A Better Estimate Hebrews 5:11-6:12

-We should measure ourselves according to God’s Word

A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. "Why on earth didn't you come to us first?" the official asked. "Didn't you know about the Better Business Bureau?" "Oh, yes," said the lady sadly. "I've always known about you. But I didn't come because I was afraid you'd tell me not to do it."

The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie--God's Word--we don't turn there for fear of what it will say.

I. A Call to Maturity vv. 11-6:3

In v. 11, the author transitions out of his conversation about the priesthood of Jesus, being according to the order of Melchizedek

Why does he stop this conversation? It’s not because he has exhausted the subject

The problem is his audience: they have become dull of hearing. They are no longer sharp in their attention or keen in their interest for the things pertaining to the nature of Christ

There has been a digression in their interest; they are not where they once were

This spiritual dullness has a consequence; they have never grown into maturity in Christ

They are living off of the milk, not the solid food

What is the “milk” being described here

We see in v. 1 a list of elementary doctrines: repentance, faith washings, etc. Interestingly, all of which can be understood in a completely Jewish context apart from Christ

The elementary doctrines of Jesus see Him as a good teacher slightly expanding their understanding of how to be an observant Jew

On the other hand, we have the opportunity to eat the meat

Jesus fulfills all of these things and we observe them in a new way now

The meat of the faith is understanding who He is, knowing Him, and leaning into Him

The meat of the faith chooses the substance over the shadow

There is a temptation to be moral, religious, or ethical; we are called to know Christ

300 Illustrations for Preachers From Atheism to Christ through Prayer

Andrew Klavan was born Jewish. How he became a Christian is a simple testimony of the power of prayer. Having deserted Judaism for atheism as a young man, he was merrily sailing along in a world of nonbelief. He was reading an adventure novel when one of the main characters said a prayer before going to sleep. Andrew realized he had never tried to pray. In his words, “So I said a little prayer and it went off in me like a bomb. There are really no words to describe it. I have always thought it was a tribute to the generosity of God that even such a prideful, arrogant little prayer in some sense would be answered.”

That one simple prayer began a habit of praying, and eventually he accepted Christ.

II. A Warning Against Falling Away vv. 4-8

Next, we hear a stark warning that is going to require some unpacking

Who is it for?

I believe that this is written to people who know Jesus as their Savior; there is a genuineness to their faith

However, they have “fallen away” from the Body of Christ

In context, these are Jewish believers who have turned their back on the church under threat of persecution

What will happen?

It will be impossible to restore them

This is not to say that forgiveness can never take place, but it will be impossible for them to have the relationship with the Church that they once had

This kind of action is a shame and a stain on those individuals; it “re-crucifies” Jesus in a figurative sense because it is almost like they are having to be resaved, as though the work of Christ was insufficient the first time around

I want to be clear here: I do not in any way believe that these people are losing their salvation, but I think there is a definitive shame and loss of reward that is present here

Why is this?

There are no consequence free actions and we must understand that

When the land is fruitful, receiving all of God’s gifts and returning crops to Him, God blesses it

When the land only produces thorns and thistles, it is “near to being cursed” and it will be burned!

We have to understand that there is no way to walk away from Jesus without suffering serious loss

In his Turning Point Daily Devotional for June 21, 2005, David Jeremiah points out that sin always has unintended consequences. Take the Seattle man, for example, who tried to steal gasoline from a motor home. Attaching a siphoning hose to the vehicle, he started to work; but police found him shortly afterward writhing in agony in the street. Seems he had attached the hose, not to the gasoline tank, but to the motor home’s sewage tank! The owner declined to press charges; he was too busy laughing.

III. A Hope for Better Things vv. 9-12

Finally, the author closes this section with some encouraging words to his audience and to us

The warning is stern to us, but his ultimate stance is hopeful

We are beloved and we belong to Christ and to each other

He feels certain that we will do better than this, that we will live in a way that is in keeping with our salvation, clinging to Christ

God sees our faithfulness

If we are not careful with the previous point, we could be overwhelmed.

Truthfully, none of us completely lives up to the mark and we could all constantly live with the consequences of our failures, disobediences, and insufficiencies

Our confidence is in the grace of the Lord who sees our good works and love for Him, expressions of our genuine faith in Him

We are invited to pursue greater things

We need to live with an earnest faith, living with integrity so that we can have the fullest assurance; we need a life that matches our confession of faith

We need to imitate the faith and patience of those who are found faithful and not be sluggish. We need to chase after obedience

We must live as we have been called and fulfill that expectation of “better things”

I like the idea of family heirlooms. Something tangible and meaningful that I can pass on to my kids that will give them a lasting connection and memory of previous generations of our family.  I often think about what I could give them. My grandfather had a nice Swiss watch that I received after he died, but it isn't working and just sits in a drawer. I also received a Winchester rifle for deer hunting that my Grandfather used, but when I took it to the range, I realized the barrel was worn out. It did not shoot very accurately at all anymore. My mother gave me a wall clock that had been in my family for years. It was beautiful, and I remember its pleasant chime that announced every hour when I was a kid. After winding it up and hanging it on the wall, we realized that it wasn't working either.  Its chiming days were over. 

It seemed that the only things I had to hand down to my kids were not working, broken and useless. Then I thought about giving my kids one of my old bibles. As I looked through them I found that they were all well worn, marked up and falling a part.