world but all do not believe in the Light. See John 12:36. The second, third and fourth blessings they had tasted were the heavenly gift, the good word of God, and the powers or miracles of the world to come. However, tasting is not eating. One can taste something and refuse it. The Lord Jesus says we must "eat" Him or appropriate to ourselves personally His person and His work. See John 6:53. The fifth blessing is that they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.

It does not say that they were sealed, indwelt or baptised by the Holy Spirit. This partaking does not necessarily mean more than external participation. These professors could, by association with true believers, be a witness of the mighty work of the Holy Spirit and thus externally partake in the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

This sin of falling away is not to be confused with a believer's falling into sin. When a believer, through carelessness, falls into sin, the Advocate begins to work to restore the believer back to fellowship with Himself. Simon Peter is a good example of this. Though he denied the Lord three times he was later restored to fellowship with the Lord. A falling away is apostasy—departure from the truth. These scriptures are a solemn warning to all those who have witnessed the light of Christianity and then turned from it all to that which is a denial of Christ and His truth. In contrast to those who are only professors we read these words: "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany salvation, though we thus speak" (Hebrews 6:9).

—John D. McNeil