"AndrewMorgan, post: 4995506, member: 317125" I ask - What do you make of Hebrews 6:4-6, where it says "It is impossible for those who were once enlightened...if they shall fall away, to renew themselves unto repentance...?
In regards to
once enlightened, which means to bring to light, to shed light upon or to cause light to shine upon some object, in the sense of illuminating it. John 1:9 describes Jesus, the "true Light," giving light "to every man," but this cannot mean the light of salvation, because not every man is saved.
The light either leads to the complete acceptance of Jesus Christ or produces condemnation in those who reject the light.
In regards to
renew them again unto repentance, this does not specify whether the repentance was merely outward or genuine accompanied by saving faith. They have in some sense "repented," there may be sorrow for sins and an attempt to turn from them (moral self-reformation) that non-believers can experience. There is repentance that falls short of salvation, which is clear from Hebrews 12:7 and the reference to Esau, as well as the repentance of Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:3.
Paul refers to a repentance “without regret that leads to salvation,” (2 Corinthians 7:10) which shows there is a repentance that does not lead to salvation. As with “belief/faith”, so too with “repentance,” we must always distinguish between what is substantial and results in salvation and what is spurious. Renew them again "unto salvation" would be conclusive evidence for a loss of salvation here.