Falling Away from the Faith

We must never forget the subtle serpent in Genesis who "innocently" convinced Eve to sin against God.  I would say very few believers wake up in the morning and say, "Today, I will step farther away from God. Today is the day I will not continue in the faith." 

Believing hearts are gradually hardened.  The voice of the Spirit is gradually quenched.  The oil gradually empties from the lamp.    Seemingly "harmless" and "small" decisions occur on a daily basis in the lives of all believers.  Those who once listened intently for the Holy Spirit's leading may find themselves listening more intently to friends, to radio, to TV, to self, to pride, etc.  Actions that were once considered unthinkable have now become "okay."  Believers who once couldn't wait to gather or assemble with other believers have slowly found themselves without the desire to even walk through the doors of God's sanctuary.  Believers who once only sang songs of praise now find themselves singing the latest country or rap song.  Believers who once walked out of the room when inappropriate jokes were being told now find themselves laughing the loudest.  Believing hearts are hardened gradually.  The Spirit will knock and will attempt to show those who are on the verge of falling away their error.  However, will the hardened heart be penetrated?  Will repentance follow, or will denial and pride rise up in opposition?  We are living during very deceptive times; may we not fall away from the only One who can keep us safe. 

Hebrews Chapter 6:
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.
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.

verse 4 - partakers - metochos - participant i.e. a sharer; by implication, an associate
verse 6 - fall away - parapipto - to fall aside i.e. to apostatize

Very clearly, the inspired speaker of Hebrews is addressing BELIEVERS, not unbelievers.  He speaks of those who have been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and most profoundly, those who have partaken (a participant, sharer, associate) of the Holy Ghost.  He explains that if those who are a “sharer” in the Holy Ghost fall away, then those people are lost.  They were once found - “partakers of the Holy Ghost” - but they chose to fall away, resulting in rejection, “whose end is to be burned” - they are thus lost.  If they had continued in Christ, in faith, in obeying the Holy Spirit, they would have enjoyed eternal life.   These described above have already been renewed (made new) --Notice that the speaker uses the phrase "renew them again." These verses teach that they were once followers, but fell away. 

Hebrews 10:
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
    wilfully- hekousios - voluntarily

        In verse 26, the word “we” is used to indicate all believers (one who has received the truth). The writer of Hebrews is including himself within this example. If a believer wilfully sins, that “once believer” is no longer cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

     Taking what is holy and treating it as unholy is unforgivable.  

     despite - enubrizo - to insult
     sanctified - hagiazo - to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate

     Verse 29 acknowledges that the  believer who willfully sins was sanctified or made holy.  The word was indicates past tense.  Therefore, a person can     be sanctified with the Spirit of grace; however, when one insults the Spirit, the unforgivable has occurred.
It is by the Holy Spirit that a believer is led into all truth; therefore, one who insults that Spirit and  His teaching will not be forgiven.   

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Jesus reveals in His Word that there is ONE sin that will not be forgiven.  

Matt 12:31
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Therefore, one who denies the Holy Spirit and does “despite to the Spirit of Grace” will not be forgiven.  We must never forget that Paul provides a precise definition of grace and its role in a believer’s life:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2: 11-14).

When one does not heed or follow the teaching of the Holy Spirit of grace, that person has committed the unforgivable sin.  We must remember that the Lord, through His Spirit, will chastise and instruct a believer, but the believer has a choice as to whether he or she will be exercised or trained by the chastisement or whether one will sell one’s birthright in the same manner Esau did.  We cannot say we read in these verses (Hebrews 10: 26-31) that it is rare for one to “wilfully” sin and to do “despite [insult] unto the Spirit of grace.”  What we do see in Hebrews 10 is a very straightforward illustration and warning against this behavior.  In fact, in verse 9, believers are told not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, for such is needed in order to exhort one another in the Word and in awareness that the day of Christ is coming.