Hebrews: A Journey of Faith; Pursuing Perservarance Week 4

Good morning, what a blessing it is to be in God’s House this morning. I missed you all last week. I appreciate Dean for always being willing to fill in. Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the book of Hebrews…probably the most complicated book in the N.T. This week we are going to continue that series. I’m going to pray, then I will recap what we’ve covered, then we will get started.

PRAY!

OK.

Week 1: Hebrews 1:1-4: Jesus is God, took human form.

Week 2: Hebrews 3-4: The importance of rest

Week 3: Hebrews 5: 1-10; 7: 1-10: Christ is our forever, perfect priest

Week 4: Hebrews 5:11-6: 12: A warning against immaturity & A hope for the future.

You might notice that last time we went from Hebrews 5 and then skipped to Hebrews 7. Today, we are covering what is in between those two portions of Hebrews. This is what makes Hebrews challenging to preach or teach from…as the author seemingly switches topics quite often.

The section of scripture we are dealing with today can be broken up into 3 sections:

Section I. Heb. 5:11-14

Section II. Heb. 6: 1-8

Section III. Heb. 6: 9-12

Although we are dividing them up, they are all related to one theme or idea. We will take each section, read it, then talk about it; then we will tie them together and apply the principles to our lives. Before I begin verse 11, I will give just a bit of context, you’ll see why when I start the section.

I mentioned it earlier, but in Hebrews chapter 5, up until verse 11 (where we will start), the author is talking about the O.T. High Priest for Israel. It was the High Priests job to offer sacrifices to God, on behalf of the people. Well, the author then goes on to say that the Messiah, Jesus, is now the one who fills that role…except, Jesus is so much better, as He laid down his own life for the sin sacrifice.

Starting with Hebrews 5 verse 11-14.

Hebrews 5:11-14 (God’s Word Translation)

11 We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard. 12 By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. 13 All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. 14 However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.

As I alluded to, our section begins with referencing the previous part of chapter 5. Imagine in your mind that you are listening to a preacher…and that preacher is teaching Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of mankind. I chose that because it represents an important topic in the Bible. So, the preacher is talking about how Jesus is arrested, tortured, and hung on a cross to die…then, the preacher looks around the room and no one is paying attention. One half of the congregation is sleeping and the other half are on their phones. So, the preacher pauses the story, frustrated by the fact that his audience either doesn’t care or doesn’t understand..and proceeds to address the issue of no one paying attention, due to not caring or not understanding.

That is exactly what the author of Hebrews is doing in the sections of scripture we are looking at this week. The preacher is telling the audience the good news of Christ…but pauses for a moment, in order to talk about a seemingly unrelated topic, but in fact, it is very much related.

The preacher lists 3 things in the audience that he finds troubling:

1. Lazy vs Excited

Hebrews 5:11

11 We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard.

The people are struggling in their faith in Christ, yet they have become lazy and no longer care about learning. In fact, in the Greek, the Preacher calls them “Ignorant.” Some pretty strong words by the preacher, that is for sure. If you have ever had the experience of trying to teach someone something then you might know the difference between someone eager to learn vs someone who has no desire to learn.

My previous job as a kids pastor brought me much joy, but it also could bring much frustration. Some of the kids would show up and be ready to learn…they would be excited to earn their “Southwest bucks” by bringing their Bibles and memorizing scripture. On the other hand, there were kids that were only there because mom and dad made them. They didn’t really care about learning…they were lazy.

This is exactly what the author of Hebrews is talking about. It is his sincere desire to explain the deeper mysteries of Christ..but they have become lazy…which makes it very hard to teach them.

2. Student vs Teacher

Heb. 5:12a

By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word

There was an Adam Sandler movie that came out many years ago called Billy Madison.

Born into extreme privilege, Billy Madison hasn’t had to work hard for anything in his life — he didn’t even finish grade school. When Billy’s father presents him with the shocking decision to keep him out of the will, Billy must now prove himself by repeating grades 1 – 12 all over again.

Although Billy was an adult…old enough to be a teacher himself, because he hadn’t done the work…and was lazy, he had to go back and become a student again.

Clearly, there are members of the biblical audience that have been serving Christ a long time…despite being a follower of Christ for a while, the preacher says that they had been lazy and refused to get past the most elementary aspects of their relationship with God. In fact, the phrase used by the author “elementary truths” refers to an alphabet…the very first things that we learn when we go to school.

