Moving On To Maturity

Text: Hebrews 6

Introduction

1 Corinthians 9:24 “24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Q — Have you ever heard this statement, “Life is not a sprint, but a marathon”?

Notice what the Hebrew writer emphasizes in verse 1, “let us go on unto perfection.” The journey of spiritual maturity is a responsibility given to every child of God! Unfortunately, it seems like many today are comfortable just drifting around the starting line. If that describes you, you better pay attention to the warning submitted to these Jewish believers. Like them, you could be at risk of one day not being ABLE to move any further than the starting line!!!

Recap:

The writer was wanting to take these Jewish believers on a deeper dive of God’s truth, but their return to spiritual infancy prohibited him from doing so.

They could only handle the “milk” of the Word.

This all was due to them slipping back into Judaism.

In chapter 6, we will learn the great danger of PROLONGED IMMATURITY. We will also come to understand the any opportunity to grow in our maturity rests completely in the hands of God! Remember, God gives and God “take away.”

1) Moving Beyond The Fundamentals

Verses 1-6

A. Don’t settle for the starting line

“principles” = the beginning part

There is a time when this is good and necessary.

Sufficient time should be spent here, but only to lay a foundation for what should be learned going forward.

Notice the flow of verses 1-3:

This is where we come to, what is considered to be, the strongest WARNING in the N.T. for believers!

This warning is in verse 3: “And this will we do, if God permit.”

In other words, if they are going to receive another opportunity to “go on to perfection” (grow in their maturity) it will come from God.

It could be, God grant it to them or not!

Notice the flow of verses 4-6:

Lets establish the people group being discussed here:

“Enlightened” — Most likely refers to the regeneration of the Holy Spirit

This is used again in — Hebrews 10:32 “32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;”

Notice the word “once” used when referencing their enlightenment. It was a single moment in their history.

Hebrews 9:28 “28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

1 Peter 3:18 “18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

This really places the proof or burden on those who will teach that a believer can throw away their salvation!

“Tasted of the heavenly gift” — referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 2:9 “9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Quote: (Hutson Smelley) “Jesus did not nibble around the edges of the cross when he tasted death for every man.”

“Tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come” — they had attained a certain level of spiritual maturity and endurance toward the worlds persecution of them due to their faith.

“word” = a specific utterance of God; teaching about the world to come.

They had previously been living in light of God’s specific word about their future hope.

Hebrews 6:10 “10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Hebrews 10:32–34 “32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”

B. The starting line could become your new home

Now, the warning found in verse 6!

Simply put, these believing Jewish are at risk of NOT being permitted by God to go forward into maturity.

He is NOT saying they can’t, but they are in DANGER of remaining on the starting line of maturity.

“impossible…to renew them again to repentance” — They are heading toward a point that would render it impossible for them to turn their mind back (repentance) to grow in maturity about the deeper things of God.

Let’s tie together to progressive warning of chapters 2 - 4, and 6:

The earlier chapters speak more about a “future reset” that can be lost due to personal disobedience to Christ in this life.

Chapter 6 is speaking about being at risk of God removing any further opportunity to mature in one’s faith.

When you consider the results of a life at risk of no opportunity to mature, you naturally get an eternity where you forfeit much of the rest (inheritance) God desires for you to experience.

What would lead to such a reality for these Jewish believers?

Again, where were these Jewish believers heading?

They were skirting around identifying once again with the same group who said, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

That kind of regressing would certainly forfeit a certain amount of future inheritance.

2) Ending Your Life With Profitable Fruit

Verses 7-8

A. Not every product of your life will translate to eternity

This is a figure of speech called an Allegory = An allegory in the Bible is a narrative, person, or event used as an extended symbol to represent a deeper spiritual, moral, or theological truth.

Meaning of symbols: Earth = believers & Rain = Word of God

Meaningful truth = Some believers will receive the Word of God and bring about profitable fruit through a life of obedience and others will not. (some brought herb and others brought thorns and briers)

IMPORTANT to notice what is NOT illustrated here!

It is NOT the “earth” (aka believers) that is burned up, but their “end” (the sum product of their life; i.e. thorns and briers)

Their fruit will NOT bring about future reward for them.

Example: 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 “11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

3) Enduring In Light Of God’s Knowledge

Verses 9-12

A. God never forgets your history of obedience and endurance

The writer is sharing some very GOOD NEWS with these believers; he believers they haven’t reached that point.

He speaks of “better things of you, and things that accompany salvation”

We must ask, “What salvation is in view here?”

The focus has been about the “world to come” the “future kingdom” and how the immidiate obedience of the believer impacts their experience of it.

Hebrews 1:14 “14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Hebrews 9:28 “28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

The Allegory we read has to do with “future” rewards.

So, the salvation in view is no spiritual “justification,” but the salvation they are promised to inherit in the future.

The writer is sharing the good news that he believes that God will not confirm them in a regressed state, but will will be granted another opportunity by God to get back on the path to maturity and therefore obtain future blessings and rewards that accompany their future deliverance.

The writer now shares why he believers that. Focus on verses 10-12.

(v10) God has not forgotten their previous labor of love toward the brethren and obedience to His Word.

God has not forgotten their affliction and reproaches mention in chapter 10.

He then urges them to continue in the same “diligence” as they did before. DON’T be slothful!

“followers” gives the sense of imitators. (v12)

B. God never breaks His promises

Verses 13-20

The author uses Abraham as an example of the kind of life that should be imitated.

God made a promise to Abraham — Genesis 12:1–3 “1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Abraham responds to God with a question — Genesis 15:8 “8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?”

God mad a covenant with Abraham — Genesis 15:17 “17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.”

Many years pass and God follow throughs with His promise!

God later reaffirms His promise and brings further clarity to the purpose of His fulfilled promise — Genesis 22:15–18 “15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

An oath is a powerful act of assurance! An oath really settles the matter.

God making the greatest oath, shows His desire for the heirs to witness his unchanging nature of His promises!

“two immutable things” = God’s oath and promise.

Titus 1:2 “2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

Conclusion

It will always be true that all believers do not share the same experience with God. Why? It all comes down to the direction of their lives. Some will make positive decisions that aid their endurance in kingdom living, while others make negative decisions that distract them from kingdom living. The kingdom you live for down here, will determine how much of Jesus’ kingdom you will enjoy when He ushers it in in it’s fullness! Each one of us have this decision to make every day of our lives!