Growing in Grace: The Call to Spiritual Maturity

Introduction

Last week, the writer of Hebrews began expanding on the profound truth of Christ’s priesthood. He introduced into his theological framework the mysterious figure of Melchizedek—a priest-king who briefly appears in Genesis 14 and yet plays a pivotal role in foreshadowing Christ. The author is eager to go deeper into this subject, but he pauses—not because the topic is too difficult, but because his readers have become spiritually sluggish and unprepared to grasp it.

So, before continuing with the deeper teaching, he issues a loving but firm pastoral correction. He confronts the danger of spiritual stagnation and urges his readers to grow, to press forward, and to persevere in the faith. And that’s what we will explore today in Hebrews 5:11–6:12, which has already been read in your hearing.

We’ll walk through this warning—and encouragement—in four major movements:

I. Spiritual Immaturity Hinders Growth (5:11-14)

II. The Call to Press On (6:1-3)

III. Genuine Faith Perseveres (6:4-8)

IV. Evidence of True Salvation (6:9-12)

I. Spiritual Immaturity Hinders Growth (5:11-14)

Hebrews 5:11 LSB

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

The subject of Melchizedek is no small potatoes but the writer does not seem to be bothered by the depth of this subject but by the reader’s immature attitude concerning spiritual things.

The issue here is not that the readers were intellectually or spiritually inferior, for it is not a question of what they are by nature but what they had become. The implication being that this was not what they were originally. They had become slack, and their slackness had affected their capacity to receive and retain deeper truths.

There was a spiritual lethargy and slow response to the gospel that prevented additional teaching.

The author is frustrated not by their ignorance but by their regression or lack of growth

Hebrews 5:12 LSB

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

This verse suggests long-term exposure to Christian teaching.

Hebrews was a relatively late addition to the Word of God in comparison to much of the NT. These readers would have been exposed to James, both Thessalonian letters, both letters to the Corinthians, Philippians, Colossian, Ephesians, Philemon, Acts, etc

These letters had been circulating for about 20 years already by the time Hebrews was written.

So the readers of Hebrews were most certainly familiar with most of Paul’s letters, especially his earlier and more widely circulated epistles. The depth of theological overlap and the timeframe of writing support this. This was enough to make you a teacher, considering that it made the writer of Hebrews a teacher.

There are many reasons why most scholars believe that Paul is not the author of Hebrews, but the most compelling reason for me has to do with what the author himself wrote concerning how he learned. It seems to be second hand revelation. He says that this revelation concerning salvation,

“...it was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard…” (Heb 2:3)

Paul usually insists that he received the gospel directly from Jesus (Gal 1:11-12)

This suggests that the writer is a second generation believer and not an apostle.

At any rate, the author writes as if the readers had access to the same information as he does and so sees them as having no excuse.

They had been long-time believers but failed to grow still needing elementary truths “Jesus Loves Me This I Know” type theology. Truth, but just basic truth which the author calls milk. Despite years of being in truth they were still operating like infants.

Infants cannot digest solid food. According to the author maturity is achieve by practicing. In other words, maturity doesn’t come from information alone—it comes from obedience. It is through the practice of the elementary truths—repenting, believing, walking in grace—that our senses are trained. Like muscles strengthened by repetition, our spiritual discernment sharpens as we live out what we’ve already been taught. Then—and only then—are we ready for deeper, weightier truths.

1 Corinthians 3:1–2 LSB

1 And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are still not able,

Growth requires a part you play…

2 Peter 1:5–8 LSB

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

Have you grown spiritually since meeting Christ?

Are you actively training your spiritual senses?

Are you dependent on others to feed you spiritually?

Spiritual immaturity is not about what you do not know–it’s about what you refuse to grow into.

II. The Call to Press On (6:1-3)

“Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity…” (v.1)

This leaving does not mean an abandoning of the basic doctrines. They are a place to start, not stop. They are the gate of entrance on the road to salvation in Christ they were meant to build upon those elementary things which are listed,

Repentance from dead works

Faith toward God

Instruction about baptism

Laying on of hands

Resurrection of the dead

Eternal judgment

We are called to grow deeper and not stay in preschool. This is a concern I have with some seeker-sensitive churches—they often stay in the shallow end of discipleship and never move toward depth, they tend to be infantile and they stay there permanently.

We are called to keep pressing forward and keep growing the in the grace that saved us. And so the author buckles down in his intent..

Hebrews 6:3 LSB

3 And this we will do, if God permits.

Not only does the author acknowledges that God’s enablement is necessary but he includes himself the push forward because it is mandated by Scripture.

Colossians 2:6 LSB

6 Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

2 Peter 3:18 LSB

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The apostle Paul stated in Philippians 3:14 that he presses on toward the goal.

Application:

Are you living off past decisions or current devotion?

What next step do you need to take in your maturity?

What is more important to you, growth, or comfort?

The gospel is the starting line, not the finish line—so don’t pitch a tent where God told you to build a staircase.

