Hebrews

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Hebrews 6 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Hebrews 6 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

(6:4-6) It is impossible for fallen-away Christians to be saved. (Didn't the author know about confession or the finality of being saved?)
BOM: 4 Nephi 3
Is it possible to fall from grace?
(Jehovah's Witnesses)
JWs use these verses to justify their cruel treatment of apostates (exJWs).

This verse is not about true believers, compare this verse with verse 9. But it is about those who have been baptised (illuminated in verse 4) and received the apostolic gifts of the Holy Ghost as Simon Magnus had, see Acts 8:17, or in our times the true preaching of the Word of God. But they reject them conciously, willingly, and wholeheartedly. The reference is clearly to the sin against the Holy Ghost, see Luke 12:10. It is a sin that cannot be committed by heathen, but only by those who have professed to be true regenerated Christians, lived like that, but who deceived others, and perhaps themselves, and afterwards vehemently have rejected the things they formerly professed to be true.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

"He sware by himself."
God swares to God.
Is it OK to sware?

Swearing is appealing to a higher authority that what you say is the truth. God has no one higher than himself.
On if it is OK to swear, see Matthew 5:34.

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

"It was impossible for God to lie."
Can God do anything? Does God lie?

This verse is indeed confirmation that there are things God cannot do. See the verses were the author of the SAB reads something different such as Job 42:2.
God does not lie. See the verses where the author of the SAB reads something different such as 1 Kg. 22:23 and 2 Thess. 2:11.

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

BOM: Ether 12:4

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.