Bridge Out Ahead

🛤️ “Bridge Out Ahead”:
Understanding the Reality of
the “Falling Away” in Scripture

An Examination of the Sincerity of Following Christ, Becoming a Disciple in Christ

🌉 Introduction: The Bridge and the Fall

Imagine a massive, beautifully constructed bridge connecting two cliffs—one cliff represents God’s promise of eternal life, the other humanity’s current condition. That bridge is faith, obedience, and truth in Christ. But along that bridge are warning signs—“Weak Structure Ahead,” “Do Not Detour,” “Stay on Path.” Some ignore the signs. Some slow down. Others… fall.

Scripture calls this “falling away.” But what does that mean? Is it real? Who does it happen to? When and how?

Let’s walk carefully, reading the signs, testing the structure of Scripture, and evaluating the warnings.

🧱 1. What Is “Falling Away”?

“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened… and then have fallen away, since they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt.”
— Hebrews 6:4-6

“Falling away” Definition (Greek: “parapiptō”) —means to deviate or turn away decisively from the faith path.

Falling away is not a stumble; it is a deliberate departure from truth, a collapse of what was once firm. The bridge didn’t break from weather; someone ignored the structural warnings. This is not a mere stumble or temporary weakness. It is a deliberate rejection of truth after an experience. It is a full on apostasy, what we could see as a conscious departure from Christ.

It’s not simply backsliding—which often includes remorse and the pull to return. This is an apostasy, a conscious rejection of truth, Christ, and the way of salvation.

📌 Theological Sidebar: Does “Tasted” Mean It Wasn’t Real?

Some say the word “tasted” means these people never truly converted. But this is not the case.

• • The Greek geuomai (to taste) means to experience fully—not just sample.

  • Jesus Himself “tasted death” (Hebrews 2:9), clearly not a partial experience.

  • Those described in Hebrews 6 were “once enlightened,” “shared in the Holy Spirit,” and “tasted the heavenly gift” — indicating genuine participation, not shallow exposure.

These individuals were real believers who walked the bridge but then chose to turn away.

🕰️ 2. When Does Falling Away Happen?

“Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed…”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:3

“Rebellion” (Greek: apostasia) — a standing away, a mutiny against divine truth.

Falling away happens in critical seasons—times of deception, false teaching, persecution, and cultural drift. Ultimately, when someone believes a lie, or has been duped, or spiritually led astray, the good news is God cares for His own, and will bring about all sorts of things that will bring His own back in order. Yet, Paul speaks of a great falling away before the return of Christ, where many once on the bridge remove themselves, seduced by other “paths.”

Jesus, too, warns:

“Many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.”
— Matthew 24:10

It’s not always a dramatic event—it’s gradual decay. The fall is often gradual—like rust weakening a bridge before collapse. Steel beams rust before they snap. So, hearts drift before they defect.

📍 3. Where Does It Happen?

Not in the world, but in the visible community of believers. You can’t fall from where you’ve never stood.

“They went out from us, but they did not belong to us.”
— 1 John 2:19

The bridge of faith is for travelers—those who heard the call and started walking. Some walk off intentionally. Others veer off course, led by alternate teachings or desires.

Falling away occurs within the church, where truth is known but no longer loved. These are people who started on the bridge but turned back or left the path intentionally. It could be that they (once enlightened) played the game, or had a surface encounter, but inwardly never fully committed.

⚙️ 4. How Does One Fall Away?

Like a bridge collapse, it’s often due to:

• Neglect of maintenance (Hebrews 2:1: “we must pay greater attention…”)

• Compromise of structure (1 Timothy 4:1: “some will renounce the faith…”)

• Overloading the path with worldliness (James 4:4: “friendship with the world is enmity with God”)

“Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
— Hebrews 3:12

The road to apostasy is paved with neglect, deception, and pride. Each rots the beams. Silence from the watchmen weakens the warnings.

🙍🏽‍♂️ 5. Who Falls Away?

Only those who have once tasted. Again, this may not be someone who had a full encounter of trusting God, but were on the surface just going through the motions.

“…those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit…”
— Hebrews 6:4

This includes:

• Professing believers

• Teachers of truth who depart (2 Peter 2:1-3)

• Entire groups swept away in last days deception (Revelation 2–3 letters)

The fall isn’t for those outside the faith—it is an inner collapse. The “bridge” fails for those who were once safely on it but chose to reroute or stop maintaining their faith walk.

📌 Theological Sidebar: Does “Tasted” Mean It Wasn’t Real?

Some argue that because Hebrews 6:4 says those who “tasted the heavenly gift” fell away, they must not have been truly converted. But is that biblically accurate?

Let’s break it down:

🧾 Greek Word Study

Tasted = geuomai (γεύομαι)
Definition: to taste, partake, experience fully — not just sample.

🔁 Used of Jesus Himself:

“…so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
— Hebrews 2:9
✝️ Jesus didn’t “sample” death—He fully experienced it.
👉 Therefore, “tasting the heavenly gift” implies a real, personal experience of salvation.