III. Genuine Faith Perseveres (vv. 4-8)

This section contains one of the most sobering warning in all of Scripture. And it has also been the source of much confusion. This is the Scripture that keeps true believers up at night but it is based on a misconception of it’s teaching. So lets take this section slow.

Hebrews 6:4–6 LSB

4 For in the case of those once having been enlightened and having tasted of the heavenly gift and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

The language is strong, but the passage is best understood as a warning about false converts—those who were exposed to gospel truth but never fully believed. The writer does not say these people “believed” or were “saved.” Instead:

1. They were “enlightened” Heard the truth

This refers to intellectual exposure to the truth–understanding not necessarily believing.

John 1:9 LSB

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.

Christ “enlightens”everyone in the sense that all hear or see, perhaps even understand, but not believe.

Judas, the crowds, the Pharisees were all enlightened by proximity, yet unconverted.

2. “Tasted” the heavenly gift (sampled, not consumed)

John 6:53–56 LSB

53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

This is consumption, not just tasting.

They dabbled in Jesus, sampled Him. They tasted, perhaps even took a lick, but they did not eat and drink of Him. There was no swallowing involved.

3. “Partakers” of the Holy Spirit (external influence not indwelling)

Matthew 12:28 LSB

28 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

The Pharisees, the crowds, all the unbelievers witnessed the Spirit’s power, even benefited from it.

Hebrews 2:4 LSB

4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

The Spirit was at work among them, but that does not imply personal indwelling.

These were witnesses and beneficiaries of the Spirit, not indwelt believers. So these are not real converted saints of God. You may ask, so what does it mean when it says,

“Having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance…” (v. 6)

This simply means that they were almost there but never went all the way in. And now they have turned completely aside. Now it is impossible to bring them to that point again. Illustration:

Imagine that you invite all of your friends to your pool party. You have music, decorations, food, etc. But the main attraction is the pool. You want all of your friends to join you in the pool. There a group of your friends that are like, “I don’t know, I am not sure, don’t want to get my hair wet, etc.” You plead and beg, and finally they accept to come, because you are a pain.

Theses people came, they undressed for the water, put on their swim trunk, rinsed off in the shower, and walked right to the edge , they even dipped a toe in but they never got in, no matter how much you begged and encouraged them.

They turned around dried off, took off the trunks, and got dressed in their clothes again. According to the author of Hebrews now it would be impossible to bring them back to that point of readiness again. They will never come even close enough to make the plunge because they have completely turned. Their rejection is so final, so deliberate that their hearts won’t turn.

This is what the author means by this passage. John puts it like this,

1 John 2:19 LSB

19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they were of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be manifested that they all are not of us.

If they were going to get in the pool they would have gotten in the pool. But since they did not get in the pool, it is manifested that they were not going to get in the pool.

In verses 7 and 8, the author basically says that land that drinks rain and bears fruit is blessed; but land that yields thorns is burned… Same rain.

The issue is fruitfulness for rain falls on both–but only one produces fruit.

Matthew 13:20–22 LSB

20 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Jesus says in John 15:6 that anyone that does not abide in him is thrown away. You cannot be a branch if you are not connected to the vine. And if you are connected, you will bear fruit.

Application

Are you showing the fruit of genuine faith?

Do you rely on past experiences, or current obedience?

Is your faith rooted in Christ or simply in routine?

Genuine faith dives in and bears fruit—anything less just leaves you dry on the edge.

IV. Evidence of True Salvation (6:9–12)

In this final movement, the tone shifts again. He replaces the stern warning with pastoral encouragement.

Hebrews 6:9 LSB

9 But we are convinced about you, beloved, of things that are better and that belong to salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

Better than what? Better than falling away. Better than temporary excitement or shallow exposure—these are fruits that accompany salvation, and the writer is now affirming the fruit he sees in them—evidence of a genuine faith. In other words, he doesn’t believe they’ve fallen away. Why? Because he sees evidence of grace in them. They show signs of something “better”—not just surface-level exposure to the gospel but fruit that belongs to real, saving faith.

Hebrews 6:10 LSB

10 For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and continuing to minister to the saints.

Their deeds of love showed that their faith was living. God’s righteousness means that He will never forget your faithful service–not in the past and not now. In the last two verses he basically says,

“...show the same diligence...so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (vv. 11-12)

In other words, keep going. imitate the faithful. Grow in both faith and patience. The apostle Paul puts it like this:

Galatians 6:9 LSB

9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Application:

Are you resting in Christ while pressing forward in growth? Who are you imitating–and are they drawing you closer to Christ–or away from Him?

When your strength feels low, are you remembering that God is not unjust to forget your faithfulness?

Perseverance is not perfection—it’s steady, faithful plodding in the same direction.

Growth in grace is not optional—it is expected. God’s Word exposes, warns, encourages, and strengthens.If you’re still in the same place you were when you first believed, something is wrong.Spiritual growth is not perfection—it’s direction. Is your direction toward Jesus? Are you pressing on—or drifting?