Remember, the author of Hebrews defines true believers as those who hold firmly to the end the confidence they had at first (Heb 3:6, 14). He does not define true believers as those who have just “been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, [and] tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age” (Heb 6:4-5). These people would be like the seed that fell in the rock and thorns (Matt 13:20-22). Like these seeds, they will end up not growing to maturity, i.e. they will not hold firmly until the end; therefore, they will not be saved because they were not real Christians. Real Christians go on to maturity like the seed on good ground (Matt 13:23). What is said in Hebrews 6:4-5 about being “enlightened, tasting the heavenly gift, sharing in the Holy Spirit, and tasting the goodness of God’s word” is true for real Christians during their initial experience of salvation.

For those who experience the things mentioned in Heb 6:4-5, verse 6 warns against falling away. Those “who have fallen away” are those who initially repent but then return to a life of willful sin and consistently refuse to repent (Heb 6:6). Such people prove their lack of faith and demonstrate that they are not real Christians. These people will not be saved because they adamantly hold on to their sins.

Real Christians cannot lose their salvation (John 10:28-30; Rom 8:38-39; Eph 4:30; Jude 24); therefore, Heb 6:4-6 is discussing people who at first seem to become Christians, but in the end they are just like the seed on the rocky ground and among the thorns. Given the possibility that some so-called Christians may be self-deceived and not be real, we should take Paul’s advice to heart—“work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12).