The Danger of Growing Dull (Part 2)

INTRODUCTION

A few Sundays ago, right after church, Kristy, Grady, Emma and I loaded up the car and took of for my parents lake house for a few days during Spring Break.

So, let’s jump back into Hebrews chapter 6…beginning in verse 4:

Hebrews 6:4–6 ESV

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Now, this is widely considered by theologians and scholars, as one of—if not the most—difficult texts to understand/interpret in all of Scripture.

Issues that make it difficult:

Is the author talking to Christians or non-Christians?

If Christians, is he saying that it is possible for Christians to “fall away” or “commit apostasy” and lose their salvation?

Why does he say that it is impossible for some people to “be restored to repentance?” Does this mean that some people are beyond salvation?

So…just with these three issues, you can see why this text is so controversial and difficult and why there are a myriad of interpretations and opinions on it.

So, what we’re going to do—because we don’t shy away from any text of Scripture—is take a look at this passage in its context—in the context of where it is here in chapter 6, the context of the whole book of Hebrews, and its place in the context of the whole Bible.

So, we need to begin with what’s obvious…In this text, the author issues a WARNING and an ENCOURAGEMENT.

So, let’s start with the WARNING. First, of all, the overall message of the letter to the Hebrew Christians is actually a warning—DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM JESUS. JESUS IS GREATER THAN ANYTHING YOU LEFT BEHIND. DON’T GO BACK TO YOUR OLD WAY OF LIFE. THAT LEADS TO DEATH.

But it’s also a letter of ENCOURAGEMENT—PERSEVERE. KEEP ON. BE FAITHFUL. THE END IS ETERNAL LIFE/REWARD.

Scattered throughout the letter, he issues 5 specific warnings that all stem from the one big warning. So, here, in chapter six, we’re actually still in the middle of warning #3. We started this warning a couple of weeks ago before Easter and it is the warning against GROWING DULL to the Word of God.

And, here beginning in verse 4, the author is digging in a little deeper with a much stronger word. He is issuing a preemptive word—a word of warning and encouragement. He saying, “You need to hear this, stand before the Word of God, ask the Holy Spirit to cut you open to the core and…

MPS Examine yourselves to make sure you belong to Christ, are maturing in Christ, and enduring in Christ.

The first examination the author challenges us with is characterized by the word…

BELONG (Do I belong to Christ?)

So, we’ve got to, again, remember that we’re not just parachuting into this warning. Look at verse one of chapter 6…The author tells the believers to leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and “go on to maturity.” Grow in Christ. Mature in Christ. This is the purpose for which we have been saved—as Paul says in Romans 8:29—to be conformed into the image of Christ. This is the biblical doctrine of SANCTIFICATION.

But then look what he says in verse 3—“And this we will do if God permits.” Ok…this seems problematic. If God permits? Why wouldn’t God allow us to grow spiritually? Why wouldn’t he want us to mature in Christ?

Spiritual growth/spiritual maturity is a gift of God’s grace. It’s God’s grace at work in us, changing us and transforming us, as we live in surrendered submission and obedience to Him.

And, again, we ask the obvious question—“isn’t this what he wants for us? Aren’t they being chastised for not growing? Then, why wouldn’t he give that grace?” It’s like a possible no-win situation!

Well, the author is clear that God doesn’t give that grace to a particular group of people that he categorizes as “those” (verse 4). Who are “those?” And, it’s easy to be a little uneasy thinking, “Am I in that group?”

So, here is where we’ve got to really unpack what the author is saying and walk slowly and carefully.

In this whole passage, there are two groups of people that he is addressing.

First, he addresses the Christians in the house churches that will receive this letter. He refers to them throughout as “you.” He speaks directly to them. He calls them—directly—out on specific issues. Look back in verse 11—“you have become dull of hearing.” Look at verse 12 “you ought to be teachers…you need someone to teach you again…you need milk.” So, every time he addresses “you,” he is talking to believers.

But, here in verse 4, there is a second group—“those.” And, in these very strong verses (vv 4—8), the author never addresses the “you” group. It’s “those.” It’s “those” for whom it is impossible to restore to repentance once they have fallen away. It is “those” who God does not permit…who God, based on this text, rejects.

So, again…“who are ‘those’?” Well, he describes them in verses 4-6.

They have once been enlightened.

They have tasted the heavenly gift.

They have shared in the Holy Spirit.

They have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.

And, then, who have fallen away.

**tasted—my kids used to hate peas. You could hide them in mashed potatoes or something else but they would taste the peas and spit them out.**

Explain—those who have been part of the “visible” church…but have rejected the gospel/have rejected Jesus as King and Lord.

It’s not that God can’t restore. It’s that He choses NOT to—because they have wilfully and decisively turned away in rejection.

See, again, what he says in verse 6—they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

This is strong imagery but the author is saying that rejection of Jesus after continual exposure to the gospel and the things of God—seeing the gospel at work in the community of God—is not just disbelief—it is open contempt for the cross, it is opposition to the work of salvation and the price that Christ paid, and, in a way, it is aligning with those who mocked and crucified and rejected Jesus 2,000 years ago.

