One observer commented that Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-27 are directly related because of fiery judgment. The first says "it ends up being burned" (6:8) and the second that there is "judgment and the fury of a fire" (10:27). Are you willing to bet your eternal destiny on how certain verses are exegeted? He said this judgment took place at "the great white throne" (Rev 20:11) and "if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (:15). To ensure that their destiny would be favorable the Hebrews were being encouraged to "press on to maturity" (Heb 6:1). A comment follows that "this we will do, if God permits" (:3). Why would there even be a question? "As many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes" (2Co 1:20). "For" (:4) predicates God's permission "in the case of those who have once been enlightened" (:4). There they are "partakers" (:4) because "we have become partakers of Christ" (3:14). But possibly those Jewish believers were being tempted to return to tabernacle worship because it was becoming inconvenient to walk by grace through faith in the new covenant. One solution was to "encourage one another day after day" (:13). However, believing is an individual decision which is based on a personal relationship with God when you "hear His voice" (:15). "Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah" (Ps 95:7-8). Israel had "'put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice'" (Nu 14:22). "With the heart a person believes" (Ro 10:10). The Hebrew believers were warned not to harden their hearts as Israel did (Heb 3:15). How do you harden your heart? You are "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (:13). Israeli people were "those who sinned" (:17) "who were disobedient" (:18). It is one with "an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God" (:12). Therefore "they were not able to enter because of unbelief" (:19). Sin is a transgression of the law producing "people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers" (Isa 1:4). They "abandoned . . . [and] despised God" (:4). God didn't permit them to "enter His rest" (Heb 3:18) and it is only "if God permits" (6:3) questionably disobedient followers to "press on to maturity" (:1).
What then happens to "those who have once been enlightened" (Heb 6:4) "and then have fallen away" (:6)? Some have "set aside the Law of Moses" (10:28) and others "trampled under foot the Son of God" (:29). They continue "sinning willfully" (:26) and become "worthless" (6:8). They have "regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant" (10:29) and "again crucify to themselves the Son of God" (6:6). They have "put Him to open shame" (:6) and "insulted the Spirit of grace" (10:29). To "crucify to themselves" (6:6) is equivalent to Peter explaining "'this Man . . . you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men" (Ac 2:23). "After receiving the knowledge of the truth" (Heb 10:26) it became "the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified" (:29). But now "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" (:26) and "it is impossible to renew them again to repentance" (6:6). In the Old Testament he "dies without mercy" (10:28) and now is "close to being cursed" (6:8). "How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve" (10:29)? "'The Lord will judge His people'" (:30). "It ends up being burned" (6:6) and there is "a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire" (10:27). Is one with an "evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God" (3:12) in irrevocable apostasy? Is he one who has failed to "hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end" (:14)?