In Hebrews ch. 6:1-12 the Holy Spirit solemnly deals with two kinds of people with two kinds of experiences.  One does not stand the test before God, the other does.  One is very close to “the real thing”, the other one had it and was “sure of better things – things that belong to salvation”.

What made the difference?  The epistle was written to Jews (Hebrews), and it lists Old Testament doctrines (v.1-5) with which a godly Jew was familiar. But as all the doctrines in the Bible point to Christ, they are here called “the elementary doctrines of Christ”. v.1.  But to be “enlightened” by the Holy Spirit about these is really to have “tasted the heavenly gift” and “the goodness of the word of God” and thus enjoy a share in the blessings and supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

This is, however, “the case of those who have once been enlightened”, but not saved!  They may have been through all this without submitting to Christ as the true fulfillment of these teachings, - which is, in essence, the same as “falling away” (v.6) –  but then there´s nothing more God can do, and there´s nothing more to offer.  O, I tell you, this can be applied to religious people today also.  I shudder when I think of those I have known over the years who certainly “tasted” God´s word and His supernatural world, - among them were Sunday school teachers, church leaders, nay even preachers!  They could “handle” the word of God up to a certain point, but were not born again.  Yes, I shudder.

But there´s another much more encouraging case in that chapter also:  “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things – things that belong to salvation!”  (v.9).  Here the word speaks about saved believers bearing the fruit of a true saving faith (v.10).  Praise God, they will also be there till the Lord´s coming.  However, the whole passage is a solemn warning against religious self-deception, and I´m afraid that such a warning is seldom heard in many churches.

-jn-