Hebrews – Once Enlightened

What does it mean to be “once enlightened”?

Hebrews 6:4-6 (WEB)

4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

To be enlightened is to be made aware. So what became apparent to those who fell away?

They noticed that they received a "heavenly gift", that they had some connection to the Holy Spirit, and that they were able to digest the "word of God”, and experienced the "powers" (plural) of the "age to come."

What is the “heavenly gift”?

Read: Hebrews 5:13; Romans 3:21-24; 5:12-19; and see if "the gift" isn’t the righteousness of God that is given to Christians.

How did they “partake of the Holy Spirit”?

We also receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” when we are baptized, Acts 2:38. We are told, “… God…​ has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Cor 1:22

They knew the Truth

Having “tasted” the word of God, we know they must have had faith since faith comes from hearing the word of God, Rom 10:17, that they knew the truth and at one time were free from sin. John 8:32

So, if they fall away, So, how do you renew (reach) someone like that?

The writer’s response: it’s impossible