Hebrews 6:4-8 (NKJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
4 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit…”
The Greek word for “impossible” is (G102) ἀδύνατος adúnatos, which means literally “without power/ability” thus, impossible. It does not mean difficult.
The Greek word for “enlightened” is (G5461) φωτίζω phōtízō, which means light is a wide variety of ways as light from the sun, light as day time, light as in understanding something, etc. Here, it is of the mind and heart, so enlightened. Jesus enlightens each and every person (John 1:9), of knowing and bringing what is hidden in the heart out in the open for all to see (1 Corinthians 4:5), for the enlightening of our understanding (Ephesians 1:18), how to have life now and eternal life through the Gospel (1 Timothy 4:10, and New Jerusalem light by the glory of God (Revelation 21:23.
The Greek word for “tasted” is (G1089) γεύω geúō, which means to taste something. The Word Study Dictionary (Metaphorically, “to experience, prove, partake of”). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel) “1. Strictly ‘to taste,’ ‘enjoy’; 2. figuratively ‘to come to feel,’ ‘to learn by experience’ (both good things and bad).” The “enlightenment” was so powerful, there can be no excuse for turning away and denying the faith.
The Greek word “partakers” is (G3353) μέτοχος métochos, which means a partner and participant as in Luke 5:7 (partner) and Hebrews 1:9 (companions). In Hebrews it is a participant and someone joining in the same things. They were partakers of the Holy Spirit.
If these words in a different context were used of Christians, then there would be no question of the meaning. This is not a warning for those who heard the Gospel and attended the assembly a few times to experience Christian fellowship a few times. These people, rare as they may be, knew and experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives but later deny completely and turned their backs to Jesus. This is a reverse repentance. Total apostasy from faith is possible.
If someone worries that they have lost salvation, then they have not lost it.
5 “…and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come…” The Greek word for “tasted” is the same as in verse 4. The good word of God is the Gospel. The powers of the age to come refer to the blessings of Jesus as lord of one’s life. If one tastes of death (Matthew 16:28), it means they died. Jesus in His ministry on the crossed “tasted” death for each and every individual. In 1 Peter 2:3 it refers to those who have believed the Gospel for salvation and now, as those born again, need spiritual milk to grow.
6 “…if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” The Greek word for “fall away” is (G3895) παραπίπτω parapíptō, which means a falling aside as in abandonment. Fall away isa Verb, second Aorist, Active, Participle, Accusative, Plural, Masculine. It is “have fallen away.” It is not future “will fall away.” It is not conditional, for there is no Greek word for “if,” nor is it implied in the verb tense.
Hebrews 6:6 (TCENT) and yet have fallen away, since, to their own harm, they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and exposing him to public shame.
Wuest: and tasted the good word of God, also the powers of the age that is about to come, and have fallen away, again to be renewing them to repentance, crucifying to themselves the Son of God and putting Him to an open shame.
Young’s literal: Hebrews 6:6 (YLT) and having fallen away, again to renew them to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.
Hebrews 6:6 (ESV) 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.
The Greek word “renew” is (G340) ἀνακαινίζω anakainízō, which means “qualitatively new” (Word Study Dictionary), and “The meaning of this word is ‘to renew,’ ‘restore.’ It occurs in the NT in Heb. 6:4, which issues the warning that those who commit apostasy cannot be restored again to repentance, i.e., brought back to conversion (metánoian)”–(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)).
One cannot do that first repentance again. To do so would require Jesus to die on the Cross a second time, which will never happen.
Jesus, the Son of God, dying on the cross suffered shame from the lack of clothes, the implications of dying on the cross (the worst of criminals), the mockery, the stares of people watching His suffering with many enjoying it. This shame will not be repeated.
How can one lose their salvation? It is by repeated, complete denial of Jesus Christ and a repentance from a Christian life to a heathen life. Peter denied Jesus, but it was not a complete, repeated denial. One might think of the famous evangelist Charles Templeton, who denied the faith he preached, even to his physical death. Falling away and losing salvation, I suppose, might only happen to 50 people worldwide every 100 years. Salvation is not maintained by good works. Our salvation started with faith and ends with faith. No one is perfect. No one is sinless. All experience some type of denial when under the threat of death or embarrassment or mockery, etc., but the denial here is a repeated continually until physical death. If I or you fear we have lost our salvation, then we have not lost it. Those who lose their salvation could care less.
V7-8 “For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.” The Hebrews writer now gives an illustration of what he has taught. Remember faith brings God’s blessings (salvation, forgiveness of sins, justification, and an eternity of life) and disbelief brings curses (no salvation, no forgiveness of sins, no justification, and an eternity of torment).
Plants needs soil, water, and sun. If everything is supplied in perfect amounts, then the plants will produce good fruit. But, here there is the possibility of producing thorns and briers instead. Faith produces good fruit for God. Disbelief brings judgment.