A
Note how John832 fails to quote Heb 6:9 where it is explained how the preceding apostasy is not about saved persons, but mere professors. Professors may depart; but it proves that they were never part of the Church to begin with (1 John 2).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Hebrews 6:4-6
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
how can one look at these verses and say that these people were never saved.
They were once enlightened, they tasted of the heavenly gift, they have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted of the goodness of the word of God, and you're telling me they were never saved? It says they fell away. They couldn't have fallen from someplace they had never been. It is quite simple.