It has come to my attention that many in the Lord's church believe and teach that what the Hebrew writer had 
to say in (Heb. 6:4-6) was applicable only to the apostles. 

   Brethren, lets just examine this text and try to come up with a conclusion that might agree with what others are 
saying. 
  To begin with, Paul(?) has chastised the Hebrew brethren for being "dull of hearing" which was evident by their 
spiritual laziness. (Heb. 5:11-14) With this in mind he urges them to press on to maturity and start aspiring to 
more weightier matters and to not be so steeped in first principles, (6:3)  And this we shall do, if God permits. 

Heb. 6:4-6); (NASV) --- 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and 
                  have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the 
                  age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since(while) 
                  they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

(NKJV) ---For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become 
                 partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of  the age to come, if they 
                 fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put 
                 Him to open shame.

Five Blessings Spurned!
1. Once enlightened
2. Tasted the heavenly gift
3. Made partakers of the Holy Spirit
4. Tasted the good word of God
5. Participants in the powers of the age to come

  1. Once enlightened: 
      The Greek word, "photizo" simply means to illuminate, brighten or make to see. Same root word for photo, 
    photography, photosynthesis and many other modern day uses of this word.

   (Ps. 19:8) The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; --- The commandment of the Lord is pure, 
   enlightening the eyes. 

    (Ps. 36:7-9) How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God!  And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy 
     wings. --- They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; And Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy
     delights. --- For with Thee is the fountain of life; ---  In Thy light we see light. 

    Over in the N.T., Jesus told the unbelieving Pharisees; --- (Jn. 8:12)  "I am the light of the world; he who follows 
    Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."  Though Jesus told them who He was and His 
    mission, they were NOT enlightened, because of hardened hearts. 
    (Vs. 19) "---You know neither Me, nor My Father;"  (Vs. 23-24) Jesus told these unbelievers/unenlightened; --- 
    "You are from below, I am from above; --- You are of this world; I am not of this world. ---I said therefore to you that 
    you shall die in your sins unless you believe that I am He."
    Then we have these words of the apostle Paul in his prayers for the Ephesian brethren; --- 
    (Eph. 1:16-20) --- 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our 
     Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the true knowledge of Him. 
     18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the 
     riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who 
     believe. --- These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, 
     when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ---

    Of course the opposite of being enlightened is being darkened. To arrive at the Bible meaning of this, we can 
    refer to this same epistle where Paul writes; --- (Eph. 4:17-19) 17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the 
    Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their
     understanding, (What's the result?) --- excluded(alienated) from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in 
     them; (not just ignorance, but willful ignorance brought on) --- because of the hardness of their heart; (notice the 
     downward spiral) --- 19 and they, having become callous (past feeling/apathetic) have given themselves over to
     sensuality (no sense of shame; -- then it's no holds barred), for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 
     (just could not get enough of it). 

     (Rom. 1:18)  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, 
     (what men?) who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. --- That is they "shade" or "darken" the truth by their 
     unrighteous and ungodly living, thereby bringing on God's wrath.
        These types of people love darkness rather than light. They love the ways of this world and jeer and mock at 
     the ways of Almighty God. The Bible says they stand without excuse. (Vs. 20) 
     (Vs.21-22) For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; --- but they became futile in
      their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. --- Professing to be wise, they became fools. 

       When we look at passages like this, and look all around both in and out of the Lord's church (this was the Lord's 
     church Paul was writing to, right?) It should make us shiver with fear and concern for the souls of man. Our own
     family, friends, neighbors and that stranger walking down the street seemingly, without a care in the world.
     It should make us fall on our knees in thanksgiving for our heavenly Father's love and patience. 
 
       It should cause us to think back in the days of Noah; --- (Gen. 6:5) Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man
     was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
        The Lord was grieved in His heart and was sorry that He had ever made man. Though Noah found favor in the
     eyes of the Lord, we read down in (Vs. 13); --- Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; 
     for the earth is filled with violence because of them; --- and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth."

Conclusion: To be "enlightened" is to come to the knowledge and accepting of and obedience to God's precepts 
                   and commandments. His word. There can be no doubt that the Hebrew writer has reference to those 
                   who had been --- delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred into the kingdom (church) of His 
                   beloved Son. (Col. 1:13)

2. Tasted the heavenly gift:
       Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman; --- (Jn. 4:10-14) 10 "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says 
    to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 11 She said to Him, 
    "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do you get that living water? 12 You are not 
    greater than our father Jacob, are you, who gave us the well and drank of it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" 
    13 Jesus answered and said to her, ---  "Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; 14 but whoever shall 
    drink of the water I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." 
       Jacob's well water was good, but was temporary when it came to quenching thirst. But to taste this spiritual 
    living water Jesus had to offer was, and is a true heavenly gift.