We will talk more about these things when I apply the passages to our lives..for now though, we are just talking about what the author was saying.

The first section finishes out with the author switching up his examples…he goes from them being lazy, still having to be taught, to comparing their relationship with Christ to that of an infant.

3. Infant vs Adult

Hebrews 5: 12b-14

You need milk, not solid food. 13 All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. 14 However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.

If you have ever had the honor of either having a child of your own, or have been around very young babies…which most of us have, then you will understand exactly what the author is trying to say with this example. Laura (my wife) and I’s son (Sam) is in his 20’s now and married…so, neither of us really remember what it was like with him as a newborn…however, much more recently than that, we had the privilege of fostering a very young baby girl. We got her straight from the hospital, I think she was 3 or 4 days old. We had her for about 15 months…which means we saw her make the transition from milk or formula, to baby food, then, by the time she left, she was able to eat chicken nuggets and such. I remember when she experienced Ice Cream for the first time…it was precious.

Imagine though, if she never made the transition from formula to baby food to regular food…what would happen? She would be starved of important nutrients that her body needs to survive…

The author of Hebrews tells his audience that they are still on spiritual milk…they were “born again in Christ” long ago, but have not transitioned into solid food…which in turn is depriving them of the ability to what....”Know the difference between good and evil.” A baby does not know that the stove is hot…or that sticking a fork in the wall is bad. An attentive mom and dad will sometime react in a rather harsh manner, in order to protect that child…as they do not yet know what will harm them…again, we will come back to this in a bit.

It is for sure we can hear the frustration in the author’s tone as he addresses the people he cares for. The preacher desires to share the deeper mysteries of Christ with the people, but they are unable to receive it…as they are lazy and infantile in their faith. One important thing to understand about this book of the Bible is that the author knew the audience very well…that much is clear. We see similar things coming from the Apostle Paul in other parts of the New Testament. So, while it may seem harsh to us, we must put it all into the proper context of that time and place in history…and the fact that the author, and for that matter, God, desires that we grow in Him…even if we sometimes must bear with some hard truths.

Let’s move on to the next section. In the first group, the author is laying down the accusation…like when we look at our kid and say: I know you took that cookie, don’t even try to deny it, you have chocolate all over your face! Then here in the second section, the author then lays out the potential consequence for their laziness. “If you keep eating cookies before dinner, you will go without dinner and get the belt…or a time out these days.

As a quick side note, the passages I’m about to read are probably the 2nd most controversial passages in scripture, outside of Paul addressing women in the ministry. In fact, for those who subscribe to eternal security…this is there 1st Timothy 2 verse. I went back and forth on which translation to use for these passages, as the wording makes a big difference....so, for these passages I will be using the NIV, which is a good middle, between God’s Word translation and the harder to understand NASB

Hebrews 6:1–8 (NIV)

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. 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[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

I will address verses 4 -6 in a moment…but for now, lets continue on with the author’s train of thought. Remember, the preacher had accused his audience of not growing in their relationship with God…they were stuck trying to do things the old way, rather than embracing the new life that Christ offered them. Verses 1-3 mention a number of things that modern day Christians may not fully understand…rather than get bogged down and spend 20 minutes trying to explain them, I can sum them up by saying that the people being addressed were having a hard time putting away many of the old testament traditions…those things that the Israelites practiced before Christ died and was raised for our sins. The author is saying that those old traditions are not necessarily bad, but in order to grow in Christ, they must stop relying only on those things, and look to Christ, who offers something much greater.

For example, when we are learning to read, one of the first things we are taught is the ABC’s song…A, B. C, D, E, F, G…the song helps teach us how the alphabet it arranged…meaning c comes before d and so on. Even today, when I have to look up a word in the dictionary…my mind will still sometimes sing that tune…G…H…I.

Another example is from Sunday school, when we were kids…one of the things we did was learning the books of the bible…so, we learned a catchy tune to help us remember the order of the books…Books of the Bible song; and on and on.

Well, imagine, as we grow up, we never progress beyond such elementary things…that is exactly what the author of Hebrews is saying…that it’s time to move beyond the elementary teachings....and not abandon them, but to move forward.

