light on that which is obscure, (d) In verses 4-6 the apostle uses the third person plural of those to whom he refers. “It is impossible for those who were once enlightened . . . if they shall fall away.” Henderson: “These be lievers lived in an age of miracle (2:4); and it is quite possible that some of their fellow-countrymen had been impressed by the things which they had witnessed during the Pente costal era, but had resisted and done despite unto the Spirit of grace (Acts 7; Heb. 10). If such men, through cowardice or for any other reason, went ba.ck to the shadows when the clear light was shining, their case was hopeless. The apostle does not say to his readers: ‘If you shall fall away, but if they shall fall away.’ ” The words of verse 9 clearly imply that the teaching of the verses before us does not refer to them at all, and that the things there spoken of do not ac company salvation. Verses 7-8 show plainly that the falling away question is but the natural result of the uncon genial and therefore fruitless contact of gospel truth with man in an unre generate state. Truth may be received by such and absorbed into the mind and become a part of its familiar knowledge, but it does not penetrate the seat of his affections and desires. The seed sown is not suited to the soil on which it falls. He now speaks of those things which insure the impossibility of fail ure. Salvation which they received by faith, verse 9; manifested itself in deeds of love, verse 10; and would lead them to the full assurance of hope, verse 11. Good works should in variably accompany, although they can never constitute, salvation. Here we have the apostle’s desire for his readers. Three things does he long to see exemplified in their lives— diligence, faith and patience. Faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, is the principle on which the promise is received; diligence as-op posed to slothfulness, is the method by which its present blessedness may be enjoyed; and patience in the endur ance of trial, the attitude by which
are destitute of knowledge and are un skillful in the use of the Word, verse 13; the fullgrown man carries in his hand the lamp of experience, and pos sesses spiritual perception and dis cernment, verse 14. Having rebuked, he now exhorts them. They were to leave certain ele mentary but fundamental things and go on to perfection. These foundation truths are set forth in verses 1-3 of chapter 6. They were to “leave” these things — not in the sense of forsak ing them; but as the bird leaves the shell, as the flower leaves the seed, “as the builder leaves the foundation upon which, story upon story, he car ries his building to completion.” They were to leave these and pass on to perfection or full growth. It has been said that the “falling away” of which these verses speak is affirmed of true Christians. That I do not believe, and for the following rea sons: (a) It would contradict the words of the Lord Jesus in John 10: 28-29; and of Paul in Romans 8:38- 39. There are no contradictions in the Word of God. (b) It would be too much; for the words unequivocally de clare of those who fall away, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. It is not said that it would be difficult to renew them, but that it is impossible to do so. If, there fore, these verses teach that a true believer may be lost, they also teach that he is lost irrecoverably; that his doom is sealed forever, (c) The five items specified in verses 4-5 do not include the new birth, justification or the indwelling of the Spirit. Ryle: “The person here described as ‘falling away’ has no characteristics which may not be discovered in unconverted men; while it is not said that he possesses saving faith, or charity, or is elect.” Any timid believer who is terrified by the possibility that these verses may refer to him or her is foolish indeed to allow words which he does not understand to rob him of the joy and blessedness of those which he does understand. Our truest wis dom is to accept the teaching which is clear, and humbly wait for further
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