📖 What They Experienced:

• “Once enlightened” — true understanding of gospel truth (Heb. 10:32)

• “Tasted the heavenly gift” — the benefits of salvation in Christ

• “Shared in the Holy Spirit” — direct participation, not mere observation (Greek: metochos)

• “Tasted the Word and powers of the age to come” — they knew the Word’s truth and saw the Spirit’s power

🎯 Conclusion: These were not near-converts or casual observers—they were real participants. The fall was real, the tragedy devastating.

🧠 So Why Did They Fall?

They didn’t fall from ignorance—they turned away after real experience. They departed from the bridge, not because it failed, but because they chose another path.

“They are crucifying again the Son of God…” (Heb. 6:6)
This is a conscious, repeated rejection—not accidental, not impulsive.

⚠️ Pastoral Takeaway:

A believer must not live in fear of falling away unintentionally, but should walk in reverent awareness, hold firm to the truth, and remain teachable.

🔍 The Passage in Question:

“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away…”
— Hebrews 6:4–6

🍽️ “Tasted” vs. “Consumed”: Were They Truly Converted?

The Greek word for “tasted” is γεύομαι (geuomai), which means to experience, to partake, to try by experience. It does not imply just a superficial “nibble.” In fact, Jesus “tasted death” using the same Greek word:

“But we do see Jesus… so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
— Hebrews 2:9

Clearly, Jesus did not merely “sample” death. He fully experienced it.

So in Hebrews 6, the “tasting” of the heavenly gift, the word of God, and the powers of the age to come implies real experiences, not just casual exposure. These people didn’t just observe the bridge—they walked on it, benefited from it, but turned around or stepped off.

🧠 But Then Why Didn’t It Last?

This is the heart of your question: Was their conversion genuine if they later fell away?

Let’s think with theological precision.

Option 1: They Were Genuinely Converted but Willfully Rejected Christ

This is the view Hebrews most plainly supports. Their experiences are described as:

• Enlightened

• Tasted the heavenly gift

• Shared in the Holy Spirit

• Tasted the Word of God and the powers of the coming age

The progression suggests a full entrance into spiritual realities. These aren’t just “interested people” or those “near conversion.” They shared in the Spirit.

The term “shared in the Holy Spirit” implies koinōnia—participation, fellowship. You don’t share in someone you haven’t encountered deeply.

So yes, by all textual evidence, their conversion was real. But apostasy—a full, conscious rejection—nullifies what was once theirs.

This aligns with:

“If we deliberately continue sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”
— Hebrews 10:26

Option 2: They Were Never Truly Converted—Just Externally Involved

Some argue these people had spiritual exposure without transformation. That their tasting was informational, not relational. However, that doesn’t account for the intensity of the language—especially “shared in the Holy Spirit.”

If they were never saved, what then did they fall away from?

You can’t fall from a place you never stood in.

🛤️ Bridge Analogy Revisited: Were They On the Bridge or Near It?

To return to our analogy: These people stepped onto the bridge, walked some distance, saw the beauty of the journey, felt the safety of its structure—but then, turned back, or worse, jumped off.

Their experience was authentic—but not enduring.

That’s why Scripture continually emphasizes continuance:

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
— Matthew 24:13

“Remain in me, as I remain in you.”
— John 15:4

⚠️ Practical Warning & Pastoral Wisdom

This truth serves as both a comfort and a caution:

• Comfort: You don’t fall away accidentally. Apostasy is a deliberate, informed, and persistent turning.

• Caution: We must watch our walk, maintain the bridge, and help others stay on the path.

🧠 Final Thought:

So, were they truly converted?

Biblically, yes. They weren’t just tasters at a table—they were guests who sat down, ate, and left the table in rebellion.

They didn’t fall for lack of experience; they fell in spite of it.

🚧 6. Can Restoration Happen After Falling Away?

Here’s the sobering answer:

“…it is impossible to restore again to repentance those… who have fallen away.”
— Hebrews 6:6

Why? Because they’re not wounded, they’re defiant. Like demolishing a bridge and then asking it to rebuild itself.

Yet, if the heart is still tender, if repentance is sought genuinely, God’s mercy is unmatched.

“Return, O faithless children, I will heal your faithlessness.”
— Jeremiah 3:22

God knows who has truly fallen and who is merely lost but willing to be found.

🔦 7. The Final Warning and Comfort

“But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.”
— Hebrews 10:39

The bridge still stands—for those who walk in truth, hold to Christ, and listen to the warning signs.

Yes, falling away is real. But so is staying strong.

Let this serve as a spiritual “Bridge Inspection Report.” Check your foundation. Inspect your beams. Fasten the truth tighter.

🛤️ Closing Analogy: Stay on the Bridge

The bridge to God was built by Christ alone. It spans the abyss of death, sin, and deception. It is maintained through obedient faith, reinforced by truth, and traveled by the Spirit-led.

Those who fall away didn’t trip—they turned.

But those who endure to the end will cross safely.

🙏 Benediction

May the God of all grace uphold you on the narrow path, guard you from deception, and strengthen every joint and beam of your faith, so that having crossed the bridge, you may rejoice in the city not made with hands, where no bridge shall ever fall.

Grace & Peace
Dr. John Roberts THD