Are apostates false Christians?

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While it is certainly unlikely for one to return from such a willful apostasy after receiving so many blessings, this passage has traditionally been understood to refer to a second baptism (notice the focus on illumination and Christ’s crucifixion) and especially in the context of the rest of the Scriptures. As one of the ancient fathers, St. John Chrysostom put it with regard to this very passage (since I can’t paste it all here, for the whole exposition see sections 5 to 9 in the link below):
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/240209.htm

Some excerpts
8.What then (you say)? Is there no repentance? There is repentance, but there is no second baptism: but repentance there is, and it has great force, and is able to set free from the burden of his sins, if he will, even him that has been baptized much in sins, and to establish in safety him who is in danger, even though he should have come unto the very depth of wickedness. And this is evident from many places. For, says one, does not he that falls rise again? Or he that turns away, does not he turn back to [God]? Jeremiah 8:4 It is possible, if we will, that Christ should be formed in us again: for hear Paul saying, My little children of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you. Galatians 4:19 Only let us lay hold on repentance.
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What then is the medicine of Repentance and how is it made up? First, of the condemnation of our own sins; For (it is said) mine iniquity have I not hid Psalm 32:5; and again, I will confess against myself my lawlessness unto the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my heart. And Declare thou at the first your sins, that you may be justified. Isaiah 43:26 And, The righteous man is an accuser of himself at the first speaking. Proverbs 18:17

Secondly, of great humbleness of mind…

Other things too must be added to humbleness of mind if it be such as the blessed David knew, when he said, A broken and a contrite heart God will not despise. Psalm 51:17 For that which is broken does not rise up, does not strike, but is ready to be ill-treated and itself rises not up. Such is contrition of heart: though it be insulted, though it be evil entreated, it is quiet, and is not eager for vengeance.

And after humbleness of mind, there is need of intense prayers, of many tears, tears by day, and tears by night: for, he says, every night, will I wash my bed, I will water my couch with my tears. I am weary with my groaning. Psalm 6:6 And again, For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, and mingled my drink with weeping. Psalm 102:9

And after prayer thus intense, there is need of much almsgiving: for this it is which especially gives strength to the medicine of repentance. And as there is a medicine among the physicians’ helps which receives many herbs, but one is the essential, so also in case of repentance this is the essential herb, yea, it may be everything. For hear what the Divine Scripture says, Give alms, and all things shall be clean. Luke 11:41 And again, By almsgiving and acts of faithfulness sins are purged away. Proverbs 16:6 And, Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms will do away with great sins. Sirach 3:30
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One can be a faithful Christian and later become an apostate. Becoming an apostate does not mean the person was never Christian to begin with.
 
Benny12 said:
Do you believe that a true born again Christian can backslide a few years and then come back to be restored?
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Certainly, as I’ve seen it happen (I’m willing to bet there are a few “reverts” on these very forums.) But one can only be born again (aka baptized) once.
 
Benny12 said:
Hebrews 6:4-6 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance

So what group does this apply to?
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Have you never heard of hyperbole? Of cutting off your hand or plucking out your eye if it causes you to sin? Or is that an absolute statement? The author of Hebrews is providing a stern warning. As we see in the parable of the prodigal son, one son lived with his father, went away for a few years, and came back with open arms. It’s not a matter of the son never having lived with the father and then coming home. He was there, he left, and he returned. Similarly with the parables of the lost coin and the lost sheep.
 
This commentary by Bishop Haydock speaks to it better than I can.
Ver. 4. &c. For it is impossible, [1] &c. This is an obscure place, differently expounded, which shows how rash it is for the ignorant to pretend to understand the holy Scriptures. Many understand these words, it is impossible, &c. of the sacrament of penance, or of returning to God by a profitable repentance, especially after such heinous sins as an apostacy from the true faith. But then we must take the word impossible, to imply no more than a thing that is very hard to be done, or that seldom happens, as when it is said, (Matt. xix. 26.) that it is impossible for rich men to be saved: and (Luke xvii. 1.) it is impossible that scandals should not come. For it is certain that it is never impossible for the greatest sinners to repent by the assistance which God offers them, who has also left the power to his ministers to forgive in his name the greatest sins. But others (whose interpretation seems preferable) expound this of baptism, which can only be given once. The words here in the text very much favour this exposition, when it is said, who were once enlightened. For baptism in the first ages was called the sacrament of illumination. See S. Denis de cælesti Hierar. c. iv. S. Greg. Naz. &c. The following words also agree with baptism, when they are said to have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost; to have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; all which signify the interior graces, the miraculous gifts, and power of working miracles, which they who were baptized frequently received in those days. — They cannot be renewed again unto penance. That is, they cannot be renewed again by baptism, which is also called a renovation. Tit. iii. 5. Their sins may indeed be forgiven them in the sacrament of penance, but this is not a renovation like that in baptism, in which both the guilt, and all pain due to past sins, is remitted; whereas in the sacrament of penance, though the guilt, and the eternal punishments due to sins be remitted, yet many times, temporal punishments, to be undergone either in this world or the next, still remain due to such as have been great sinners, to them who by relapsing into the same sins, have crucified again to themselves the Son of God, making a mockery of him; i.e. who, insensible of the favours received, have ungratefully renewed sin; to take away which Christ suffered, was mocked, crucified, &c. Wi. —
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Continued in the next post
 
Macknight observes that Beza, without any authority from ancient MSS. hath inserted in his version Si, If they shall fall away, that this text might not appear to contradict the Calvinistic doctrine of the assurance of salvation. The English translators have followed Beza. The biblical student will be glad to find Dr. Wells, in his elegant edition of the New Testament, frequently restoring and preferring those readings which agree with the Latin Vulgate. The same just tribute is paid to the Vulgate by Walton, Mills, Gerard, Griesbach, Harwood, and others. Indeed the Vulgate has been declared authentic in a general council, and probably expresses more of the true reading of the original or autograph, than any Greek edition that is now to be found, and certainly much more than modern versions, which are stained more or less by the preconceived sentiments of the translators. — For the earth that drinketh in the rain, &c. He bringeth this comparison, to give them a horror of abusing God’s graces and favours, and of making themselves guilty of hell fire. Wi.
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Benny12 said:
I’m not asking for an explanation of the text.

I’m asking who are these people that it’s impossible for the to come back?
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Apostates, but your reading of the text is out of context, hence the explanation of the text.
 
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A person who asks for a burger doesn’t want chicken nuggets. Do you have references to actual passages?
 
Here are some plain text references from scripture:

Matthew 10:33
Jeremiah 2:19
Proverbs 6:12-15
Isaiah 30:1
Luke 18:8

I’ll leave you to look them up.

Peace.
 
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Julius_Caesar said:
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Bithynian:
The issue is that term ‘false Christian’ is not attested within Scripture.
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Neither is the term Trinity and yet here we are.
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I still don’t understand what you mean by false Christian. In your own words what do you mean by that?
 
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