Close but not there…

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 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. (Hebrews 5:7–6:6)

This is a tough passage that has been interpreted several ways. However, if all that the Word of God says about salvation, it can only mean that the writer is warning those that have come to a full knowledge of what Christ has done and what salvation means. However they have become dull of hearing, meaning that they have stopped their spiritual journey.

Just as only a taste does not mean swallowing what was put before them, this means that the gospel must go farther than just a taste. If it was food, the taste does nothing. As for the gospel, it also must enter or the message will not change their lives as it should — from the inside out. 

The gospel is saving faith that is actively and visibly life-changing. It begins with true repentance and continues to work in a believer’s life transforming them to be more and more like Jesus. It is powerful, not imitated or a result of human action. 

Also, this warning is aimed at those who persist in a life of sin while claiming to have faith in Christ. Such people can expect to hear Jesus’ say: “‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:23)

Knowledge of the truth leaves them without excuse for their unbelief. Any who witness God’s power and receive His commands, but have not responded in faith and obedience cannot claim saving faith. Such a response actually treats Jesus with contempt. This passage says that they cannot be saved because there is no more information that can be revealed to them. They know it all and have said NO to it all, perhaps even agree that Jesus should have been crucified, but it has nothing to do with them.

These verses cannot refer to losing salvation because many Scripture passages make unmistakably clear that salvation is eternal and those who say otherwise would also have to say that one could never get it back again, whether or not their “repentance” was genuine or a mere sorrow at being caught in their sin. 

For me, obeying God is a genuine evidence of salvation and true obedience cannot be faked. Eventually the reality will be exposed. For this reason, I can only urge those who profess faith in Christ to obey what He says.

Jesus, You say Your commands are not grievous and Your burden is light. I make obedience difficult by hedging or trying to do things my own way without Your input. Each day You give me opportunities to trust You and each day You prove to me that You are worthy as my Savior and Lord. Grant discernment with those who are only tasting,  and the ability to urge them to genuine saving faith rather than fall away to mocking You in their unbelief.