The Danger of Falling Away

Any serious student of the Word knows that there are some “hard sayings” in the Bible. Sometimes the meaning of a passage is not clear; sometimes the meaning is troubling and difficult to apply. Still others, like our passage today about the danger of falling away, are hard in both ways.

Nevertheless, several important lessons still emerge quite clearly. First, Scripture highlights the danger of an ignorance of God’s Word. Although the author of Hebrews wants to delve deeper into truths about Christ, the community has become “dull of hearing,” as one translation puts it (5:11, ESV). They are still drinking spiritual milk and not eating solid food. As a result, they are unable to teach others and unable to “distinguish good from evil” (5:14). Knowledge of God’s Word would allow them to move “beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity” (6:1).

Second, Scripture warns about the danger of rejecting God. As the passage makes clear, the issue was not merely slacking off in the spiritual life but something much more serious. The author is warning against the influence of people who had seemingly been part of the body of Christ and known the blessing of God’s gifts, word, and power but were now actively rejecting Christ and the gospel. They were “crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace” (6:6). They are “in danger of being cursed” by God (6:8). While they remained in such a state of active rebellion against God, it would be “impossible” (6:4) to repent.

The pastoral application of today’s passage may be challenging, but one thing is clear: willful rejection of Christ in one’s life is a serious matter.

Pray with Us

The staff of our Legal department use their skills and legal training to serve God at the workplace. Would you pray today that the Lord will always guide them and give them wisdom in taking care of Moody’s legal needs.