Would like to hear what you believe the following means:
Romans 6:1-8
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
The same point Father Abraham made to the rich man in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man wanted a miracle shown to his relatives so they would repent. Abraham said if they won’t listen to the prophets (though they may claim to) then they won’t ever believe and repent, not even if shown a miracle. Thus, if one has received the good news (ie. tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit) and still doesn’t believe and repent though they may have claimed to (ie. fallen away from it) then they will never believe and come to repentance and will never be saved. Thus, their fate will be the same as those in Mat. 7:21-23 who falsely claim to have believed and come to repentance. (”I NEVER knew ye”)
It means if they don’t repent that they are close to being cursed and will be burned.
1 Co 3: 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.