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Using your eisegisis, we can make God's word contain contradictions.

Can these be idle words?

Hebrews 6:

[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost

[5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come

[6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Paul's expression of confidence in his sheep is understandable, but his words commit nothing.

And what things accompany salvation that is for all from Adam to the end conditional, for those that have endured, and to be received “in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump?”

How much of God's word are we to dismiss to make room for imaginary unconditionally guaranteed 'salvation?'

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The problem is obvious. The author of Hebrews was not adequately evangelized and discipled in Calvinism. Perhaps some books from prominent Calvinist scholars can aid him in re rendering the Greek so it conforms to Calvinist doctrine and does not confuse people.

Eisigesis indeed. I see nothing in these three verses which say the apostate was in fact a saved individual, elect, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and so forth. That isn't there. To say that it is is to import it illicitly into the passage (true "eisigesis"). If some modern readers cannot help but see here a saved individual turning apostate, that only reflects the success of the pelagian and semi-pelagian heresies, which have become so rampant in our era that they discolor the plain reading of Scripture for many people, most of whom have no idea they are getting into bed with an old and wicked heresy.

Still, some may wonder, how could such things be said of unsaved persons. Yet consider the written record on how the Holy Spirit has dealt with utterly lost persons. He filled and spoke through Saul, who was an incorrigible enemy of God and the messianic line of David. He empowered Judas along with the other apostles to perform healing, casting out devils, and any miracles such as God saw fit to work through him, though Jesus said he was, even at that time, a devil. Not later, not saved then lost. But fully lost. Yet God had a purpose to work through him, and would fulfill it, yet not so as to save the son of perdition, but to accomplish the purposes of His own will. Who beside Judas has ever been closer to the majesty of God's power working among men, truly a partaker of the workings of the Holy Spirit, while yet being as lost as the Devil himself? Utterly lost, yet for a time, a partaker of the Holy Spirit, according to the will of God.

I know this isn't easy, BTW. I respect the variety of opinion on this passage. Much better analysts than I have simply skipped it for justifiable fear of getting it wrong. So I do not begrudge you your opinion. But each of us comes to this passage with convictions built on other information, other doctrines and passages of Scripture. Yes, I am totally convinced each and every elect person will endure all the way to the end and be saved. We could have an entire thread bringing forth the evidence just on that. For now, just understand that once that principle has been accepted, it is impossible to read passages like this as contradictory to the remainder of the God-breathed Scriptures. They both must be true. God is not in conflict with Himself. If I can't see that right away, it's my job to keep looking at it until I can see it. Let God be true, but every man a liar.

However, just because an elect person is definitely going to make it, that does not mean it's wrong to issue a fiery warning such as this passage to a congregation of those presumed to be believers. I think of Johnathan Edwards and his famous sermon "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God." This sermon was so powerful it is widely credited with being the trigger for the Second Great Awakening in America. But it was preached to presumed Christians, challenging them to their core as to whether they were really ready to face eternity at a moment's notice. This demonstrates how God not only ordains the end but the means to that end. If someone is elect, they will doubtless need at certain points in their life to be challenged whether they are right with God. Everything that happens to us as believers works to our good, even if it seems terrifying at the moment.

So in this passage in Hebrews, we have a terrifying look at what it would mean for a Jewish person to come to a full realization that Jesus is the Messiah, including witnessing of miracles and authentication by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit, then to turn one's back on all that and return to the shadow-world of Judaism, to willingly identify with those who had engineered the crucifixion of Jesus, and would do so again and again, given the chance. Framed this way, it does sound almost exactly like the unpardonable sin of which Jesus spoke, missing only the attribution of Jesus' power to Satan.

The truly catastrophic aspect of this repudiation of Christ is that it is a one-way passage. There is no possibility of reversal. None. Therefore we can conclude at least this one thing. Whatever this passage teaches, it does NOT teach that one can be lost, saved, lost, saved, in an endless cycle of uncertainty. Once this kind of repudiation of Christ has occurred, the die is cast, and eternal doom is certain. One strike and you're out. That's hardball.

And it corresponds well to the case of Judas. The Scripture even says he repented, but never in any passage is he readmitted to his apostolic status, but is ever after known as the son of perdition, the archetype of all traitors. Like Esau, he traded away the most precious thing he had, personal access to Jesus, for worthless metal. This despite the full enlightenment of Jesus' teaching, the proof of Jesus' divinity through the ministration of miracles, and participation in the conduct of those miracles by the power of God's Holy Spirit. And yet, in the midst of it all, Jesus calls him a devil.

This also reminds one of what Jesus said concerning the final judgment:

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These were people, like Judas, who appeared to be in God's inner circle, at least in their own minds, and could make claim to casting out devils and many wonderful works. Yet Jesus does not say, "I knew you but you blew it." No, He says He never knew them. At no time were these lost ones redeemed, adopted sons and daughters, sealed by the Spirit, inseparable from the love of God in Christ, children who cry "Abba Father to God from the depths of their heart, whose spirit testifies that they are indeed His children, and the sheep who hear His voice, and follow only Him. At no time did they advance from those who merely knew the truth and saw the Spirit work and tasted heavenly things and the powers of the age to come, to those whose sins were washed away in the blood of Jesus, who were translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, who were made a new creation, given a new heart, raised from death to life by faith in the Son of God.

Which is why it is so important not to overlook verse 9:

Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

ES, it isn't that Paul is saying this that encourages me to see a difference between the terrors of apostasy and the "better things" that accompany salvation. That contrast was put there by God Himself through the Holy Spirit for our encouragement. Anyone who reads those first few verses and doesn't end up in the spiritual equivalent of the fetal position shaking like a leave just isn't paying attention. I actually had that happen to me physically years ago, so I know what I'm talking about. I had just climbed a steep rock face, in street shoes no less, at the request of some friends. Chickie's Rock in the Susquehanna Valley, PA. I had no business doing that, and my body knew it better than I did. When I got to the top, I curled up into a fetal ball and stayed that way for many minutes before I relaxed enough to enjoy the magnificent sunset.

This passage entails a far greater fall than anything one can experience in this life, and any true Christian is going to be like the disciple at the Lord's Supper, worrying, "Is it me Lord? Am I going to be the traitor?" And God knows this about us. He knows our hearts in a way we could never know ourselves. And in this word of comfort He reaches down to us and grips our hand and promises us, by the word of His own testimony, that salvation brings better things than just seeing truth, or seeing miracles, or experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit:

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Peace,

SR

Using your eisegisis, we can make God's word contain contradictions. Can these be idle words?

The evidence is overwhelming that they are not idle words. Looking at Hebrews (3,6,10):

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

Enlightened = Photizo; compare with Luke 11:36, John 1 and John's extensive use of the root, Ephesians 1:18, etc.
Tasted = Geuomai, compare with 1 Peter 2:3
Heavenly = Epouranios, compare with Ephesians 2:6
Gift = Dorea, compare with John 4:10, Acts 2:38, Romans 5:15-17
Made = Ginomai, compare with Hebrews 3:14
Partakers = Metochos, compare with Hebrews 3:1, 3:14, 12:8
tasted the good word of God where word = rhema, compare with Romans 10:8
rejected = Adokimos, compare with Romans 1:28, 1 Cor 9:27, 2 Cor 13:5,6, 2 Tim 3:8, Titus 1:16,

Hebrews is written to believers. It is at odds with Calvinism. The solution is to reject Calvinism and harmonize all the scriptures. The LORD Jesus Christ warned true believers over and over and over again to watch and repent. Calvinism is a deception. The Catholics have this right. Watch and repent. We are not saved by believing we are saved.