       Just as Jesus is the water of life, He is also the bread of life. In (Jn. 6:) we read where Jesus fed about 5,000 
    men (not counting women and children), with just two fish and five barley loaves which the disciples had obtained 
    from a lad, and had much left over. But just as the good water of Jacob's well and the manna from heaven that 
    the Father sent to feed the Israelites in the wilderness, being physical or material, it was only temporary.
       But in (Jn. 6:26-27) Jesus told the multitude seeking Him; --- "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because 
    you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. --- Do not work for food which perishes, but for the 
    food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give you, for on Him the Father has set His seal."
    (Vs.. 31-33) Talks about the manna from heaven and that Jesus is the "true bread out of heaven".
    (Vs. 34) "---Lord, forevermore give us this bread."
    (Vs. 48) Jesus plainly states; --- "I am the bread of life."
    (Vs. 52) As usual, the Jews could not get past the carnal; --- thinking the Lord of heaven was actually talking 
    about cannibalism? Saying; ---  "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?"
    (Vs.. 53-58)  53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and 
    drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life; and I 
    will raise him up in the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and 
    drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who
    eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven;  not as the fathers ate, 
    and died, --- he who eats this bread shall live forever."

      Indeed, this was a difficult statement (when thinking in human terms). So hard in fact that many of His disciples
  withdrew, and ceased to follow Him. (Vs.66) --- So just what is our Lord talking about?
  a. We can safely rule out cannibalism, and therefore the Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation where they say, 
      "The entire substance of the bread and wine is changed into the Lord's Body and Blood."  "After the words of
      consecration, there is no longer any bread or wine on the altar, for they have been changed into Christ's Body 
      and Blood. If asked how transubstantiation can possibly be effected, we reply, 'By the almighty power of God." 
      Ref: My Catholic Faith, pg. 278
  b.  Nor does the text have direct reference to The Lord's Supper as many teach.
  c.  (Vs. 53f)  Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and 
       drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves." Essentially Jesus is telling them (and us) that unless we make His 
       life our life, we would have no life in ourselves. But the one who makes his life the kind of life Jesus offers faithfully 
       to the end, Jesus would raise him up to enjoy eternal life in the last day.
          Just as Jesus receives life from the Father and lives according to the Father's will, we likewise receive life from
       Christ and must therefore live according to His will. 

Conclusion: The "heavenly gift" is the bread and water of life; --- that which brings nourishment to our very souls; 
                   --- Jesus Himself, and the gift of life we can have in Him.

3. Made partakers of the Holy Spirit:
       The apostle Paul had just one question for the foolish Galatians; --- (Gal. 3:2) "Did you receive the Spirit by the
    works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  (Vs. 10) The works of the Law = a curse.  (Vs.13) Christ redeemed us 
    from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us.

      Paul also told the Roman Christians; --- (Rom. 8:9-11)  9 However you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed 
    the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 And if 
    Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  11 But if the Spirit 
    of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your
    mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.   (The conditional word "IF" is a mighty big word).
      John writes; --- (1 Jn. 2:3-4) And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. --- 
    The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,'and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 
     John says; --- (Jn. 7:37-39) 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ---
    ''If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, --- 'From his 
    innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.' " 39 But (John says) this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who 
    believed in Him were to receive; --- for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

      Of course this promise was not fulfilled until Peter and the other apostles preached the first gospel sermon on the 
    day of Pentecost which we can read about in (Acts 2:14-40) On that day about 3,000 people heard, believed and 
    obeyed the gospel, by repenting, confessing their faith in Christ and being baptized for the forgiveness of every past
    sin, received the gift of the Holy Spirit (became partakers), and were consequently added to the Lord's church by the
    Lord Himself. (Vs. 47)
      One who is a partaker of the Spirit will not carry out the worldly desires of the flesh. One who is content with the 
    sinful desires of the flesh cannot claim to be a partaker of the Spirit of God. Paul told these same Gallatin brethren;
    (Gal. 5:16-18)  16 Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire 
    against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the 
    things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 
    Note: "Walking" by the Spirit (Vs. 16) is the same as being "led" by the Spirit. (Vs. 18)  In either case Paul is saying
                we are to follow the teachings of the Spirit as revealed through inspired men.