Verses 4-8 are meant to serve as a warning against the “worst case senerio,” I guess you could say. While I won’t dive into the deeper ideas being presented; I would be remiss to not address it, as the author uses some very strong language.

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[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.

In technical terms, the author is talking about Apostasy…where a person, who once had a close relationship with the Lord, has walked away. I can tell you, from my own life, that I’ve known 3 individuals who would fit this description. These men once had successful ministries where God was clearly using them in a mighty way…but they not only walked away..but they now stand in defiance and direct opposition to the gospel of Christ.

If we put these 4 passages in their proper context, it is clear that the author of Hebrews is giving a warning…I do not believe he is making a theological argument. In other words, the point of the passages we are looking at today is not to establish new doctrine within the church, as it relates to the security of our faith in Christ. We know that is true, as the author goes on to talk about just how secure we are in Christ, later on in Hebrews. His point was to present, as I said, a worst case scenario that would grab the audiences attention. This section finishes out with the author giving an example of his previous statement:

God blesses the earth. So rain often falls on it, and it produces useful crops for farmers. 8 However, if the earth produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (God’s Word Translation)

In essence, he is saying that God created the earth to be a blessing…however, sometimes the earth will produce thorns..bad things that do not serve a good purpose.. He is saying that the same is true for people…God created humanity and longs to have communion with us…however, we can choose to reject that…and when we do, we are of no good use…just like the thorns are to the farmer.

As I said, some pretty strong language here. Let’s finish up with the last 4 verses, then we will close by taking all of this and apply it to you and I.

Hebrews 6:9-12 (God’s Word Translation)

9 Dear friends, even though we say these things, we are still convinced that better things are in store for you and that they will save you. 10 God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to prove that you’re working hard so that you will remain confident until the end. 12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.

The preacher’s audience, it seems, had begun their relationship with the Lord with great excitement…they recieved the free gift of salvation, and as a result, were grateful to the Lord…seeking to grow and serve others, just like we are commanded to do in scripture. The author of Hebrews began, back in verse 5 by accusing the people of being lazy in their faith…and that the initial excitement they once had was gone. They were struggling in their faith…so, like any good parent or leader should do…the preacher issues a stark warning of what the end result of their actions could lead to…however, in this final section of chapter 6, verses 9-12, the author seeks to lift them back up, reminding them that God is just and that, in reality, they are secure in Christ. Even though they may have gotten off track, God remembers who they were and what they are capable of....verse 12 is one of my favorites:

12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.

In other words, he is saying: listen…your faith needs to be fully placed in Christ…when that happens, you will no longer waiver.

Let’s finish up by taking these passages and applying them to you and I.

Back, many hundreds of years ago, before the famous reformation with Martin Luther, the church had become corrupt. The Church had become so powerful, that they forgot their purpose. Instead, it became all about being good enough, in order to please God…and if you could somehow be good enough, you might get to go to heaven. Then came the reformation…it put our focus back where it should be: on the fact that we can never be good enough and that we can not earn our way to heaven. If we could be good enough…then Christ’s death was meaningless.

“Roman’s Road”

Romans 3:23

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 3:10

“as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;”

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death,

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”

Romans 10:13

“for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

Romans 8:38–39

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

However, just as with all good things…over time…many of us forgot that once we claim to believe in Christ, or claim to have put our faith in Christ…we have certain responsibilities as followers of Christ.

The gift of salvation is free..but it is not cheap...

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we have a responsibility in our life with Christ....Jesus said so himself:

Matthew 16:24–25

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The book of Hebrews is often called the book of Faith…as the writer focuses on the importance of fully placing our faith in Christ. The preacher knows that until our faith in Christ is fully rooted, we will waiver and struggle. Even then, we can go through periods of having very strong faith, but then something happens and our faith gets shaken. That is exactly what was happening to the audience in the book of Hebrews…as a result, the preacher is saying…listen, you stared out great…but how you finish is more important than how you began.

Have you ever started a project but did not finish it? Perhaps I’m the only one who has ever done that!

We get that initial burst of enthusiasm and the excitement of something quite new, However, as the days or week, even months or years pass, we desire to have something else; wishing we could have some other novelty to excite us. The truth is, though, there is a goal ahead which will make it all worthwhile if only we can put one foot in front of another until we get there.

