Don't Be Sluggish
Notes
Transcript
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
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, and of faith in God,
instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
And God permitting, we will do so.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age
and who have fallen 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.
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.
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation.
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
no longer try to understand
On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.
literally, sluggish in hearting
the word is ‘lazy’
Spiritual laziness is the real problem. In fact the Holy Spirit led the author to bookend this section of exhortation or warning with this word ‘lazy’
notice Heb 6.12,
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Laziness
what is the problem?
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
same thing Paul said about the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3.
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
What is this word of righteousness?
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
We are declared righteous in Christ when we are saved. And then, God expects us to be growing in righteousness, to live as His righteous children.
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
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, and of faith in God,
Let us be carried along… Heb 1.3, Christ is moving all things along, carrying them along, to their appointed end
Repentance and faith are the beginning of our eternal life...
instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
And God permitting, we will do so.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
For it is impossible…
share the Holy Spirit - Heb 3.1, share heavenly calling, Heb 3.14, share Christ
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age
tasted - Heb 2.9, Christ tasted death, i.e. experienced it
and who have fallen 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.
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.
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation.
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
Diligence to study and know the Word
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
faith and patience inherit… we will come back to that thought later in Hebrews…
What about me?
What about me?
Have I become spiritually lazy?
Have I become spiritually lazy?
Am I taking time to study God’s Word, and learning to discern right from wrong?
Am I taking time to study God’s Word, and learning to discern right from wrong?
What are the elementary things I need to leave behind?
What are the elementary things I need to leave behind?
Am I drifting into worldly ways of thinking?
Am I drifting into worldly ways of thinking?
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.