Biblical Stance on Falling Away from Genuine Knowledge of God
Scripture presents spiritual alienation from God as a consequence of the Fall, affecting all humanity by nature. Ephesians 4:18 describes unbelievers as "darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts" [1]. This alienation represents a state of spiritual death, which Torrey's Topical Textbook identifies as the natural condition of all people apart from Christ, characterized by carnal-mindedness, walking in trespasses, and spiritual ignorance [2].
The Question of Apostasy
The more contested issue concerns whether those who have genuinely known God can fall away permanently. Hebrews 6:4-6 addresses this directly, warning about those who "have fallen away" after being "once enlightened." Jamieson-Fausset-Brown interprets this as describing "an entire and wilful apostasy," distinguishing it from lesser forms of spiritual declension [4]. The passage emphasizes impossibility: it is impossible to renew such apostates to repentance, since they "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh" [4]. The commentary notes that the original recipients had not yet reached this point, but faced the danger if they continued regressing rather than progressing toward maturity [4].
Hebrews 10:26 reinforces this warning, addressing those who "sin willfully" after receiving "full knowledge" of the truth [6]. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown clarifies this refers not to isolated acts but to "a state of sin," a violation of the entire New Testament economy [6]. The Greek present participle suggests ongoing, deliberate rebellion rather than momentary failure.
Backsliding and Return
Torrey's Topical Textbook distinguishes backsliding—"turning from God" and "leaving the first love"—from complete apostasy [3]. Backsliding brings its own punishment and tends to continue and increase, yet Scripture includes repeated exhortations to return, implying the possibility of restoration [3]. This suggests a spectrum: temporary spiritual decline differs from the irrevocable apostasy described in Hebrews.
Calvin connects the knowledge of God with moral transformation, arguing that only this knowledge can subdue humanity's lawless desires [5]. John Gill notes that spiritual ignorance extends to fundamental realities: God's holiness, sin's consequences, Christ's work, and the Spirit's grace [7]. The biblical witness thus presents genuine knowledge of God as transformative, raising questions about whether those who permanently abandon faith ever possessed authentic knowledge.
Sources
- Ephesians “being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; -- Ephesians 4:18”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Death, Spiritual — Alienation from God is -- Eph 4:18. Carnal-mindedness is -- Ro 8:6. Walking in trespasses and sins is -- Eph 2:1; Col 2:13. Spiritual ignorance is -- Isa 9:2; Mt 4:16; Lu 1:79; Eph 4:18. Unbelief is -- Joh 3:36; 1Jo 5:12. Living in pleasure is -- 1Ti 5:6. Hypocrisy is -- Re 3:1,2. Is a consequence of the fall -- Ro 5:15. Is the state of all men by nature -- Ro 6:13; 8:6. The fruits of, are dead works -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. A call to arise from -- Eph 5:14. Deliverance from, is through Christ -- Joh 5:24,25; Eph 2:5; 1Jo 5:12. Saints are raised from -- R”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Backsliding — Is turning from God -- 1Ki 11:9. Is leaving the first love -- Re 2:4. Is departing form the simplicity of the gospel -- 2Co 11:3; Ga 3:1-3; 5:4,7. God is displeased at -- Ps 78:57,59. Warnings against -- Ps 85:8; 1Co 10:12. Guilt and consequences of -- Nu 14:43; Ps 125:5; Isa 59:2,9-11; Jer 5:6; 8:5,13; 15:6; Lu 9:62. Brings its own punishment -- Pr 14:14; Jer 2:19. A haughty spirit leads to -- Pr 16:18. Proneness to -- Pr 24:16; Ho 11:7. Liable to continue and increase -- Jer 8:5; 14:7. Exhortations to return from -- 2Ch 30:6; Isa 31:6; Jer 3:12,14,22;”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 6:6: If--Greek, "And (yet) have fallen away"; compare a less extreme falling or declension, Gal 5:4, "Ye are fallen from grace." Here an entire and wilful apostasy is meant; the Hebrews had not yet so fallen away; but he warns them that such would be the final result of retrogression, if, instead of "going on to perfection," they should need to learn again the first principles of Christianity (Heb 6:1). to renew them again--They have been "once" (Heb 6:4) already renewed, or made anew, and now they need to be "renewed" over "again." crucify to themselve”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 17.19: and so deeply-rooted, that they seek their own advantage and not that of others, think that they are born for themselves and not for others, and would wish to make the whole world subject to them, if they could, as Plato has judiciously observed. Hence arise fraud, perjury, theft, robbery, and innumerable crimes of this sort; and therefore there is no other remedy for subduing this lawless desire than the knowledge of God . We see how the Prophet again makes the government of Christ to rest on faith and the doctrine of the gospel, as indeed ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 10:26: Compare on this and following verses, Heb 6:4, &c. There the warning was that if there be not diligence in progressing, a falling off will take place, and apostasy may ensue: here it is, that if there be lukewarmness in Christian communion, apostasy may ensue. if we sin--Greek present participle: if we be found sinning, that is, not isolated acts, but a state of sin [ALFORD]. A violation not only of the law, but of the whole economy of the New Testament (Heb 10:28-29). wilfully--presumptuously, Greek "willingly." After receiving "full knowledge (”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:18: Having the understanding darkened,.... Not that the natural faculty of the understanding is lost in men, nor the understanding in things natural and civil, and which is quick enough, especially in things that are evil; but in things spiritual it is very dark and ignorant, as about the nature and perfections of God, his holiness and righteousness; about sin and the consequences of it; about Christ, his person, office, and work, and salvation by him; about the Spirit, and his work of grace upon the soul; and about the Scripture, and the doctrines contained in it; and”