Living as a Christian is often like that, and the writer of Hebrews knows that his readers may be in just that situation. They began well, and by this stage they had already established an impressive track record of service to God and to one another. They had been a community devoted to hard work in order to put into practice the love which is at the centre of genuine Christian faith, serving one another and all God’s people in every way possible. But tough times came along, causing their faith to waiver.

We are no different

Listen, if you belong to Christ, it is not healthy or biblical to be constantly questioning whether or not you truly belong to Him. When a person is constantly questioning their salvation, this is a sign of a major lack of faith…as we are still under the idea that we can be good enough to please God. However, and here is the mystery at the heart of Christian perseverance—just because God will not forget what they’ve already done, they themselves must make every effort to keep our faith rooted and we must avoid all temptations to be lazy, we need to continue with the life of faith and patience until our project is finished. This is where discipleship and mentoring comes into play…we must look at those who have persevered and draw close to them.4

Scripture talks about much about Christian perseverance…or enduring until the end.

Philippians 2:12–13

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Later on in the book of Hebrews, the author continues to press his audience to remain faithful, in chapter 12 he says:

Hebrews 12:1–3

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

These passages in chapter 12 could easily fit after what we read today…we must surround ourselves with like-minded believers…lay aside those things which distract us from finishing our project. We must look to Christ, who endured the hate and ridicule of this world and faced the cross. Christ did this so that we might place our faith in Him…who is the author and perfecter of our faith, so that we will not give up or lose heart.

To close today, I want to look at our subject from a different perspective, one that I think most of us can identify with. The Hebrews author is talking about enduring until the end…not wavering in our faith. The Apostle Paul also talks about this quite a bit…in Philippians chapter 13, Paul says:

Philippians 3:12–17

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”

Here Phil. chapter 3, Paul is saying that his past will not deter him from pressing forward in his faith with Christ and that he will “keep living in the same manner,” and not only that, but that people should follow behind him as he presses forward. Now we often quote this passage when referring to things in our past that we have done that are ashamed of. Except, that is not what he is talking about here…right before this, Paul is actually talking about his Jewish pedigree…and his training as a pharisee…all things that were considered great accomplishments, or things of great value. In the early church, as the new gentile believers were coming into the church, the newly converted Jews often had the opposite problem to that of the gentiles…that is pride. Pride in which tribe they belonged to, pride in who their ancestors were....this is why Paul said that there are no longer Jews, or gentiles or slave or free…ect. Paul said that if anyone could brag about being a good Jew, it would be him…but instead of doing that.......I do not consider myself to obtained perfection…but, I press on.

For some people, shame is a millstone around their neck, which causes their faith to waiver, for others, it can be pride which acts as a millstone. Scripture addresses both issues, as both can keep us from pressing forward with Christ. The writer of Hebrews, in chapters 5 and 6 long to take the audience into the deeper truths of scripture, but he can’t, as they have become lazy.

I’ll end with this example,

A couple of months ago, I had approached Joel and asked if he could teach me to play the bass…of course, he said yes, so about 3 weeks ago we had our first lesson. On that first lesson we went over the strings, and what note each of them played…He also taught me notes, in regard to the neck of the bass…for example, if I hit the top string, that is called an open “E”, then “A”, then “D” then “G”. However, if I hold down the string right here (bottom string) (2nd fret), that is an “A”, then an “A sharp”, then a “B” to “C” to C sharp…and on and on.

Well, after that first lesson, thanksgiving came, Laura and I went to Indiana, so it was a couple of weeks before I met with Joel again…and guess what, I had not practiced like I should. So, we sat down this past Thursday, and he was going to start to teach me a song…but, because I had not practiced, guess what we had to do…the entire lesson was reminding me of things I already learned, but had forgotten. I couldn’t progress to learn something new.

Well, the preacher in Hebrews is writing to an audience that won’t practice…in fact, at one point, they could play well…in fact, they should be teaching others, but they are stuck, learning the same things all the time....

We can all be just like that. Unless we spend time with our Lord in prayer and His word…unless we surround ourselves with like minded people, who can encourage us in our faith…we can not grow. We have to practice, to exercise our faith, of we become atrophied and lazy.

PRAY

Those who do not know Jesus:

Those who have become lazy