6 4-8
Hebrews Series- Fellowship Baptist Church
Passage: Hebrews 5:11-6:12 (6:4-8)
Theme: The State of the Dull and the Diligent
Proposition: Possessors Bear Fruit
Introduction:
Several months ago we began to study this section of the book of Hebrews. At that time I stated that we were about to consider the teachings of one of the most difficult passages in scripture. It is a controversial passage which some insist teaches the possibility that salvation could be lost. If it is true that this passage teaches that salvation could be lost, then the rest of scripture must agree with that concept (or the Bible contradicts itself) and therefore we began a four week study of the question of eternal security to see what the rest of the Bible taught.
We did not pick and choose verses, but rather looked at full passages to see what was being said. We also considered the work of salvation itself, who was responsible for the salvation of our souls and the regeneration process itself. We also studied what the Bible has to say about our spiritual state after the initial salvation experience and found that not only is the event of salvation a work of God, but the continuance of our belief is a result of the work of God in our lives. Ultimately the conclusion drawn is that salvation is a gift of God, the outworking of His eternal plan for our lives, that our belief is a product of His grace at work, and that the loss of salvation in a person’s life would be the result of failure on God’s part to complete His purposes, His promises, and His plans.
What that means for us today, is that whatever it is that this passage teaches, it cannot involve the loss of one’s salvation.
It also cannot teach that a person who has been saved can live the rest of their lives in a disobedient state to God’s commands. Again, the passages we studied before are clear that the event of salvation will result in a changed life, that there will be fruit (to some measure), that transformation is the result of salvation as much as justification is the result of salvation. While spiritual growth and fruit varies with the yieldedness of the individual to God’s will, no growth and no fruit is consistently linked to a lack of salvation ever occurring.
So, considering these facts, what are we left with in this passage? The writer’s emphasis here is the same as what He has been teaching us since the beginning of the letter: Because of Christ, we can endure. Christians should never give up, no matter how hard the circumstances may be in our lives. The presence and power of Jesus Christ are always with us—so keep going. But in the midst of this wonderful reality, the writer is careful to repeatedly remind us of another reality, a dark truth that must be faced. If you do not know Christ, if you have not accepted His blood payment for your sins, without Him there is no hope for you in this life or the next. And how is a person to know if they are what we call a believer? The writer has given us many standards against which to evaluate ourselves and this passage is another.
What is the standard given here? That those who seem to be saved, but ultimately “fall away” from obedience, never were possessers in the first place. They were merely professors. Secondly, that true possessors with be people who bear spiritual fruit in their lives.
1. A Comparison to Past Participators
Context: verses 1-3 are Jewish religious practices that are worthless:
Works of the law and seeking God
Ritualistic washings
Transfer of guilt to animal sacrifices
False understandings regarding resurrection and judgment
Each of these religious practices was fulfilled and ended in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The link to their Jewish history: Their experience of God and their response at Kadesh Barnea
Enlightened – parallel to the guidance God gave them through the pillar of cloud and fire in order to guide them.
Tasted the Heavenly Gift – parallel to the manna that was given
Shared in the Holy Spirit – parallel to the Spirit’s presence in Moses and among the people
Tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age – parallel to their exposure to God’s Word and their experience of His power through the miracles along the way.
The author uses these illustrations to make a point regarding those who seem to be believers today but walk away from obedience to the truth. What happened?
The illustration is intended to help us see that not all who identify with Christ are believers any more than all those who called themselves Israelites were believers.
How was one able to tell who was a true believer?
Let’s go back to chapter 3:
The question of whether you are a member of Christ’s household – we continue in faith and obedience. We are his house presently if we continue in faith and obedience in the future (v. 6) and we have come to share in Christ presently if we hold firmly to the end in the future the confidence we had at first.
This is illustrated by the Israelites – those who did not continue in faith and obedience were never part of the household of Moses. Even though the left Egypt, saw the miracles, participated in the blessings, they revealed their true position spiritually by their unbelief and rebellion.
Romans 9 – Not all Israel is Israel.
The point is this: Salvation is not the result of an intellectual awareness of God’s existence or Christ’s sacrifice. It is not a result of being around the wonders of God’s power or simply listening repeatedly to His Word. Salvation does not occur because I am around Spirit filled people. Participation does not equal possession.
And the author takes this truth one step further: those who do outwardly identify with Christ (make a profession) and walk away, can never be brought back to a point of true repentance.
What he is saying is this: if a person willingly and openly rejects the one true way to salvation – the person and work of Jesus Christ – there is no hope for salvation. This is the warning: to walk away from truth brings the reality that there is no other way of salvation.
The writer will give us another illustration in the following verses to drive home the fact that true belief results in fruit, but we will stop here for today.
What do we do with this truth?
We must be careful that our primary focus is on ourselves.
It is easy to begin wondering about the spiritual state of those who professed Christ but are now disobedient. But the warning is for the hearer. We each have a responsibility to again evaluate our spiritual state and be aware that just because we participate, that does not mean I am saved.
It means that I should be aware that if I have no interest in spiritual things, (and simply attending church and being entertained is not evidence of an interest) and that if I am tolerating sin in my life, I need to do some soul searching. I cannot cross the line because the results are final. There is a difference between struggling spiritually and giving up completely. Only you know where you are.
It is not wrong to challenge someone’s salvation
A person’s salvation is not simply a matter between God and them—personal and private. Hebrews itself is full of reminders that one’s surety of salvation is a community responsibility. At the same time, we cannot know for sure if a professing Christian is saved or not. So where does this leave us. Should we simply assume that all professing Christians are saved and leave them alone? No
What we can do:
Pray that all Christians would be obedient by God’s grace.
If there is blatant disobedience, it is appropriate when the opportunity arises to question the person’s salvation.
Not – I don’t think you’re saved”
Instead – “Does your behavior, lifestyle, etc. match that of a child of God? If not, why not and what do you intend to do? Is there evidence in your life that you are what you claim to be?
So for today, let me encourage you to make sure of your salvation—not just have you professed, but does your life evidence change.
If you are questioning whether or not you are a believer, do not let another day go by without make sure you are. The stakes are too high.
Secondly, let me encourage you to continue to pursue Christlikeness. Keep going forward for Christ, don’t quit.