Conclusion: As much as some would like to think otherwise; --- there is no such thing as a "lukewarm" Christian or a
                   "lukewarm" partaker of the Holy Spirit.  (Rev. 3:14-16)  14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write; 
                   --- The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 'I know your deeds, 
                   that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither 
                   hot nor cold, I will spit (vomit) you out of My mouth.  (Vs. 19) He adds; ---"Those whom I love, I reprove and 
                   discipline be zealous therefore and repent."

4. Tasted the good word of God:
      The apostle Peter writes to those who are chosen; (1 Pet. 1:22-25)  22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified
    your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again, not
    of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "ALL FLESH 
    IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER 
    FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to 
     you.  (2:1-5) Continues; --- 1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 
    2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have
     tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice 
     and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood,
     to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  In (Heb. 2:9-10) we read; --- But we do see Him 
     who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory 
     and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things,
     and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
       To "taste" the word of God is to "put on" the armor of God.  That is, to "taste" something (in this context) is 
     to "experience" it to the utmost. This is what I believe Paul alludes to in (Eph. 6:17) ; --- And take the helmet of 
     salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Conclusion: Just as our Lord Jesus had to "taste of death" for you and I in order to become the perfect author of 
                  our salvation through His sufferings, we must achieve the full experimental and delightful "taste" of His 
                  word as obedient believers in order to realize that salvation. That's why brother James said; ---
                  (Js. 1:25)  But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a
                  forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 

5. Participants in the powers of the age to come:
     The Greek word for power is dunameis specifically implies "miraculous power" and refers to the works of the Holy 
   Spirit in revealing truth. The term "age to come" or "world to come" is a combination of the Greek aion (Messianic 
   period, present or future); and mello (That  which was for, will, or would be yet) In other words, most likely applied to 
   the Christian or gospel age, but also in some cases to the New Earth.  So this must apply to the Christian age (33 AD 
   until Christ comes again). Without going into another study altogether, suffice it to say; --- Some of these "powers"
    were only meant to be temporal and once having served God's purpose, they were done away. For instance; gifts, or
    "powers" of a miraculous nature". This is what Paul explains in (1 Cor. 12, 13 and 14)  He sums the matter up in
     (1 Cor. 13:8-10)  8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will 
     cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect 
     comes, the partial will be done away. James refers to the completed revelation of God, as "the perfect law, of liberty",
     as noted above. (Js. 1:25)  Brother Jude put it thusly; (Jude V.3) --- I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you 
      contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. The gifts of a miraculous nature were
      given for three reasons: 1. Revelation of God's N.T. word  2. Confirmation of that revelation and 3. Edification of the
      saints.
 
                                                                   Some of God's Warnings 

(Genesis 6:3) Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, " 
(Num. 15:30-31) 30 "But the person who does [anything] presumptuously, [whether he is] native-born or a stranger, one 
brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word  of the 
LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt [shall be] upon him."
(Prov. 1:24-33)  24 "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because 
you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your 
terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish 
come upon you. 28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently,  but they will not find me. 
29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel [And] 
despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to 
me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil." 
(Hos. 4. 16-17)  16 "Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large
 field? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone." 
(Rom. 1:24,26 & 28) 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be 
dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than 
the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women 
exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural 
function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in 
their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave 
them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

(2 Thess. 2:10-12) 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the 
truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 
12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

The remedy: 
(Isa. 55:6-7)   6  "Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, 
And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, 
For He will abundantly pardon. 
                                                  *************************************

Overall Conclusion:
    A short excerpt from the notes of Albert Barns would seem to go well here; ---
     "There is a regular gradation here from the first elements of piety in the soul to its highest developments; and, 
    whether the apostle so designed it or not, the language describes the successive steps by which a true Christian 
    advances to the highest stage of Christian experience. 

The mind is: 
(a.) enlightened; then 
(b.) tastes the gift of heaven, or has some experience of it; then 
(c.) it is made to partake of the influences of the Holy Ghost; then 
(d.) there is experience of the excellence and loveliness of the word of God; and 
(e.) finally, there is a participation of the full "powers" of the new dispensation--of the extraordinary energy which
      God puts forth in the gospel to sanctify and save the soul."
 
 The apostle Paul worded it thusly; --- (Rom. 1:16) the gospel is the power of God unto salvation---. 
                                                                                                                      Humbly submitted
                                                                                                                           Earl Wilburn