Remember, the two views that destroy the force of Hebrews 6:4-6 are (1) that true Christians are not being referred to, only those who had made a light profession of faith; and (2) the situation is hypothetical because were a believer to fall away he would be crucifying Christ again.

I would like to counter these viewpoints by stating as follows:

* True Christians indeed are being referred to in Hebrews 6:4-6 and are being warned against falling away from Christ.

* The situation by no means is hypothetical. The writer is warning his readers that to fall away from Christ is inviting destruction.

From beginning to end the writer of Hebrews is exhorting the Jewish believers to press into the rest of God, warning them of the dire results of stopping in their pursuit of Christ. With your permission I would like to take you through some of the verses to show you the continuity of the argument.

There is no question in my mind but that the Christians in America have been grossly misled and if repentance and a turning to God does not follow we are in trouble big time.

The warning begins as follows.

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:1-3)

How often have we spoken to the unsaved about neglecting so great salvation? This expression is not addressed to the unsaved but to Christians. It is not speaking of ignoring salvation but of neglecting the salvation one already possesses.

There ought to be a law against preaching such verses as Romans 6:23 and Hebrews 2:3 to the unsaved when the contexts reveal clearly they are addressed to the believers!

So the stage has been set. The writer is warning believers against drifting away from the things they have heard. This exhortation and warning continues throughout the Book of Hebrews until it concludes with:

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. (Hebrews 13:22)

Obviously the letter is written to the "holy brethren" (3:1)

Now let's look at a few verses in between Hebrews 2:3 and 13:22 to establish our thesis that:

* True Christians indeed are being referred to in Hebrews 6:4-6 and are being warned against falling away from Christ.

* The situation by no means is hypothetical. The writer is warning his readers that to fall away from Christ is inviting destruction.

Here we go!

To be continued.