Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words tasted and fall.
Reading
Hebrews 6:4–12—Don’t Fall Away!
Optional Reading
1 John 2:18–23
Keys for kids
- People can seem like Christians but then fall away.
- God gives a strong warning against falling away.
- We all must believe Christ was crucified for me.
Questions
- What are three options about who these people are?
- What is impossible for them?
- How should we take this warning?
Notes
(See below for all authors.)
In our verses today we have one of the strongest warnings in the book, a book that is already full of warnings. The picture that the author paints is a dead-end, unrecoverable error. Or to use the author’s own words, it is impossible…to restore to repentance (Heb 6:4, see also Heb 6:18, 10:4, 11:6).
Who are these who, it seems, can no longer repent? They have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come. There are three conflicting opinions on who these are. Some see them as real Christians who fall from the faith—which the Bible affirms in many places cannot happen (see John 10:27-28). Others see this as a warning from a hypothetical situation, but the author is not speaking hypothetically. The other view is that these are non-Christians who have become such a part of the visible church that everyone (including maybe even they themselves) thinks are Christians, but their falling away demonstrates that they are not (see 1 John 2:19).
So, if you are drifting, becoming lax in your Christian life, toying with pulling away from Christ—STOP! Return to your good Savior.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 51b, 111a
Prayer
- Pray for any you know who might be in danger of falling away.
- Pray for the reading and preaching of God’s word tomorrow.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.