Now, I realize that sometimes this is kind of scary. But if you're a believer, this doesn't have to scare you one bit, because as we pointed out in our last program, there's a big difference between backsliding or failing as a believer, and being an apostate. We're going to look at that word more in depth this next half-hour. Maybe it would be better if we start up there again at verse 4.


Hebrews 6:4a & 6a

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,... 6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance."


But now remember, we've been looking at everything in between in the last couple of lessons. These folks can have this kind of knowledge. They can have the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit and they certainly understood a lot of Old Testament truths. Remember we're talking about Jews who are hanging on to Judaism. And so let's just start at verse 4 again.


Hebrews 6:4-5

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, (remember watch the language. They didn't ingest it they merely tasted) they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. (they didn't actually have the Holy Spirit they merely brought Him along side) 5. And have tasted the good word of God, (oh they knew about Christ's earthly ministry, and they knew all the Old Testament promises) and the powers of the world to come,"


We covered that in the closing moments of our last program, how that they understood this coming Kingdom and all the glories of it.


Hebrews 4:6a

"If (scary word isn't it?) they (these people who had this much understanding) shall fall away..."


We're going to stop right there. This word that is translated "fall away" and I put it on the board ahead of time, in the Greek is 'parapipto.' Now I'm not a Greek scholar and you don't have to be, but here's one instance where it pays to see the difference. This word is the only time it's used in the whole New Testament. Where it's translated in verse 6 that "if they shall fall away," it is a "parapipto," whereas the other word that we're most familiar with like in II Thessalonians chapter 2 that "unless there is a falling away first" -- that term is "apostasia" and it, too, is translated "falling away." But it does not have the connotation that this one does.