I believe this is what Jesus talked about in Mark 3:28–29 ““Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—”

And, so, the author is challenging these readers and saying, “Examine yourself. Ask the most important question any person can ask and answer—Do I belong to Christ? Or…do I just attend a service/go through the motions?” Have you truly repented of your sin—turned away from sin and turned to Christ as Lord and King of your life and been born again?”

Then…the author illustrates this with an agricultural metaphor:

Hebrews 6:7–8 “For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.”

The second examination of this warning is—also starts with the letter “B”…

BEAR FRUIT (Am I bearing fruit?)

The evidence of salvation is not how many boxes you’ve checked off a religious to-do list. The mark of a born again believer is the fruit of good works produced by the Spirit’s work in our lives.

This doesn’t mean that just because you’re a good behaving or because you’re a moral person that you’re a Christian. I mean…let’s be honest…there are millions of good behaving/moral people who are lost and are in hell today.

Here is the point he is making—he is still distinguishing between two separate groups/categories of people—the born again and the lost. So, let’s put ourselves in the illustration. The author is saying that every single one of us is a “field.” Not literally, but just for the sake of the illustration, imagine yourself as a field. And, just like a literal field, where the ground is prepped, the seeds are planted, and the rain falls, each and every week that you come to worship, you come and participate in the life of the people of God, the word of God is being sown onto the field of your heart and it’s being watered.

Now, those of you who have gardens or have worked in gardens, you know that if you get a few weeks in after planting, and there’s nothing sprouting up—if there is no “fruit” being produced, one of three things is wrong—there’s something wrong with the seeds, the seeds haven’t been watered, or…there’s something wrong with the soil. And, that’s the point of this illustration. There’s nothing wrong with the Word of God. It is faithful and true and powerful…it does not return void. The seed of the Word is being regularly watered. If there’s no fruit being produced in a person’s life, there’s a soil problem.

The SAVED person is to be a GROWING Christian and a GROWING Christian produces spiritual fruit...it’s the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word in our lives as we submit in obedience.

The third examination that must take place in our life is that we must…

BE STEADFAST (in following Jesus/faithfulness)

Hebrews 6:9–12 “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved (again, differentiating between the two groups), we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation (in other words, even though you’re spiritually immature, we see the evidence of your salvation).

For God is not unjust so as to overlook (and, here are those things that “belong to salvation”—the fruit of salvation) your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Now, I know this text this morning may leave some unsettled and it must have left some of the original audience of this letter a bit unsettled…

There is great assurance here:

Your salvation is secure until the end.

This passage, by no means, teaches that salvation is earned by works…and at the same time it in no way teaches that our salvation can be lost. God is not unjust. His justice was satisfied at the cross.

Those who are BORN of God eternally BELONG TO GOD.

Those who are born again will endure until the end.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

Listen, believer, by the grace of God, you must endure. Don’t get sluggish or lazy in your walk with Jesus and in your growth in maturity. Through temptation, through hardships, through persecutions, through the changing and challenging seasons of life, in the pull of the world on you to go back to your old way of life—ENDURE. Jesus is worth it. The blessings and the promises and the reward is worth it

By God’s grace at work in your life, be imitators of those who through faith and patience will inherit the promises of God. The promises and blessings of eternal life…of the kingdom of God. A Scottish preacher tells the story of being a seminary student in the 1960s when the great Scottish preacher, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, preached in chapel one day. This young seminary student watched, after the sermon, as hundreds of people came to speak to Dr. Lloyd-Jones. This young student stood near the stage and could hear that, at the end of every brief conversation, Dr. Lloyd-Jones would say, “Keep on.” This seminary student wound up meeting Dr. Lloyd-Jones later that day and he asked him, “Doctor," I began, "forgive me, but I could not help hearing your last words to every person you spoke with. They were 'Keep on.' It sounded as if that was particularly important to you." He was immediately animated: "My dear man," he said, "there is nothing more important. The Christian life is not a sprint; it is a marathon, and that is why Jesus says, 'He who endures to the end shall be saved.'"  (https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/keep-on)

c. And we are not to try to do this alone. We cannot endure to the end apart from God’s grace and God’s people. **Application—all life groups—contact people**

3. Does this mean that my son/daughter/friend who has “walked away” has no chance/no hope of being saved?

Here’s the assurance—God is not unjust. God is not an unfair God. The Bible says that God desires that NONE should perish but that all should reach repentance.

Pursue them. Pray for them.

Examine yourself this morning. Listen to the Holy Spirit as He is examining and convicting you. I believe with all my heart there is someone here this morning and you know you’re not saved. You know that if you were to die right now you would spend eternity separated from God in hell. The Holy Spirit has been convicting you. You’ve been running, you’ve been ignoring, you’ve been rejecting. You’ve been saying, “I’ll do that one day.” Friend, one day may never come. I love you. I’m pleading with you. Turn to Jesus. Today. Right now. Don’t wait.