Flip-Flopper?

Warning: This one is long, but should only take five minutes to read...

I know the sermon hasn't been posted yet from this past week. It will be shortly when our tech guy gets back from vacation. I have been asked as to what exactly had I flip flopped on this past week? I wanted to take a moment and be clear.

Up unto Saturday night around 6pm I was under the impression that Hebrews 6:4-6 was a description of someone who is truly born again, who had fallen away (not a complete falling away), and was in a continuing pattern of sin. Because of their continuance in gross sin it is impossible for this person in Hebrews 6 to be brought back to repentance. However, if they were to turn from their sin, they could repent. (More on this in a week).

The point I flip flopped on is the position of those here described as related to whether or not they are standing in grace. These people in Hebrews 6 ARE NOT true believers though they call themselves believers. Well, how did I come to the first conclusion and what changed my mind?

THE FIRST CONCLUSION.
One tiny word--tasted. The author uses this word here to describe these people. They have tasted of the heavenly gift (salvation, faith), the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. Now many would say (which I NOW agree with) that tasting is not the same as ingesting and full participation. The problem I had with this view before last Saturday was the fact that the same author uses the same word to describe Jesus in his redemptive work. It says that Jesus "tasted" death. If one is to draw the conclusion that these people in Hebrews 6 only tasted of something without full participation then why did the author use the same word to describe Jesus who REALLY did die?

A difficult question to be sure. Here is the short answer. Jesus did taste of death in the same way that all of God's children will taste of death. But death will not defeat the true believer. In fact Paul challenges death in I Corinthians 15--oh death where is thy sting? Grave where is your victory. Death did not have victory over Jesus--even though he physically died--he physically and spiritually rose again to defeat the grave. We are also told in Scripture that Jesus drank the cup that the Father had given to him. He also humbled himself completely to death. He tasted and he drank.

THE FLIP FLOP.
Why did I flip flop? As I studied the words "enlightened, tasted, partaking" a little further it became clear to me through several commentaries that none of these words describe salvation. In fact, none of these words are used anywhere else in Scripture to describe someone who is truly saved. It is that simple. It would be different if the author had said,

For in the case of those who have once been regenerated and have been justified and sanctified, and have received the gift of faith from God,and then have rejected Christ, it is impossible to renew them again to salvation...

But the author does not say this. As a reformed thinker I put a lot of theological weight on the words of Scripture. This case is no different.

WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT MY VIEW?
I believe these words may be describing non-Christians but they are written to and a warning for ANYONE who calls themself a Christian. Because it is possible that the most fervent outward believer is not truly saved if they are only tasters rather than the real deal.

Jesus Christ demands full commitment from his followers. A person who is truly a believer is sold out, the real deal, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Let me put it this way with an illustration. When I was younger I would only put my toes in the ocean. There was no way I was going to get into that water with those scary waves. As I got older I finally picked up a surfboard. I was determined to become a surfer. Now I look for the biggest waves and when I find them, I charge out full steam ahead. These people in Hebrews 6 are like many self proclaimed Christians in that they are standing on the beach with their toes in the water. They see and taste the blessing but they never experience the thrill of riding the wave. They are what surfers like to call fake surfers--posers.

I don't want to be a poser and so I continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling--all Christians are called to this--work it out--be diligent--if we do these things, we will never fall.